Washington suspends $18 million in aid but deadlock persists
It seems farce has no limits when it comes to Latin America.
In the newest act of a political theatre complete with false starts and building expectancy that has been dejected at every turn, a fresh roadmap by Honduran pro tem President Roberto Micheletti to break the two-month old crisis in Honduras is being flaunted as a “breakthrough”.
A representative for Micheletti, who was affirmed after Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was detained by the junta and excommunicated on June 28, proposed this week that the new plan introduced would award Zelaya reprieve, letting him come back without facing detention, as had formerly been conveyed. Micheletti also proposed abdicate the post of president — provided Zelaya offers to return the favour. Charges against Zelaya comprise sedition and abuse of power.
However, no matter how much the bid is touted as a fresh move ahead, it is not likely to do much, if anything, to resolve the deadlock. A higher US State Department bureaucrat later told reporters that “the return of Zelaya as the elected president, and to finish out his term, is still a core tenet” of whichever resolution proposed. In that context, this new proposal is as good as dead.
As well as, if both Micheletti and Zelaya abdicate, the presidency, in the light of the provisions laid out by the Honduran Constitution, would automatically fall into the lap of the next in line, which in this particular instance, is the head of the Supreme Court — which had the dubious distinction of agreeing to Zelaya’s ouster.
Meanwhile, to intensify pressure, Secretary of State for the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton is taking into consideration additional sanctions, after her team, as per a circular by a State Department bureaucrat, suggested that the Zelaya ouster be labelled a “military coup,” an authorised determination that would essentially lead to the deferment of $215 million in US aid for Honduras. Many Hondurans, including Zelaya, and the global community, have frowned over what they say as the “lukewarm” reaction of the US.
Washington has, before now, suspended about US$18 million in aid. If it is termed as a “coup”, things will further complicate for Honduras as the US law forbids aid, at least in principle, “to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” And that is not enough. Other contributions channelled through US Millennium Challenge Corporation will also stop immediately causing much trouble to the impoverished nation.
“The larger question here is that up to what extent Obama regime is ready to coerce the de facto Micheletti regime? If, god forbid, it stands by and tolerates the consolidation of the putsch, other regimes in the continent will have severe misgivings about the regime’s intents to reconstruct ambassadorial and political associations with other notions, and to its obligation to democracy,” said Elvia Valle, a seasoned statesman from Liberal Party, while reacting to a question posed by TSI.
The Pentagon, in the meantime, is continuing its military operations at the US base in Soto Cano—the largest in the region—where a platoon of American soldiers and a plethora of civilian contractors are working very closely with the Honduran military. On the other hand, deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya confirmed in Nicaragua’s capital Managua that he would discard any crisis resolve roadmap presented by the Honduran pro tem regime that demands he surrender his presidential claim. In spite of international resistance over the past two months, Roberto Micheletti says it will not be pressured into stepping down.
The unwillingness of the US to pressurise Micheletti, stems from the fact that it does not want Zelaya, Hugo Chavez’s friend, to return and strengthen South America’s Leftist league.
It seems farce has no limits when it comes to Latin America.
In the newest act of a political theatre complete with false starts and building expectancy that has been dejected at every turn, a fresh roadmap by Honduran pro tem President Roberto Micheletti to break the two-month old crisis in Honduras is being flaunted as a “breakthrough”.A representative for Micheletti, who was affirmed after Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was detained by the junta and excommunicated on June 28, proposed this week that the new plan introduced would award Zelaya reprieve, letting him come back without facing detention, as had formerly been conveyed. Micheletti also proposed abdicate the post of president — provided Zelaya offers to return the favour. Charges against Zelaya comprise sedition and abuse of power.
However, no matter how much the bid is touted as a fresh move ahead, it is not likely to do much, if anything, to resolve the deadlock. A higher US State Department bureaucrat later told reporters that “the return of Zelaya as the elected president, and to finish out his term, is still a core tenet” of whichever resolution proposed. In that context, this new proposal is as good as dead.
As well as, if both Micheletti and Zelaya abdicate, the presidency, in the light of the provisions laid out by the Honduran Constitution, would automatically fall into the lap of the next in line, which in this particular instance, is the head of the Supreme Court — which had the dubious distinction of agreeing to Zelaya’s ouster.
Meanwhile, to intensify pressure, Secretary of State for the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton is taking into consideration additional sanctions, after her team, as per a circular by a State Department bureaucrat, suggested that the Zelaya ouster be labelled a “military coup,” an authorised determination that would essentially lead to the deferment of $215 million in US aid for Honduras. Many Hondurans, including Zelaya, and the global community, have frowned over what they say as the “lukewarm” reaction of the US.
Washington has, before now, suspended about US$18 million in aid. If it is termed as a “coup”, things will further complicate for Honduras as the US law forbids aid, at least in principle, “to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” And that is not enough. Other contributions channelled through US Millennium Challenge Corporation will also stop immediately causing much trouble to the impoverished nation.
“The larger question here is that up to what extent Obama regime is ready to coerce the de facto Micheletti regime? If, god forbid, it stands by and tolerates the consolidation of the putsch, other regimes in the continent will have severe misgivings about the regime’s intents to reconstruct ambassadorial and political associations with other notions, and to its obligation to democracy,” said Elvia Valle, a seasoned statesman from Liberal Party, while reacting to a question posed by TSI.
The Pentagon, in the meantime, is continuing its military operations at the US base in Soto Cano—the largest in the region—where a platoon of American soldiers and a plethora of civilian contractors are working very closely with the Honduran military. On the other hand, deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya confirmed in Nicaragua’s capital Managua that he would discard any crisis resolve roadmap presented by the Honduran pro tem regime that demands he surrender his presidential claim. In spite of international resistance over the past two months, Roberto Micheletti says it will not be pressured into stepping down.
The unwillingness of the US to pressurise Micheletti, stems from the fact that it does not want Zelaya, Hugo Chavez’s friend, to return and strengthen South America’s Leftist league.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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