Reconciliation Government Proceeds Without Zelaya Nominees

Honduras' Congress remained in recess as of Friday. Most of its members are busy campaigning for re-election. The country's national elections are scheduled for November 29. The president of the Congress, José Alfredo Saavedra, has not convened an extraordinary session of the legislative body because he and his Executive Committee are awaiting the opinions of the Supreme Court of Justice and other government insitutions such as the Attorney General and the Public Ministry on the question of reinstating Manuel Zelaya as president. Meanwhile, yesterday was the deadline for the establishment of a Government of Unity and National Reconciliation, as specified by the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord signed last week between representatives of the Micheletti government and Mr. Zelaya.

The Verification Commission set up to oversee the implementation of the agreement's provisions is awaiting a list from Mr. Zelaya of 10 people he would like to name to the reconciliation government. However, Mr. Zelaya has said that he would not submit any names until Congress first votes to restore him to power. His interpretation of the agreement is that he would head the reconciliation government. The problem is that the agreement does not place conditions or timelines on Congress. The interpretation by both the Micheletti government and the US State Department is that all sides must abide by whatever decision Congress hands down, be it for or against reinstatement.

At a few minutes before midnight on Thursday, interim president Roberto Micheletti announced the formation of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation, thereby adhering to the letter of the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord. Mr. Micheletti's cabinet resigned last night, opening the way for the appointment of a new cabinet consisting of individuals from various sectors of Honduran society and different political parties. The names of these individuals have not yet been made public. But the absence in the reconciliation government of representatives nominated by Mr. Zelaya or the participation of Mr. Zelaya in any way raises questions about whether this new transitional government abides by the spirit of the agreement.

Mr. Zelaya this morning referred to the reconciliation government as "a joke". He added, "We've decided not to continue with this theater of Mr. Micheletti's".

This emerging development in the political crisis that has consumed Honduras during the past four months appears to be the first major roadblock in the full implementation of the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord. The US government, which played an important role in influencing the signing of the agreement, is taking the position that the situation is now an internal matter for the people of Honduras. The US has indicated that it is committed to the recognizing the upcoming elections, regardless of how the issue of reinstatement is resolved.