TFH01: MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000849 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL HO SUBJECT: TFH01: MEDIA REACTION "On the table." ¶1. (U)Editorial in the San Pedro Sula-based liberal paper Tiempo (8-27-09): "The Under Secretary for Andean and Southern Affairs, Christopher McCullen, has said in Montevideo that the U.S. government will put more pressure on the de facto government because it is very important to restore the institutional order in Honduras. Immediately after Micheletti gave a no to the OAS ministers' commission on the approval of the San Jose Agreement, the DOS informed of their decision to suspend non-urgent visa services for non-immigrants, in the Consular Section in Honduras, starting August ¶26. The comprehensive review of the visa policy does not only apply to the temporary suspension of the non urgent visa services, but also, probably, to the selective cancellation of the visas of those involved in the coup d'tat and the maintenance of the de facto regime. Micheletti seems to not give much importance to this determination, nor on the grave consequences implied for Honduras and its people, which, in reality, is the same position from the European Union and the rest of the world. He said that his country can move forward without the support of other countries. He has faith in God. But, as you can see, God is elsewhere, with a different perception of the political crisis in Honduras, perhaps because it cannot be that the entire world is wrong, including the majority of Hondurans, and that only one sector of the economic and political elite, allied with the military leadership, is the owner of reason. Perhaps that is why the top hierarchy of the Catholic and Protestant churches in Honduras, at the beginning justified the rupture of the institutional order, are now changing their position by saying to the OAS their acceptance of the San Jose Agreement. However, the echo sounds loud, with Micheletti's cries that Honduras is a sovereign country and that no one can impose anything, unless troops from elsewhere come and make them." "Is the eagle pressuring." ¶2. (U) Op-ed by Billy Pena in Tiempo (8-27-09): "It is regretful that the OAS mission could not persuade the coup government to accept the San Jose Agreement. Micheletti's intransigency was to be expected. We said yesterday that the seven ministers from the OAS would have come to waste time in Honduras. The OAS was searching for reconciliation in Honduras, a position that coincides with the San Jose Agreement. To reestablish the constitutional order it is necessary for Zelaya to return; however, the de facto government said his return was not negotiable, so they do not accept the Arias Plan. That means that they are not interested in (having) the OAS search for a solution to the crisis. The international community has left us alone; however, Micheletti has said that Honduras does not need any country. He is totally wrong. We are a poor country, underdeveloped and sadly, we need support from all the countries. It is a shame that Hondurans are not reasoning; it seems that they do not realize the consequences at short, middle and long term; isolation has begun to asphyxiate us. The European Union considers us a delinquent State. We have learned that the DOS has ordered its Ambassador in Honduras, Hugo Llorens, not to return to this country. Llorens is in the U.S. What does the U.S. government's attitude mean? It means that Obama's administration has begun to pressure the unconstitutional government. The U.S. is pressing its fist around the weak neck of Honduras that, sooner or later, will start sticking its tongue out despite its pride. The well-known retired Mexican journalist Jacobo Zabludosky offered an unexpected interview and gave explosive declaration on the Honduran crisis. Jacobo said that if the de facto government does not accept the San Jose Agreement, the U.S. would apply the following measures: Not recognize the new president-elect; total suspension of the economic aid in Honduras; freeze all bank accounts of the coup-makers in the U.S. and the entire world; suspend all remittances to Honduras; suspend all imports and exports to Honduras; remove preferential treatment in exports. Could we support these measures if applied against Honduras? We do not think so, and we still don't know the punitive measures that the European Union could implement. Looking at the measures the U.S. is considering to apply all seem to be bad; however, to freeze remittances to humble Honduras seems to be a severe measure that will have a negative impact on the country's economy when remittances are the foundation of our economy. Also the measure to stop all U.S. economic aid is really bad. We are digging our own grave... but nobody is interested in the country's well-being and happiness. The humble have always been irrelevant. We are going through a bad path... we have entered an alley with no exit." TEGUCIGALP 00000849 002 OF 002 "There is an atmosphere." ¶3. (U) Editorial in the Tegucigalpa-based liberal paper Tiempo (8-27-09): "... This time the society in general welcomed the OAS Secretary General and the ministers' commission, and they were grateful that they came to listen and inform themselves on the San Jose mediation process. There is no doubt that the OAS could see how polarized the country is, and how difficult the reconciliation is. But the fact that different sectors have the opportunity to be heard, as it should have been in the beginning, was a great relief. ... According to the distinguished visitors, the majority of people they met expressed agreement with the foundation of the Arias Plan, also many of them showed concern about it. ... The ministers also listened to the opinions and concerns of the presidential candidates on the electoral process, agreeing that the majority of politicians (think) that the electoral process is independent of everything else and is apart from the crisis because the call for elections was done before the crisis, and that the election is the way out of the crisis. Despite all, the mission considered that there were advances but also recognized that there still is no disposition for full acceptance of the agreement from part of the government and its supporters. They regretted that on this occasion there was no support for the acceptance of the Costa Rican plan. At his return, Insulza said that the dialogue has not failed assuring that there is an atmosphere to search for other efforts. We are still hopeful and we have to pray enough for the miracle to happen and for peace to return to the country." "Hear and listen." ¶4. (U) Editorial in La Prensa (8-27-09): "The OAS mission, after almost two months since the events in June heard, but not sure they listened, for the first time the versions of the different sectors. So in a way, if they want, they have a real vision, complete and true of the political situation in Honduras. ... At the end of the visit the answer was straightforward: the way out of the crisis is found in the will of all Hondurans in the elections. Massive and transparent elections, with the participation of international observers, will answer the crisis generated by disrespect of the law and the violation to the Constitution. The OAS commission did not have an option as a way out, well at least as a priority, because their press release before leaving the country emphasized the San Jose Agreement. ... The result of the visit is summarized with the recognition from the Commission that there were advances, and recognition that there is no disposition for the full acceptance of the San Jose Agreement from the government and its supporters for the return of the former president. What's next? You don't have to be a fortune-teller, because meanwhile, the San Jose mediation remains; meanwhile the OAS expresses its desire for a solution and in Honduras there is contact, commissions are being integrated, the space for dialogue is maintained and the collective expression in defense of one thing or the other, the pressures in the diplomatic and commercial areas will increase in a game of interests (among) the big countries of the hemisphere. The solution left is the elections, but the elections do not give answers to the biggest social problems, and the growth of authoritarian populism that has generated confrontations, divisions and hatred. Let's learn the lesson to avoid repeating mistakes." Henshaw