Honduran Dialogues Begin To Resolve Electoral Fraud

Igor Garafulic, United Nations representative in Honduras, announced on Tuesday that the round tables for a national dialogue have been decided and that each is equipped with “delegates committed to international mediation who will respect the rules of the game."

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The UN representative, who has been trying to establish the temporary committees since last January, assured reporters on Tuesday that, "delegates have accepted the rules of the game to talk calmly and with respect," and have already gotten underway to discuss their respective topics. Each committee is expected to present solutions at the end of the dialogue period on their particular subject regarding 1. Electoral Process and Presidential Reelection of 2017, 2. Human Rights, 3. Constitutional Reforms and the Rule of Law, and 4. Electoral Reform.

Former presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla and leader of the Libre party, Manuel Zelaya began insisting on the dialogues in December 2017 in the aftermath of what was widely accepted as a fraudulent presidential election in November of last year that allowed incumbent Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) to walk away with a second mandate.

What followed were government executions of at least 30 demonstrators and the unlawful imprisonment of over 1,000 activists who supported Nasralla’s candidacy and who militantly opposed JOH’s return as head of state.   

It has taken nine months of failed attempts at talks and so-called ‘pre-dialogues’ for the roundtables to finally come together.  

Garafulic said the other day that each roundtable has taken a "Commitment for Honduras" oath and that "mediators will reach a consensus.” The U.N. official said it is “essential for all participants to listen with respect and avoid public attacks … to find common ground."

Former president Zelaya now says that neither he nor Libre will take part in the formal talks, saying the only option for Honduras is a popular insurrection against the government, which he claims, does not recognize the will of the people.

Since late August Zelaya has been conducting his own “Dialogue With The People,” progressive-leaning rallies in communities throughout the country.