I believe the Cartagena agreement is positive, because it helps to reduce the level of confrontation in Honduras. Although it may seem strange President Chavez’s cooperation with Honduras in order to return to the OAS, after his extremist rhetoric, accusing the government of Lobo of being a continuation of the coup. It is also positive the resumption of diplomatic relations with Nicaragua.

With this agreement President Lobo scores another diplomatic victory, locating himself in the center of the controversy between the factions of “whiteys” and “resistance.”

A sector of the self-called “resistance” interprets the agreement as a political victory, while another sector questions the lack of transparency in the negotiations.

Manuel Zelaya is expected to arrive in Honduras on Saturday 28 May. A massive welcome is being organized from the “resistance.”

The faction of the “whiteys” shows some division too, some see this agreement as an anti-patriotic betrayal, while others see it as an opportunity to lower the profile of Zelaya.

This agreement does not mean the end of tensions. The agreement may be misunderstood by either party, which may create more conflicts. Specifically regarding the alleged legal persecution of the Zelaya’s administration officials.

Both those who favored the coup (they call it “constitutional succession”) and those who are against it use different versions of conspiracy theories to explain what happened in Honduras.

While in other parts of the world conspiracy theories suffer from a bad reputation, they are necessary in Honduras.

And of course, internationally, the most acceptable conspiracy theory is that of the coup d’Etat.

And this being so, one wonders, if conspiracy theories have such a bad press, why in the case of Honduras they are acceptable?

In my opinion, this happens because of the bad image Honduras has internationally. A lot of people find it hard to believe that the U.S. government, for example, may conspire against his own people, but it is easier to think that a small country with a bad reputation, like Honduras, can.

The conspiracy theory of the coup d’Etat

According to the group that claims Honduras had a military coup, known as the “resistance”, Manuel Zelaya was the greatest president Honduras ever had,  the one who had the courage, like no other, to confront the the powers that be.  Proof of this was the disproportionate increase in the minimum wage and the proposed “fourth ballot box”, through which he was to inaugurate the popular sovereignty and participatory democracy. His affiliation with the progressive governments of Latin America that have joined the ALBA offered no doubt about his good intentions.

That’s why the Honduran oligarchy was frightened, because it saw the power slipping out of it hands, so they decided to conspire for a coup d’Etat, with the secret U.S. approval.  In fact, the U.S.  took the initiative in the coup, as the Honduran oligarchy is too servile to even think of a coup without the approval of Uncle Sam.

The conspirators were a group of businessmen of Arab descent who have taken the country through economic power, exploiting the natives and their natural resources. This group of Arab businessmen used the military to give a military coup with some semblance of civilian rule.  Roberto Micheletti appeared as a de facto civilian president, but in reality he was only a puppet in the hands of the military.

The military took control of Congress and the Supreme Court.

Upon learning of the coup, the people went immediately to the streets protesting against the savage military coup, repudiating dictator Micheletti, so the de facto regime responded with torture, killings and disappearances.

The dead, tortured and desaparecidos are counted by the thousands, it’s a real slaughter, but you wouldn’t have known this by the Honduran media because they were all controlled by the coupsters. All anti-coup media was shut down. The international news channels like CNN were censored.

The oligarchy organized rallies of government and private business employees supporting the coup to give the impression that it had popular support, but they failed to convince anyone.

The U.S. publicly denounced the coup but it secretly continued funding it.

With the help of the United States fraudulent elections were held which were attended by less than 5% of the population, and yet the United States recognized the elections as valid.

The elections were intended to wash the face of the coup, but the sad reality is that the military remains in power through savage repression and brutality, but this is hidden from international public opinion through the disinformation campaign  of the U.S. imperialism.

The Honduran people continue to believe that Mel Zelaya is their messiah, and he soon will come to free his people from he chains of the oligarchy.

But the reality is that…

It’s not true that Mel Zelaya did an excellent job as president in favor of the poor. Zelaya was characterized by his chaotic administration, he squandered the money of the debt cancellation.  Zelaya was not removed from office for being pro-poor, but for trying to jump the fence of the political game’s rules.

There is no evidence of conspiracy for a coup d’Etat. The expulsion of Mel Zelaya of the country was apparently an unexpected event.  Micheletti took office because he was the next in the line of command under the Constitution.  There is no evidence that the military exercised the power.  Micheletti led a civilian government.  The Congress and the Supreme Court continued with the same officials who served during Zelaya’s term.

The groups that supported Zelaya were a minority. Reports of human rights abuses were politically manipulated in order to damage Honduras’ image. The pro-Zelaya media continued to operate in the midst of crisis, defaming and inciting people to violence.

The elections were a success, and have been the basis for international recognition of the Honduras government. There is no evidence of U.S. participation in Zelaya’s overthrown, rather, on the contrary, it pressed for the return of Zelaya to power and continues to regard what happened on June 28, 2009 as a coup.

“They bent the arm of the Supreme Court,  which was forced to annul  the the charges against Zelaya so that Honduras may return to the OAS. “

That’s what the anti -Zelaya media media says,  but there is no evidence of this.

Whiteys complained that Zelaya had no respect for the law and that the rule of law had to be rescued.

However, the annulment of the charges against Zelaya was made following the legal principles and legal formalities.  Therefore,  it must be respected, even when they don’t like it.  Justice can not expect to please everyone.

They forget that the removal of Zelaya was illegal.  Every citizen is entitled to due process, and not to be forced out of the country.  When this right is violated, legal consequences may come, as the annulment of charges.

But Zelaya followers are mistaken if they believe this will end all legal actions against Zelaya.  The Public Ministry has decided not to appeal the decision of the Court , but that does not mean they can not  initiate a new prosecution against him.

The annulment of charges does not amount to admit that Zelaya is innocent of the charges against him,  let alone admitting that there was a coup d’Etat on June 28, 2009.

Zelaya himself has said that  “the  persecution against him still continues”,  that his “constitutional rights” are still not guaranteed  That is, he intends to enjoy total impunity as a condition to return to Honduras.

I was one of those who supported the overthrow of Zelaya, because in my opinion he was leading us to a dictatorship, and he had to be stopped before it was too late.

However, I do not share the radicalism expressed by some of the more radical members of the group of “Whiteys” (blanquitos).

“Whitey” (blanquito) is a somewhat derogatory term used to identify those who supported the Micheletti regime after the overthrow of Zelaya. The name “Whiteys” came from the rallies in which Micheletti supporters dressed in white.

The organization called the Civic Democratic Union (UCD) arose spontaneously in response to the the “fourth ballot box” project that aimed to change the Political Constitution.

This organization has been weakened after the inauguration of President Lobo, since he has not followed the hard line of those that oppose Zelaya.

This shows that the UCD is more of a “reactionary” than a civic organization. The UCD has not submitted any proposal for the development of the country, and is only interested in going against the Zelaya group.

The most radical anti-Zelayistas opposed to the transfer of frequency of channel 8, saying it was an act of illegal expropriation by the government, which was shown to be false. This frequency was being used illegally by a private corporation, and is now in control of the Honduran State. El Heraldo newspaper made a strong campaign insisting on this lie, despite its slogan boasts of being “the truth in your hands.” By this time I stopped reading this newspaper regularly

El Heraldo newspaper has a strong anti-Zelaya bias. I’m not a supporter of Zelaya, but I don’t agree with the distortion of the news only to favor the anti-Zelaya group.

El Heraldo does not waste the opportunity to call “ex military coupster” to Hugo Chavez, when most of the time this is not relevant to the news article.

Some of the most radical Whiteys have talked about the convenience of a coup against President Lobo, for the alleged expropriation of channel 8, and other Lobo’s actions.

Whiteys are opposed to dialogue with the Zelayista group. They maintain a vindictive attitude that does not benefit the country. It was through dialogue that the representatives of Zelaya signed on the Tegucigalpa-San Jose agreement, which allowed the U.S. recognition of the current Honduran authorities. If the radicals Whiteys had gotten their way this recognition would have been more difficult.

The attitude of Whiteys to prefer confrontation instead of dialogue would produce more mindless violence.

I support the initiative of President Lobo to talk with Hugo Chavez. Whiteys are shocked by this, because they believe he is some kind of devil’s incarnation. For my part I think we should negotiate with the devil if it’s necessary, and if Hugo Chavez now wants to cooperate with Honduras we should let him.

Whiteys are more Catholic than the Pope opposing Petrocaribe, when it was approved by Micheletti himself when he was president of the Congress.

It is true that Petrocaribe does not provide cheaper fuel, but it gives us the opportunity to delay payments with low interest rates, resulting in an excellent business for the country.

Whiteys criticize the alleged crimes of Zelaya, but turn a blind eye to corruption allegations in the Micheletti administration.

Whiteys harshly criticize teachers’ struggles, but are not interested in examining what is the origin of their claims. Whiteys speak as if the State had no responsibility for teachers’ protests.

Whiteys are opposed to innovative development projects, such as Charter Cities, this makes them look as reactionaries that oppose any change.

Whiteys embrace failed free-market theories, instilling the fear of Communism. Whiteys’ anti-Communism borders on the absurd. For my part I consider that a well understood Socialism is a beautiful hope for humanity.