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Honduras faces more isolation as protests grow
AFP/Jose Cabezas
A man holds a banner against ousted president Manuel Zelaya during a rally in central Tegucigalpa on June 30. Deposed president Manuel Zelaya was due in Washington for talks with US officials, one day ahead of his planned return to Honduras.
TEGUCIGALPA
Petroleumworld.com, July 01, 2009An increasingly isolated Honduras braced for more protests Wednesday with authorities threatening to immediately arrest ousted President Manuel Zelaya if he dares to return.
As tension rose in the polarized Central American nation, unidentifed attackers hurled a grenade, which failed to explode, at the Supreme Court late Tuesday, police told AFP.
After winning the backing of the UN General Assembly for his bid to return to power, Zelaya was expected in Washington Wednesday for meetings with US officials before heading back to Honduras.
But Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi warned that Zelaya would "immediately" be arrested if he returned to Honduras, where he faces charges that include "treason" and "abuse of authority."
The wealthy 57-year-old rancher was removed in his pajamas by Honduran troops Sunday and put on a plane to Costa Rica amid a confrontation over his bid to rewrite the constitution so he could run for a second term.
Apparently seeking to defuse tensions, Zelaya said in New York he would not seek a second term in office -- a concession on the issue that detonated the Honduran crisis.
"If offered the possibility to remain in power (for a second term), I would not do it," he told a press conference in New York. "I am going to fulfill my term up until January 27," he added.
Honduras has become increasingly isolated, with financial institutions, including the World Bank and regional banks, ordering the suspension of loans and payments to the impoverished nation of some 7.5 million people.
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Madrid wanted the European Union to recall its ambassadors, following similar actions by Mexico and Chile. Zelaya also has gained the backing of US President Barack Obama, who has said the United States still regards him as Honduras' president. If he returns to Honduras as promised, Zelaya probably will be accompanied by the head of the Organization of American States Jose Miguel Insulza and Argentine President Cristina Kirchner.
Political analyst Efrain Diaz warned, however, that Insulza's coming to Honduras would be "inappropriate" and "more than helping, would worsen the problem." "The most difficult problem is how to avoid total isolation and being turned into a pariah country," he said.
"The international community should exhaust certain steps before isolating us."Many here fear Zelaya's return could spark clashes between his supporters and opponents.
On Monday, angry protesters defied a curfew to fight riot police with clubs and stones near the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa.
But on Tuesday, thousands marched against Zelaya, shouting "Don't return, Don't return." Despite the international outrage, Honduran politicians, business leaders, most communications media and a substantial part of the population have applauded Zelaya's overthrow.
The new authorities, led by interim leader Roberto Micheletti, extended a 9 pm-to-5 am curfew until Friday. Many media channels remained blocked. Pro-Zelaya union leaders had previously announced a national strike.
In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez took pot shots at the Honduran military, calling them "gorillas" in a speech at a promotion ceremony for non-commissioned military officers in the city of Maracay. "But we are certain that there are patriotic generals in Honduras, there must be," Chavez added.
"This is a test for the Honduran military. They must disconnect themselves from North American imperialism and root themselves with the people of (Ernesto) Morazan," he said, referring to an 18th century Honduran military figure.
Chavez has been an important ally of Zelaya, who has moved to the left since being elected nearly four years ago.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, meanwhile, asked to visit Honduras to evaluate the situation of around 30 people who were missing or detained after Sunday's coup, said the IACHR president Luz Patricia Mejia.
The coup was the first in the major banana and coffee exporter in more than 20 years.
Story by Sophie Nicholson from AFP
AFP 07/01/2009 08:48Copyright© 2008 respective author or news agency. All rights reserved.
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