A Spanish priest, residing in Honduras, questions the stances the Government of Spain has taken against Honduras, which are causing so much damage in the country.
Antonio Rieu, who lived in Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, now runs a Marist high school in Honduras. He sent a letter to the Spanish Ambassador in Honduras, from which we translate an excerpt:
While the people of Honduras continue to suffer from international isolation, the political and diplomatic corporation of Latin America and the Caribbean will discuss its fate in Cancún.
The Rio Group (an OAS alternative), will become the next stage in which the representatives of the region’s governments will promote their own political and personal projects, as they discuss the future of a theoretically sovereign country.
The Economist analyzes the upcoming administration of Porfirio Lobo and how he will have to 'pick up the post-coup pieces'.
When he is sworn in on January 27th, Lobo will take over a country that is diplomatically isolated, economically battered and socially polarized.
He inherits an economic hole. "Because of the world recession, the aid cut and the collapse in confidence triggered by the coup, the economy shrank by 3-4% last year.
Brazil won for maximum hypocrisy, United States for indecision, and the OAS for lack of impartiality.
Andres Oppenheimer lists some of the top external players in the Honduras crisis, detailing their biggest political mistakes.
The feeling remains, however, that had not been for the mistakes of the international community (specially for its stubbornness in not listening to objective reasons), the price being paid by the people of Honduras would not be so high.
With 111 votes against and 14 in favor, Congress ruled out reinstating deposed president Manuel Zelaya.
The debate lasted over 9 hours, in which Congress members heard reports from the Supreme Court of Justice, the Public Ministry, the General Attorney and the Human Rights Commissioner.
"Congress rejected the fifth item of the Agreement signed by both Zelaya's and Micheletti's delegations on October 30th.
The Honduran Congress is discussing whether to reinstate deposed president Manuel Zelaya.
If approved, Zelaya would be put back in office until Porfirio Lobo, the new president elect, takes office.
"The Congress' plenary, composed of 128 representatives, must discuss the 5th point of the Tegucigalpa/San José agreement, signed by Zelaya and Micheletti's government, sponsored by the United States", reported Epa.
"Not recognizing the elections nor the future president would be hurting the Honduran people, who have already suffered enough, and don't deserve it", Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica.
At a press conference during the XIX Iberoamerican Summit of Heads of State, the president of Costa Rica remarked the "double standards" of the international community with regards to the Honduran political crisis.
President Oscar Arias, who mediated in the Honduran political crisis, assured he will recognize the outcome of the upcoming elections.
In an interview with CNN on Friday, Arias stated he would recognize the result of Sunday's elections, given they develop without incidents.
"'... if everything goes right', in Sunday's elections, 'most of the world's countries should recognize the outcome', requested the Nobel prize winner", according to Laprensagrafica.com.
An update on the current situation of the Honduran conflict, in an analysis in which the clock is ticking against Zelaya.
The article in America Economía is interesting due to its content and its peculiar graphical presentation. Its author, Rodrigo Lara, shows us 12 points which resume the current situation of the Honduran political crisis, and its impact on the region.
With these words, members of the Supreme Electoral Court expressed their determination to U.S. Congressmen and delegates from the State Deparment.
David Matamoros Batson, Court Magistrate, said in Washington that there must be dialogue, and political discussions must be held, "but there will be elections on November 29th".
"Due to the lack of international support for the elections, Court magistrates are in the United States, attempting to get the participation of independent observers such as the National Democratic Institute", reports Honduran newspaper La Prensa.
The Washington Post: "The only good way out of the Honduran crisis is to go forward with the presidential election scheduled for Nov. 29."
"The only good way out of the Honduran crisis is to go forward with the presidential election scheduled for Nov. 29 and to do so in a way that will allow Hondurans to freely express themselves and governments around the region to accept the results.
Costa Rica's Commerce Ministry is proposing a change in the rules, in order to close the agreement without Honduras.
So far, Europe's stance has been to put the process on hold until the Honduran crisis is resolved with the restitution of deposed president Manuel Zelaya, an event that may never occur. If the winner of the planned elections in Honduras is not recognized, the Association Agreement with Europe could be postponed sine die.
"If elections undertaken in Latin America by dictatorial regimes had been invalid, there wouldn't have been transitions to democracy".
In declarations to Brazilian newspaper "Folha", the president of Costa Rica, and mediator in the Honduran crisis affirmed that the elections called for November could end the crisis, even though the international community has warned they won't recognize its results.
Honduras's crisis worsens because both parts present irreducible positions. A political vision of the matter could help solving it.
After two months of crisis, there isn't a solution on the horizon. And the consequences of the removal from power of Manuel Zelaya worsen. This is specially visible in the economy, as the withdrawal of international aid, restrictions to trade, suspension of visa services by the U.S.
President Micheletti reaffirmed Honduras intention to carry out elections in November, in front of a commission of OAS chancellors.
According to BBC Mundo, Micheletti stated that elections will be held November 29th, 'whether the countries of the world recognize us or not. We are not afraid to anyone's embargo. We can move forwards without the support of any of you', in reference to the decision by some governments to break relations and cancel agreements with Honduras.