US revokes more visas to pressure Honduran solution

[struggle4progress]

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The United States has revoked the visas of more Hondurans to pressure the facto government to end a three-month political crisis, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

The Honduran government is in talks to resolve the impasse created by a June 28 military coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who has returned to Honduras and taken refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.

State Department spokesman Charles Luoma-Overstreet said the department had canceled visas for "a number of Hondurans who are members and/or supporters of the de facto regime."

"This action is a reflection of the seriousness and urgency with which the U.S. government takes the need for the de facto regime to reach an agreement with President Zelaya to restore the democratic order," Luoma-Overstreet said ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN21494080

[rabs]

1. Apparently it is a pretty good number

State Department spokesman Charles Luoma-Overstreet said the department had canceled visas for "a number of Hondurans who are members and/or supporters of the de facto regime."

------------------------
Heard Zelaya speaking on Radio Globo last night that the number was "dozens and dozens." He said it involved functionaries who are working and supporting the golpista regime.

[struggle4progress]

2. Honduras de facto government hardens stance as U.S. cuts visas

Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:39pm EDT
By Mica Rosenberg

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The de facto Honduran government stood firm on Wednesday against letting ousted President Manuel Zelaya back to power, even as Washington froze visas to add pressure on leaders of a June coup to back down.

Roberto Micheletti's caretaker government also imposed restrictions on street protests, which are mainly pro-Zelaya ...

On Wednesday, Honduran police announced restrictions on protests, saying they must be authorized by the government 24 hours in advance with a request detailing the people in charge and the time and route the march will take, in an effort to quell near daily rallies in favor of Zelaya ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE59K68720091021

[EFerrari]

3. I read on magbana's blog yesterday that the electoral tribunal will be in DC

this week. I guess they had no problem with their visas? :shrug:


6:00PM



IMPORTANT: You will note in the following excerpt on Honduras from today’s State Dept. briefing that the Honduran electoral tribunal is to be in Washington this week. Obviously, they are here to get pointers on how to pull off an illegal, internationally-rejected election on Nov. 29.



>US State Dept. Daily Briefing, Tuesday, October 20, 2009



Excerpt regarding Honduras:



“QUESTION: Anything on – anything new on Honduras?



MR. KELLY: Anything new on Honduras. Well, just to update you that the negotiations continue, that – between the two teams with the help of OAS officials. They’ve reached agreement on most aspects of the Guaymuras version of the San Jose Accords. There’s just one – there’s one article that remains a point of contention, and that’s Article 6, which deals with the restoration of individuals to positions that they had before June 28 – right? Yeah, that’s – most importantly, President Zelaya.



And we just urge the two sides to stick to it, and we urge the de facto regime in particular to help open a pathway for international support of the election by concluding the agreement. We believe that an agreement is – could lead to elections that are internationally recognized, and is ultimately the way out of this crisis, but –



QUESTION: Is there any meeting planned – several people from the Honduran electoral tribunal are going to be in town this week. Are they meeting with anybody at the State Department?



MR. KELLY: Oh, I’m not aware that they are.

http://hondurasoye.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/honduran-national-resistance-update-1020/

[rabs]

4. Guess who invited them to D.C. ...

Ros-Lehtinen and Ditzy-Balart -- Fidel's nephew !


La Loca and Ditzy called for an "audencia" with the Honduran elections dudes and invited both Repug and Demo members of the House. Only repubs showed up.


http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2009/10/21/Noticias/Magistrados-se-reunen-con-congresistas-de-EE-UU