San Jose, Costa Rica - Deposed Honduran president Manuel
Zelaya called his designated successor, Roberto Micheletti, a
'gorilla putschist' ahead of talks between the two men Thursday in
Costa Rica.
'He is a criminal who has beaten down our people and the rights of
our democracy,' Zelaya said Wednesday night upon his arrival in Costa
Rica.
Zelaya, whose ouster in a June 28 military coup was condemned by
the international community, stressed that he had not come to San
Jose for negotiations on his reinstatement as president.
'I want to clarify that our presence here is not due to any
negotiation,' he said. 'It's as if you are invited to negotiate with
a criminal who violated your family.'
The task ahead of the talks' mediator, Costa Rican President and
Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias, was expected to be difficult
after both Zelaya and Micheletti said some of their competing demands
are non-negotiable: For Micheletti, the man designated to head the
Honduran government after the coup, Zelaya's return as president is
not on the table, but for Zelaya, his reinstatement is a given.
He demanded Wednesday night that the interim administration in
Honduras submit the requirements for its exit within 24 hours.
'It would be monstrous lunacy for all democracies in America not
to advocate the return of the elected president of the Honduran
people,' he said.
But Micheletti, whose government has not been internationally
recognized, has said Zelaya's return to Honduras was off the table
'unless it is to turn himself in to justice officials.' The former
speaker of the Congress has repeatedly said that Zelaya would be
arrested as soon as he sets foot in Honduran territory.
Zelaya is being charged with treason, abuse of authority and
corruption.
He provoked anger with his calls for changes to the constitution
that would have allowed him to seek a second term, a move critics saw
as a power grab. His supporters, however, have been equally outspoken
in support of Zelaya since his ouster, taking to the streets to
protest.
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