Zelaya’s ultimatum
posted at 9:11 am on July 18, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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The negotiations between the opposing sides in the Honduras crisis have apparently reached an impasse, which prompted an ultimatum today from Manuel Zelaya, the Hugo Chavez acolyte ousted by the military, the legislature, and the Supreme Court. If Honduras does not agree to reinstate him, Zelaya threatened to sneak back into the country and seize power:
An ultimatum from ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya left little room for compromise in U.S.-backed talks Saturday aimed at resolving a crisis that has become the latest test for democracy in Latin America.
Zelaya, who was forced into exile in a June 28 military coup, gave negotiators meeting in Costa Rica until midnight to restore him to office, threatening to return to Honduras in secret and attempt to retake power on his own if no agreement is reached. He indicated he would reject any power-sharing agreement, a proposal to be discussed at the talks.
“If at that time, there is no resolution to that end, I will consider the negotiations in Costa Rica a failure,” Zelaya said at a news conference Friday night at the Honduran embassy in Nicaragua. “I am going back to Honduras, but I am not going to give you the date, hour or place, or say if I’m going to enter through land, air or sea.”
He did not say what steps he would subsequently take. But earlier this week, he said Hondurans have a constitutional right to rebel against an illegitimate government.
Costa Rica did what it could to work out a diplomatic solution, but this has been an intractable problem since it erupted. With both sides rejecting a power-sharing arrangement, the only offer Honduras could make would be amnesty from prosecution for Zelaya’s multiple violations of the Honduran constitution. Zelaya would take nothing less than reinstatement, which Honduras rejects outright.
Could Zelaya return to foment a rebellion? He’s got enough support at home to make that a real possibility. It doesn’t take a majority or even a particularly large minority to make a successful revolution, after all. The military would resist it — strongly — which could make this a bloody mess. The real problem for Honduras isn’t a rebellion, but an invasion of Nicaraguan and Venezuelan troops to put Zelaya back in power and back to being a Chavez stooge.
If that happened, eyes would shift immediately to Washington to see how Barack Obama would react. Will he make clear that the US will brook no foreign military involvement in Honduras, and back it up with a show of force in Central America? Or will Obama waffle long enough to allow Chavez and Daniel Ortega an opening to invade Honduras? Obama certainly has given them plenty of tacit encouragement thus far, and I suspect that Obama will do little but issue airy statements of regret in the event of a military invasion of Honduras.
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If Hondurans runs across Zelaya in a secluded location somewhere with no cameras, kill his entire group and make sure the bodies are never found.
The story ends: Zelaya walked into the jungle and was never heard from again.
If he makes it into the country, arrest him ASAP but move him around from one secret location to another rather than holding him in a prison. You can falsely claim he’s being held in a military base or something, and make sure it’s well defended so that any attack can be used as a means to deplete Honduras of as many Zelaya supporters as possible.
FloatingRock on July 18, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I feel like our own government, as it aligns itself with our declared enemies, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, is becoming another enemy to the American people. Being on the wrong side of all issues, it is not chance anymore. That is impossible. It is a purposeful strategy to destroy the most successful country of this age.
mile66 on July 18, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Now is this the crises we were supposed to “gird our loins” for? Or was that the previous 100 OTHER crises that have already happened.
Rightwingguy on July 18, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Zelaya had better watch his back. If Chavez determines that Zelaya’s second coup attempt is, or will be, unsuccessful, he’ll undoubtedly realize that Zelaya the martyr is far more useful to him than Zelaya the former wannabe dictator. Chavez may order his goons kill Zelaya and try to pin it on Honduras.
If so, the goons had better watch their backs, too, because Chavez might decide their continued lives are too risky for his plans.
FloatingRock on July 18, 2009 at 3:18 PM
As it turns out, the Obama administration itself is the crisis.
FloatingRock on July 18, 2009 at 3:19 PM
There’s a lot going on…
http://www.elheraldo.hn/
More to follow…
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 3:35 PM
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 3:40 PM
09:55am
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 3:45 PM
09:51am
Retorno. “Estoy respetando que culmine el proceso de diálogo diplomático”, dijo Zelaya, aunque reiteró que regresará a Honduras “de una u otra forma”.
TRANSLATION:
11:51am EST
Return. “I am willing to see thorough the diplomatic effort to its end”, Zelaya said, although he reiterated that he will return to Honduras “one way or another”.
09:48am
Obstinado. El depuesto presidente Manuel Zelaya, desestimó la posición de EEUU que se opone a que regrese al país mientras no concluya un proceso de mediación.
http://www.elheraldo.hn/
11:48am EST
Obstinate. Deposed preseident Maunel Zelaya, dismissed US opposition to his return to Honduras without finishing negotiating process.
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 3:51 PM
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Chavez needs to punish Honduras. He has too much riding on this to be thwarted.
http://ferdsblog.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/rumors-vennie-offensive-tomorrow/
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 4:03 PM
http://ferdsblog.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/rumors-vennie-offensive-tomorrow/
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 4:08 PM
The Foro de São Paulo. A Threat to Freedom in Latin America.
http://www.unoamerica.org/unoPAG/libros.php?id=5
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 4:18 PM
This is so f’ing unbelieveable…and a majority of Americans have now become so ignornat that they wouldn’t understand the implications of what it would mean if Obama allowed an invasion of Honduras… and a slaughter of Hondurans…that being that America is now Maxist and supportive of other Marxist countries…and they will use the same tactics on Americans… I predicet a very bloody civil war in our own future… I will not live enslaved…
CCRWM on July 18, 2009 at 4:20 PM
If this is the best Arias can do it is game over. Time to arm up and get ready for war.
http://www.elheraldo.hn/
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 4:41 PM
There is a middle way…
starvethebeast.net
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Obama has the opportunity to make his bones on foreign policy on this one. Hard to imagine he’ll just stand by and let Chavez have his way but the markers are all there. I’ll bet Colombia is watching and learning.
a capella on July 18, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Colombia yesterday arrested a FARC facilitator and exposed documents showing how much money the FARC gave to finance Correa (the President of Ecuador who is an avowed Communist and whom Obama recently called to congratulate). For its part, the FARC came out with a bombshell later in the day by admitting their role in financing Correa. Now the INTERPOL has been called on to investigate.
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 5:21 PM
It will be left to “Honduras and her neighbors” to resolve. In other words, Obooba will look the other way while Honduras is beaten in the street.
Akzed on July 18, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Very nice. Were these documents taken from the guy they arrested or from the laptops they took in the FARC raid? Any thoughts on what Colombia will do if Chavez and Ortega overtly take military into Honduras?
a capella on July 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Hey sorry I had a couple of my facts wrong since I got them second hand. Here is the actual and very damning story:
AP Newsbreak: Rebel video hounds Ecuador’s Correa
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090717/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_colombia_rebel_video
http://faustasblog.com/?p=14273
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
I don’t know what Colombia would do. They would probably protest loudly. Short of an overt move by any of those countries against Colombian interests there’s not much they could do. Maybe some covert aid?
I’d have to assume that any goodwill Zelaya has would be graetly diminished if he is seen as instigating a rebellion when he only has 4 months left in office.
Arias, the Costa Rican leftist president said that violence would NOT be the acceptable route for Zelaya. So…
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Thanks… I will put my actons where my mouth is….
CCRWM on July 18, 2009 at 6:08 PM
http://www.elheraldo.hn/
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Honduras has no choice now. They must kill Zelaya before he goes anywhere. He’s essentially declared war on the people of Honduras and the government there must protect the people. Kill Zelaya now, it’s the only option.
Don Carne on July 18, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Zelaya should be tried for treason. If found guilty – and from everything legitimate I’ve read he is guilty as sin – he should be executed. They should not have exiled him.
BrideOfRove on July 18, 2009 at 7:29 PM
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/07/024078.php
elduende on July 18, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Barry DO something? You obviously haven’t looked at his previous track record.
GarandFan on July 18, 2009 at 9:05 PM
The Hondurans should tell Zelaya to go to hell. If Chavez, Castro, Noreiga, Obama and other commies don’t like that, too bad.
Phil Byler on July 18, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Should this come to pass, and if it does it will very likely be with his private blessing, I think we know what Obama will be doing in private.
Joe Bloggs on July 18, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Looks like Zelaya had results already counted and certified.
http://babalublog.com/2009/07/a-page-out-of-the-chavez-leftist-in-other-words-playbook/
a capella on July 19, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Sorry, forgot the lead in.
a capella on July 19, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Picked up by usatoday.
http://content.usatoday.com/topics/article/Places,+Geography/Countries/Honduras/01D891jdUbgu5/1
From the comments on the babalublog, it sounds like this is the smoking gun.
a capella on July 19, 2009 at 12:35 AM
I saw that report in the Honduran press earlier. I hope they allow INTERPOL to verify them. You know just like after the Colombians captured the FARCs laptops the leftists claimed they were fabrications until INTERPOL certified them.
How much legitimacy do you think Zelaya has left if he were to return to power? None.
elduende on July 19, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Thanks for the news. Let’s hope the word gets out. Maybe HotAir can help tomorrow and/or Monday.
FloatingRock on July 19, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Well, it sounds like their Justice Dept is ramping up to file criminal charges over this. I would imagine they would have to have 3rd party verification if they go that far. If true, this is about as blatant as anything I’ve seen. From an entertainment standpoint, I would have liked to have seen the face of the Costa Rican mediator dude when he learned about this.
a capella on July 19, 2009 at 12:58 AM
This won’t detract from the lefts support of Zelaya one bit. The end always justifies the means with them. Obama won’t back off because of this either, unless it becomes clear, or they calculate, that once/if American’s find out, the strength and breadth of America’s opinion will damage Obama’s own legitimacy.
FloatingRock on July 19, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Columbia should hold some military exercises or move some troops around near the border with Honduras. Such a small gesture could really help Honduras out right about now.
Are you listening, Columbia? Obama administration aside, you’re both our allies. Obama won’t be around forever. Such a small gesture could make a huge difference to Honduras right about now.
What would happen to FARC’s status if Chavez and his entire power structure were destroyed and Venezuela turned away from Marxism?
FloatingRock on July 19, 2009 at 1:34 AM
FloatingRock on July 19, 2009 at 1:35 AM
Or will Obama waffle long enough to allow Chavez and Daniel Ortega an opening to invade Honduras?
That.
Trov on July 19, 2009 at 2:40 AM
Has this hit the MSM yet? Or will they ignore it and consider it a plant by the current administration?
Cindy Munford on July 19, 2009 at 2:46 AM
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56798&Itemid=79
A little global union activity favoring the Chavez flavor of democracy.
a capella on July 19, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Mmmm. I’m starting to smell what Obama’s cooking for dinner, 2012.
Get yer guns cleaned and keep your ammo fresh and dry kids. We’re gonna roast us some skunk.
Spiritk9 on July 20, 2009 at 12:08 AM
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