Honduran officers to stand trial related to coup

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

Honduran officers to stand trial related to coup
Reuters
Thursday, January 14, 2010; 10:23 PM

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Senior Honduran military officers who sent deposed President Manuel Zelaya into exile at gunpoint last year will stand trial for abuse of authority, court sources said on Thursday.

Zelaya, toppled on June 28 when soldiers roused him from bed and flew him to Costa Rica, has been mired in political limbo since he snuck back into Honduras in September.

Critics accused Zelaya, who is holed up in the Brazilian Embassy, of seeking to change the constitution to extend his term in office, which was to end in January.

The Supreme Court and Congress ordered his ouster last June but de facto leader Roberto Michiletti later said that exiling Zelaya was an error and he should face charges in Honduras.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/14/AR2010011405023.html

[bertman]

1. I'm betting they'll be found guilty, have their hands lightly slapped, then retire with

full pensions to some corporate job. Meanwhile, the businessmen who gave them their orders will walk away free and unscathed even after deposing an elected President.

Notice how the new Prez is pushing for amnesty for Zelaya. WTF is that about?

Rec.

[boppers]

5. Amnesty for Zeleya...

That's about the Supreme Court charges against Zelaya that led to his arrest. Some may have some validity (refusal to enact law, "firing" people without the authority to do so), others are sheer bullshit (exposing a child to H1N1, for example).

The "businessmen who gave them their orders" are continuing to serve their terms on the Supreme Court, and in Congress. Turns out that they can impeach and depose an elected president there, just like we can here. The due process got totally fucked up, but it looks like it's getting straightened out.

[L. Coyote]

2. Previous LATEST compilation: Arrest warrants issued for Honduran military high command

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4213665

[L. Coyote]

3. BBC: Honduras military chiefs face trial over Zelaya removal

Honduras military chiefs face trial over Zelaya removal
10:21 GMT, Friday, 15 January 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460862.stm


Top military chiefs in Honduras have been ordered not to leave the country .............

Members of the military high command, including armed forces chief of staff General Romeo Vasquez, appeared at the Supreme Court on Thursday to hear the charges against them.

The court's president, Jorge Rivera, ordered that they must stay in the country and report periodically to the court authorities.

They must also be present to testify when the initial proceedings begin next week.

............

Amnesty

President-elect Porfirio Lobo, who is due to take office on 27 January, has said he supports granting an amnesty relating to last year's events to both Mr Zelaya and those involved in his removal.

Mr Zelaya has dismissed the charges against the military chiefs as a cover to obscure the truth of what happened on 28 June. ..............

[L. Coyote]

4. Micheletti Sharply Criticizes Arias Decision Not To Attend Transfer of Power Ceremonies In Honduras

Micheletti Sharply Criticizes Arias Decision Not To Attend Transfer of Power Ceremonies In Honduras
http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/january/15/costarica-10011503.htm


Roberto Micheletti, the de facto president of Honduras, lashed out at Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, when learning that don Oscar will not be attending the transfer of powers ceremony in Honduras later this month.

Micheletti showed publicly his annoyance and the Arias decision.

Arias said this week that he considers it a mistake for president-elect, Porfirio Lobo, to accept the presidential sash from Micheletti and announced that he would not attend the ceremonies even before being invited......

Arias said that if Lobo cannot convince the leader of the de facto government to step aside, that would give the ceremonies more legitimacy to his election and seen as a positive move in the eyes of the international community, he demonstrating a sign of weakness.

The Arias words prompted a sharp reply by Micheletti who said "Arias does not have the capacity to speak of morals against our country", ...........

[L. Coyote]

6. Congress grants amnesty to Honduran interim leader, others involved in coup ?????

Questionable reporting fromChna! Has this been kept secret since it was passed???

======================
Congress grants amnesty to Honduran interim leader, others involved in coup
www.chinaview.cn 2010-01-16 - http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/16/content_12819634.htm


TEGUCIGALPA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Honduran Congress has approved a decree to grant amnesty to those involved in last June's military coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya, local media reported Friday.

The decree, approved on Wednesday night, will ensure the safety of post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti as well as that of his family.

Seventeen ministers and vice ministers of the de facto government, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Jorge Aviles, and General Prosecutor Luis Rubi will also be amnestied........

[L. Coyote]

7. Honduran Congress postpone amnesty debate

Honduran Congress postpone amnesty debate
Associated Press 2010-01-13 09:26 AM - http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1154204&lang=eng_news


Honduran lawmakers have indefinitely postponed debating an amnesty for those involved in a coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Congressional vice president Ramon Velasquez says lawmakers do not have time to discuss the divisive issue before their terms end. He says it would be up to a newly elected Congress that takes office Monday to debate the amnesty.

President-elect Porfirio Lobo says he supports granting amnesty both to Zelaya and to all of those involved in the June coup but it is up to Congress to approve it. Lobo won the Nov. 29 election to succeed Zelaya.

[L. Coyote]

8. Honduras Congress Gives up Debating Amnesty

Honduras Congress Gives up Debating Amnesty
http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/january/14/centam-10011401.htm


TEGUCIGALPA - The Honduran Congress has given up debating a questioned amnesty bill for crimes linked to the military coup last June, due to lack of consensus among the factions.

Several legislators confirmed the decision to press Wednesday, and also noted the current legislature has little time left, for it concludes on the 25th.

The measure was encouraged by Porfirio Lobo, the president elect ......

PN leader Rodolfo Irias told HRN radio station the issue will be retaken by the next legislature, where the faction will have wide majority.

The National Front against the coup, ..... ratified its total rejection of the amnesty.

No pardon or oblivion for the putschists, proclaimed the Front ..... The Front and Zelaya, also opposed to the amnesty, consider the members of the Supreme Court of Justice and the Public Ministry key pieces in the conspiracy that disrupted democratic order in the country.