With President Zelaya Back, First Post-Cold War Coup Could Turn Violent

By Noquel A. Matos

TEGUCIGALPA-Three months ago on June 28, the Honduran military kidnapped President Manuel Zelaya into Costa Rica removing him from government and proclaiming a de facto government led by Roberto Micheletti. Micheletti’s government, disapproved by the international community, came to power in response of President Zelaya attempts at passing a referendum this past June. They claim that the referendum looked to undermine the Honduran Constitution by allowing President Zelaya to re-elect. Despite international economical sanctions in the way of embargo towards the coup leader, Roberto Micheletti has stood fast in his position of not giving up the presidential seat.
Honduras in its current state of political instability with the army patrolling the streets, it’s only going to get more chaotic. Yesterday, President Zelaya secretly sneaked back into the country. The disposed President made arrangements with the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa to let him take refuge in their premises. Roberto Michelli, who at first denied the presence of President Zelaya in the country, ordered the Brazilian Embassy to give him up so he could face the 18 charges against him.
President Zelaya who has being open for dialogues however will not give himself in. The President has denied any attempt alleged by de facto government of under minding the constitution. Actually, President Zelaya said he never planned to run for re-elections.
With the leaders of the world just meeting North from this developing conflict, and for its nature of being the first attempt to oust a president by force in the Post-Cold War era this conflict is predicted to gain the world’s attention in the United Nations. Nevertheless, the prospect of a peaceful solution does not look plausible. Roberto Micheletti has been resiliency on his position of staying in government and Manuel Zelaya grows impatient to return to his Presidential seat.
Now, with President Zelaya back in Honduran territory things could grow violent as Roberto Micheletti keeps pressuring to convict the President elected.

URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/world/americas/22honduras.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=zelaya%20is%20back&st=cse