Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya still can’t return to his country even after weeks of negotiations between foreign diplomats and the de facto Honduran government. His supporters, however, continue to revolt against the new regime in Tegucigalpa, hoping that the world will not forget about the crisis that started after the coup d’etat on July 5.
Going into his second week of acting as mediator, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has said that “it’s been difficult” to bridge the differences that exist between Roberto Micheletti, Honduras’ de facto president, and Zelaya. Micheletti’s supporters staunchly hold Zelaya as anathema due to accusations that he violated Honduras’ constitution by attempting to extend presidential term limits.
Carlos López, the diplomat at the mediation table representing Micheletti’s government, said on Saturday than there has been “no agreements reached between the parties,” but that at least Micheletti will consider “examining things deeper.”
And since Micheletti’s government seems to be totally unforgiving of whatever misdeeds Zelaya may have committed, the goals of the mediation will require some give and takes so that the problems can be resolved. President Arias has shifted his focus from just having Zelaya return to Honduras and serve the rest of his term (ending in November), to allowing the elections to take place one month ahead of time. President Arias has also proposed giving amnesty to those who may have committed political offenses during the crisis — meaning that no one in Micheletti’s regime would face trial, even though the de coup d’etat that he orchestrated was illegal.
There are other points that President Arias will have to wrestle with to see that Zelaya returns to Honduras, which involve allowing Micheletti and those who currently serve under him, to have a prominent role in the months left of Zelaya’s presidential term.
Talks will continue today.
