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Zelaya's Return to Honduras: Another Media Stunt?
September 21, 2009
by Christopher SabatiniFame, even political fame, seems to depend more and more on your ability to grab the public fascination—even if it’s lack of respect—than any real attributes. Just the mere aura of media attention confers importance, talent and relevance now-a-days. Just ask the vacuous Paris Hilton, or the duly-elected president of Honduras, Manuel “Mel” Zelaya, whose latest tactics indicate that more than resolving the constitutional crisis in a serious manner, he’d prefer to just be in the news. For whatever. Just today (Monday, September 21) Zelaya appeared suddenly in the Brazilian embassy claiming he had crossed mountains, rivers and the military-manned border to re-appear in Honduras to defy the government’s arrest order. And then he gave a friendly wave to supporters from the Brazilian embassy.
This isn’t helpful.
Sure the man was deposed in a coup. (Just a quick side note: as Mary O’Grady wrote in today’s Wall Street Journal, the Honduran constitution does allow for the Supreme Court to try a president and issue a warrant. What it clearly does not say is that it gives them the power to bundle him up and take him out of the country. It also implies that the trial would be transparent and under due process—neither of which was true in the rushed, closed-door “hearing” that was held preceding President Zelaya’s jammy-clad plane trip into exile. The U.S. constitution allows for an impeachment process; but once it has been completed and a president found guilty, it doesn’t allow for him to be sent into exile—most would agree that to be beyond the constitutional order.)
But his antics: first circling over the airport in a Venezuelan government plane, then the hokey pokey at the Nicaraguan/Honduras border, and now this demonstrate a craven need to keep himself in the public eye and to remind the world of his martyrdom, and, in some twisted way, even present himself as a credible politician.
This whole thing undercuts the ability for a much-needed, serious solution. That solution should follow the plan outlined by Óscar Arias in the 12-point San José plan that would have permitted for Zelaya’s return (with severely constrained powers) and the stepping down of the interim government. Unfortunately, the interim government refused to yield. And, worse still, in the absence of any formal diplomatic solution, Zelaya went goofy.
As I write, the OAS is struggling to resolve the crisis and José Miguel Insulza has announced his plans to travel to Tegucigalpa on Tuesday. What it will do, I’m not sure.
What is clear is the following: neither side—Zelaya or the de facto government—is playing in good faith. The San José accord would have patched things up, de-fanged Zelaya, returned the country to some modicum of constitutionality (that could please both sides), and allowed for elections. Now it’s pretty hard to see that happening. Zelaya’s surreptitious, media-grabbing return will only inflame the indignation and suspicions of the de facto government and the recent declaration of that government to impose a curfew will only strengthen its image as overreacting in a heavy-handed fashion. (One detailed earlier by the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights.)
So, for the moment, as this farce unfolds, this is what appears clear:
-Zelaya now just wants (probably even craves) media attention to underscore his image as a martyr;
-The de facto government is even less likely to budge on the San José Accord now that Zelaya took it upon himself to appear in Tegucigalpa; and
-Both sides, by preferring to jettison a formal diplomatic solution (represented by the San José Accord), have only increased the farcical, media-driven game that does little to solve the root problems.
And what the OAS will or can do? Who knows.
*Christopher Sabatini is the Editor-in-Chief of Americas Quarterly and Senior Director of Policy at the Americas Society and Council of the Americas.
Tags:: Honduran coup, Honduras crisis, Oscar Arias plan, Paris Hilton, President Zelaya, Zelaya’s returnTo read more from Americas Quarterly, sign up for a free trial issue of the print magazine. No risk, no commitment.
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Well these are most common
Well these are most common games being played just to keep the publicity on and also get the people's affection. there are so many examples of such things happening in the society and as Media is so much aware of such things, news gets published very easily.
you should read more about politics
this article clearly shows little knowledge of how politic works.. Mel Zelaya get as much media attention as he can to be able to make his moves with more media attention.. making him look stronger, his trying to look as a victim and trying to get more support
my response
To those who politely (not the first respondent--please note, simply denouncing someone isn't a debate) responded. I agree that it's a game changer. I agree that it broke the stalemate. And I agree that he deserves to be back in Honduras. But (as my last post argues) this runs a real risk of inflaming the situation and forcing Micheletti to dig in even deeper. I honestly hope it doesn't. I honestly hope that this will result in the return (in a limited form) of Zelaya to the presidency until January 2010. But there are real risks here. And Zelaya's mobilization of his supporters from the Brazilian embassy has already provoked violence and even--at a minimum--one death. Clearly this was at the hands of the Micheletti-ordered military, but a death nonetheless.
In sum, these things should not be taken lightly or as necessary for the cause of democracy. There were middle roads that could have been taken (appearing at the UN and demanding the opportunity to speak to the GA, for example) that would have been far more productive, and less bloody.
Nevertheless, thanks for your comments. We can respectfully disagree.
Chris
Offensive
Shows a real lack of understanding of what is going on in Latin America.
Elected by Peolple
Zelaya has the right to be in his country, he is a born Honduran, no honduran can be expatriate, even if he has a political cause. He is our elected president and thats why he has to be close to his people and fellow hondurans.
Are you serious?
This has nothing to do with craving media attention. This move by Zelaya is a real game changer. It puts the attention where it ought to have been all along - on the intransigence of the coup regime. You mention the 12-point Arias Plan but forget to mention that President Zelaya signed onto that agreement a couple times, while the coup regime rejected it out of hand. Now, there is hope for peace and democracy in Honduras, with the issue refocessed with some urgency. The OAS is talking about the matter urgently right now, the OAS Chief is flying in, some UN reps are flying in, Brazil is involved. The pressure has heightened many fold on the coup regime. This appears to be what you are really afraid of. This and perhaps the lack of US control over the matter. It would be more respectable if you just admitted this rather than try to twist thigs around. This "antic" - like flying over Honduras and coming to the border - were all very important for the struggle to return democracy. His supporters inside and outside need to know Zelaya never gave up and he is willing to sacrifice himself for the struggle. I think you understand that very well, but just are not comfortable with the spotlight being trained back on the coup. You and your ilk would just prefer this all go away so that the next moderately leftist leader could get dealt with the same way.