Updating from New Orleans: Seven Articles for Mediation

I am back in New Orleans for a few weeks. Surprisingly, the infamous heat and humidity of the Crescent City has not has its usual devastating effect on me. Travelling from 3000 feet above sea level in Tegucigalpa to several feet below sea level in the Cresent City often causes me to be a bit out of balance. I hit the ground running today. Well, walking anyway. I enjoyed a fabulous Cuban style meal at the local neighborhood hangout, The Blue Banana, and then ended the day with mango smoothies with my sister and friends.

My time here will be spent profitably, with plans to build an efficiency for my personal use in an unused part of my garage rental unit, as well as further plans to rent my main house. Also, plans are going forward for feeding and milk projects in Honduras. In another post, I can discuss ongoing training that I plan on attending in the fall in Central America.

Here are a few thoughts on the continuing unfolding crisis in Honduras:

The mediation talks will continue in Costa Rica on Sunday between the factions of the interim Honduran government and the deposed president. Oscar Arias, the president of Costa Rica, has proposed seven articles for mediation. Some sources report that former President Zelaya has agreed to the terms, but the interim government has not given full approval. Hopefully, a compromise can be reached tomorrow. Former President Zelaya insists he will return"within hours" as the head of the Honduran government whether or not the mediation process is successful. He formerly issued an ultimatum that he would return to Honduras if talks did not reach a consensus by midnight of Saturday, July 18.

In the meantime, protesters continue to block major highways and transportation centers within the country in an effort to pressure the interim government to allow Zelaya to return as president.

Here is the proposal by the President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, for a solution to the crisis in Honduras

1.- La legítima restitución de José Manuel Zelaya Rosales en la Presidencia de la República, cargo 1 .- The return of legitimate Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales in the presidential office to remain until the end of the constitutional term for which he was elected, and ending on January 27 of next year, when he hands power over to the nominee and elected in a democratic process by the people in elections supervised by the community and recognized international observers.

2.- La conformación de un gobierno de unidad y reconciliación nacional, compuesto por 2 .- The formation of a government of national unity and reconciliation, comprised of representatives of major political parties.

3.- La declaración de una amnistía general exclusivamente para todos los delitos políticos cometidos 3 .- The declaration of a general amnesty only for political crimes committed l during this conflict, before and after June 28.

4.- La renuncia expresa del presidente Zelaya, y de su gobierno, de la pretensión de colocar una 4 .- President Zelaya renounces , and its government, the claim for a fourth ballot "in the next election, or make any unauthorized referendum expressly to change the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras."

5.- El adelantamiento de las elecciones nacionales del 29 de noviembre al último domingo de 5 .- The advancement of the national elections of November 29 to the last Sunday of October, and the advancement of the electoral campaign of the first days of September to early August.

6.- El traslado del comando de las fuerzas armadas del poder ejecutivo al Tribunal Supremo 6 .- The transfer of command of the armed forces from the executive branch to the Supreme Court, a month before the election, for purposes of ensuring the transparency and normalcy of suffrage, in accordance with the terms of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras.

7.- La integración de una comisión de verificación compuesta por hondureños notables y miembros 7 .- The inclusion of a verification commission composed of notables and members comprised of Hondurans and international agencies, especially by representatives of the Organization of Americans, to monitor compliance with these agreements.

My plans for a series on the marginalized peoples of Honduras will have to be postponed as the people who are vetted for the interview process generally are not available during the present crisis to communicate with me in New Orleans.