Honduras Reaches Deal on Political Crisis (revisionism)

Voice of America ^ | October 30, 2009 | Brian Wagner

[La Lydia]

The de facto Honduran government has agreed to a deal that may allow ousted President Manuel Zelaya to return to power ahead of elections next month. U.S. diplomats have been in the country to mediate an end to the four-month-old crisis. De facto President Roberto Micheletti unveiled the plan late Thursday, nearly four months after he took over for ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Since then, Mr. Micheletti has rejected calls from Mr. Zelaya and many foreign governments to restore the ousted leader to power, saying the Supreme Court had stripped Mr. Zelaya of power for violating the Honduran constitution.

Now after several weeks of negotiations, Mr. Micheletti said his government was making a significant concession to open the door to Mr. Zelaya's return.

He said the government has been clear that the Supreme Court must decide whether to allow Mr. Zelaya to return to power. He added officials understand that Hondurans want peace and an end to the crisis.

Under the deal, the Supreme Court must authorize the Congress to vote on whether to allow Mr. Zelaya to return to power and serve the remaining three months of his term. It also calls for a commission to investigate the events surrounding Mr. Zelaya's removal from office...

[La Lydia]

First reports on this seem to indicate that Zelaya had prevailed. But no. Could it be Mr. Michelliti has won another round? The Supreme Court (which approved the congressionally mandated removal of Zelaya) must authorize the Congress (which voted to remove him) of whether to allow him to return to power. And I wonder how long all that is going to take. The elections are Nov. 29.

[demshateGod]

Zelaya and the media are just working up Zelaya’s supporters so when congress rejects him, the commies will be surprised and there will be violence.

[17th Miss Regt]

A reasonable time frame would be thirty calendar days to make a decision. I’m sure Mr. Zelaya can wait so that the Supreme Court can consider this matter with the appropriate scrutiny that it deserves. We must not make a snap decision or it might prejudice Mr. Zelaya’s rights!

[La Lydia]

Yes, that sounds reasonable: 30 calendar days for the Supreme Court to decide whether to authorize Congress to decide if he should return, and then 30 calender days of debate for the Congress to decide if he should return. That would put us in January, and the Hondurans will have already elected a new president, who could then take office. Perhaps Zelaya could be allowed to return to office for one symbolic day, just to prove that Hugo Chavez and our State Department are calling the shots, after all. ;)
Did you see this:
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18214.xml

[HonCitizen]

i would go deeper. The Supreme Court will give a judgement. With this the congress will vote. So he needs approval from both to be reinstated.

[TexasRepublic]

Rule #1 for coups — bury the deposed leader so he can’t return. If a coup is worth doing at all, then it is worth doing right.

[La Lydia]

That is what is being required. I was outlining a way for those activities to take an appropriate amount of time.

[HonCitizen]

the process goes like this:
1- The congress meets to ask the SC for a judgement (notice judgement NOT opinion)
2-The SC deliberates (1-2 weeks) then decides.
3-The congress based on that judgement decides or votes.

Someting to notice is that this agreement breaks the constitution because the nor the congress or the SC has thpower to restore anyone.

[La Lydia]

We are on the same page, but not the same time frame. I propose:

1- The Congress meets to debate whether to ask the Supreme Court for a judgment, taking into account the myriad, complex issues involved in... (one month)

2-The Supreme Court deliberates, taking into account the myriad, complex issues... (one month) then decides.

3-The Congress, based on that judgment, decides or votes. (maybe another debate, then decides or votes. Who knows how long?)

[HonCitizen]

those points won’t take a month because the OAS and the State dept. will try to hurry up the SC and congress. in fact the OAS expects that the congress restitutes Z before nov. 29.

[La Lydia]

I think you are underestimating Mr. Micheletti, the Congress and the Supreme Court. But who knows, you could be right. Another stain on the good name of our country thanks to the BO administration. Did you see that piece from the Center for Security Policy,
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18214.xml

[HonCitizen]

I did. If the process is run slowly, count that Z will be either restored after elections or not restored at all. Many politicians could pay a high political cost if Z is restored, among the majority of the people.