The State Department has decided to revoke diplomatic visas to what it believes are four members of the “de facto” government of Honduras. These people have been working for the government of Manuel Zelaya, but now serve to the “de facto government.”

And as America does not recognize this “de facto” government, these diplomatic visas are expected to be removed from its members, as they would be useless, unable these people to represent the government of Honduras in America.

These individuals are: Alfredo Saavedra, President of the Congress; Adolfo Sevilla, Defense Minister, Ramon Custodio, Human Rights Commissioner, and Arita Thomas, Judge of the Supreme Court.

My comment:

If this is a measure of pressure, I should say it is not a very effective deterrent.

These officers have a tourist visa, so they can travel to America as many times as they deem necessary.

Mr. Alfredo Saavedra, president of the Congress, confessed that he had never used his diplomatic visa. Adolfo Sevilla said he rarely travels abroad. And Ramón Custodio has said he has a tourist visa, but will not use it because he believes that this measure is an insult to the Honduran people. He doesn’t consider himself as part of the government.

The State Department is somewhat disoriented. This government is not a de facto government, it is a legitimate government under Honduran law. Representative Saavedra was elected in free elections, and has all the legitimacy to represent the people of Honduras in the Congress, he is not a “de facto” legislator.

Mr. Thomas Arita, judge of the Supreme Court, is not a “de facto judge”. He was appointed when Zelaya was in office. The removal of his diplomatic visa for his arrest warrant against Zelaya suggests a repudiable interventionism in the internal affairs of the State of Honduras. It sends a wrong message to international public opinion: that presidents anointed with the popular vote are above the law.

These actions will not produce the return of Zelaya to power, but will cause the Honduran people to distrust the American government, which we felt was our ally.