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At the end of a
press conference by the constitutional president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya
Rosales, at his country’s embassy in Managua, we caught up with Zelaya in his
car, as he was leaving with his chief of staff, Enrique Flores Lanza, on their
way to a meeting with international media. President Zelaya, who in just a few
days or even hours, will again attempt the journey back to Honduras, agreed to
give SIREL an exclusive interview.
-You have
announced your intention of going back to Honduras at any cost. Is that a final
decision?
-It’s not
something aimed at destabilizing the country. On the contrary, it’s a way to
stabilize the country. We believe this is the best path towards starting a
national dialogue that will solve the conflict and will put an end to the
repression that the Honduran people are suffering.
-A dialogue
with whom?
-With the
people, because in a democracy it is the people who rule. The sectors in power
that have taken up arms are repressive groups and must surrender the government
to the people, who did not entrust them with that power.
-What has
pained you most of this coup staged against you and your government staff?
-It pains me to
see that my country is being torn apart, that society is suffering, that
everything we’ve accomplished thanks to the efforts of many generations is now
being threatened at gunpoint.
-The de facto
government has been completely isolated by the international community and is
facing a strong and unyielding resistance on the home front led by grassroots
movements. But it continues firmly entrenched in an intransigent attitude. Have
you asked yourself if this is just recklessness on its part, or if it is
confident it has support from sectors abroad?
-They’re like
beasts in the wild, desperately holding on to their prey. To them Honduras
is like their own personal hacienda. They’re a group of ten families who want to
consolidate their economic benefits and privileges. But they’re acting on
baseless fears, because no one is threatening to touch their interests. Still,
they see democratic development as harmful to them and they can’t stand
democracy.
-In the press
conference you said that there are rightwing political sectors in the US who
backed the coup and are still supporting it. Are you convinced that these
sectors are involved?
-These people
have publicly come out and said they support the coup, even US senators
and congresspersons. Mr. Otto Reich, former Assistant Secretary of State
for the Western Hemisphere, declared that he was in favor of the coup, and there
are many other representatives in the United States who have done the
same. So there is sufficient proof, evidence, that former president George W.
Bush’s hawks are behind the coup.
-How important
has the grassroots, social and labor movements been in blocking the de facto
government’s advance?
-They’re the
leading players in the defense of democracy, because they believe that democracy
is the means to achieve social gains. They’re combating the coup and will not
give up until all the effects of this outrageous abuse of the Honduran people
and democracy are corrected.
The coup
leaders are defying the world, and we must set a precedent before it is too
late.
-The IUF has
been following the situation in Honduras -before, during and after the coup- and
reporting from inside the popular movement. For the organizations in the
resistance movement there are two elements that are non-negotiable: they will
not accept an amnesty for those responsible for the coup, and are not willing to
abandon the process for the fourth ballot and the constituent assembly. What do
you think of these two issues?
-It would be
absurd to reward the coup leaders for staging a coup. I think what the social
movements want is to find a solution to the conflict, but they don’t want to see
anyone who has committed criminal acts or ordinary crimes rewarded or pardoned.
At the same time, I think that the seven-point proposal put forward by President
Oscar Arias contemplates a political amnesty, but that amnesty doesn’t
include criminal acts or ordinary crimes. As for social reforms, I think that
finding a new strategy to move forward with these reforms must be included as
part of a broad process of discussion within Honduran society. Social reforms
cannot be halted, and neither should the people be denied their right to
participation, because these are constitutional rights. In this sense, Oscar
Arias’ proposal has not been discussed in depth, because what the coup
perpetrators are not willing to do is restore the democratic system. They want a
de facto regime, without laws; they want to retain power through violence, and
that’s something we cannot accept.
-Two elements
have been pointed to as key in reaching a solution to the conflict: the position
of the United States, and the role of the Armed Forces. What do you think?
-Just today we
sent a letter to President Barack Obama respectfully asking him to take
firmer action, not only against the repressive government, but also against
those who conspired to overthrow the government and staged the coup. We hope to
receive an answer soon, so that the measures that are implemented will really
tend to restore democracy and the rule of law. If that doesn’t happen, we will
all be at risk, not just me -ousted for defending the rights of society- but the
entire population. I think President Obama not only has the diplomatic
mechanisms to pressure the de facto government, but also other significant
means, and I hope that he will use them, as other Latin American
countries.
With respect to
the Armed Forces, if they’re going to be used to stage coups, then naturally we
will have to reconsider their role. But I think that, in this case, the coup was
ordered by the highest-ranking officers. Lower ranking officers and the new
generation, who will inherit a bloodstained Armed Forces, don’t want this coup.
-The moment of
your return to Honduras is growing near. Aren’t you afraid you may be thrown in
jail or even killed?
-I’m not
afraid, but I am cautious and prudent. There are times in life when you need to
put all your effort and intent into something, times when you need to make a
sacrifice, when sacrifice is necessary to conquer social gains, and I’m willing
to make that effort to guarantee freedom, democracy and peace for my people.
-You’ve asked
the media to accompany you in this attempt to return to your country. Is that
correct?
-I’ve asked
them to come with me. I’m going to risk everything, and the world is also taking
a risk with my return. I’ve said it before: if I am assassinated, then general
Romeo Vásquez Velásquez will be held responsible for my death.
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