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July 22, 2009

Coup Regime Rejects Own Negotiator’s Proposal on Zelaya Return
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In Honduras, the coup regime is showing internal division over the
return of the overthrown President Manuel Zelaya. On Tuesday, the de
facto government rejected a proposal from its own foreign minister and
lead negotiator that would have restored Zelaya to office. The foreign
minister, Carlos López Contreras, drafted a plan that would let Zelaya
return but bar a referendum on allowing him to run for reelection. It
was the second reconciliation proposal rejected by the coup regime in
less than a week following its objection to a Costa Rica-backed plan
agreed to by Zelaya. Meanwhile, Zelaya spoke out from Nicaragua on
Tuesday, vowing to return to Honduras within seventy-two hours.

President Manuel Zelaya: “After seventy-two hours, to return to Honduras
to find solutions, a peaceful return to the right we all have to resist
oppression, to join the Honduran people in resisting this repressive
regime that has taken over our country.”

Zelaya’s promise to return came as hundreds of his supporters continued
daily protests in the capital Tegucigalpa. Protest leader Rafael Alegria
said the struggle to restore Zelaya could turn violent if the coup
regime doesn’t step down.

Rafael Alegria: “No one can guarantee that there will be an outbreak of
violence and that the people will get out of control. For now, we’re on
the streets peacefully protesting, but no one can say whether it will
turn into a violent confrontation. If it does, that will be the
responsibility of the coup leaders.”



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