Monthly Archives: July 2009

Zelaya met yesterday with the U.S. ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens, in Nicaragua, but Zelaya’s foreign minister, Patricia Rodas, told the Telesur network that “it has been a meeting of repetitions, of positions that can’t be negotiated. They didn’t come with a change, nor any new proposal.”

Zelaya told reporters after the three-hour meeting that he asked for Washington to apply pressure on the interim government “with more energy, more strength and greater decisiveness.”

Zelaya adviser Milton Jimenez said a proposal would be brought up in the OAS for other countries to extend visa cancellations to a broader range of those involved in his ouster, as well as freezing their bank accounts.

Zelaya told his supporters in the Nicaraguan border town of El Ocotal that he wanted them to form “peaceful popular militias” to demand his reinstatement.

Police said 25 people were injured and 88 arrested July 30th in clashes between protesters and security forces at several locations around Tegucigalpa.

Police and army troops used both rubber bullets and live rounds, and fired tear gas from helicopter. The worst violence occurred at El Durazno, on the northern outskirts, where protesters took over the highway. TV footage showed some protesters armed with sticks and pick-axes.

A Zelaya supporter was wounded in the head by a gunshot and was seriously hurt; police spokesman Daniel Molina alleged the shot was fired by protesters.

Red Cross spokesman Domingo Flores said protesters attacked an ambulance and beat three Red Cross workers, accusing them of being coup supporters.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry released the following statement today in response to yesterday’s developments in the Honduras negotiations.

“I welcome the initiative taken by Roberto Micheletti yesterday in his phone call to Costa Rican President Oscar Arias,” said Chairman Kerry.

According to Chairman Kerry, “The accord represents the best solution to the ongoing Honduran crisis. Effective verification and implementation of the accord are paramount, and I believe that President Arias, President Zelaya, and Mr. Micheletti will appoint a well-qualified international envoy toward this end. I deeply appreciate President Oscar Arias’ leadership as the mediator of the dialogue and
commend the Business Council of Latin America on their vital role in the negotiation process.”