Micheletti raises the stakes

The situation in Honduras is hanging in a cliff. In a matter of days -ten- it could evolve into an international issue. A serious one.

Since last June, when President Manuel Zelaya was ousted, the country has lived in turmoil. Now, coinciding with the petitions from the UN to restate the constitutional order and Mr. Zelaya in his job, things are heating up.

The EU and the USA have both condemned the coup, but few less has been done. America -responsible for the 75% of Honduras’ exports- has been static doing nothing more than the initial statement. Latin American countries on the other hand have been the biggest supporters for Mr. Zelaya. They were countries like Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and -the only exception- Spain, who stepped up and called their ambassadors.

After returning to the country, the ousted president seeked refuge in Brazil’s embassy in Tegucigalpa. Knowing this, thousands of Mr. Zelaya’s supporters gathered in front of the embassy where he gave a speech from one of the balconies. In the demonstrations following it, dozens were detained and injured and at least three people have died since the start of the unrest.

The right and the military are still, clearly, getting nervous. And acting erratically. Immediately, Micheletti, the interim president, has started a state of alert. Nowhere says that, but it is what it looks. First, Honduras denied visas to two workers of the Spanish embassy going back from holidays and four OAS officials. A fifth one was allowed. But major concerns are within the Honduran population.

Two media have been closed; the TV broadcaster Canal 36 and the radio station Radio Globo, both pro-opposition. In addition to that, civil rights have been suspended. Among them are the rights to free speech and public gathering.

But even more important might be the decision to break diplomatic ties with Brazil. After Zelaya seeked refuge in Brazil’s embassy, and after the first clashes, the building was seized. Electricity and water supplies were cut and no-one was allowed in again. It also has been bombarded with LRAD weapons and tear gas.

Now, Micheletti’s government is giving Brazil’s diplomatic body 10 days to leave the country and formally, has denied the right of an embassy. Honduras interim government has denied any intentions to storm into Brazil’s embassy after those 10 days, but the future of Mr. Zelaya remains a mystery.

Here, a video from Al Jazeera.



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