Guatemala will not recognize elections; El Heraldo complains

Even pro-coup media like El Heraldo have to report the news when it is this clear; Guatemala will not recognize the elections.

So, how did this pro-coup outlet spin the clear and principled stand of Guatemala-- which I defy any of our commentators to dismiss as merely a leftist dupe (while recognizing they likely will reject it as a country of no importance, continuing to exhibit their "pragmatism" which in fact is an embrace of a specific global political order)?

Simple: Guatemala's declaration described the decision as in agreement with the OAS position. The Heraldo report then goes on to say

It is worth pointing out that the secretary general of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, aserted on numerous occasions that he would endorse the elections if the Hondurans achieved an accord, which they did, to resolve the political crisis.



The accord was signed but Manuel Zelaya, on understanding that it was unfavorable, decided not to send the list of candidates to make up the Cabinet of Unity and National Reconciliation.

In other words: OAS is going back on its promise to recognize elections as long as there was an accord; because the official story in Honduras is that Zelaya was the one who broke faith with the accord. While the international community, including OAS and members of the verification commission, say otherwise, don't expect the pro-coup media to cover that.

More: this noxious little story goes on to spread the big lie that everyone in Honduras is firmly committed to going to the polls:

In Honduras, all the political, economic, and social sectors maintain firm their position to go to the polls the 29th of November, in the way that the Constitution of the Republic ordains.

Now, outside Honduras, we know that isn't true, because we have seen the letter from 300+ candidates withdrawing from congressional and local races, and the statement of the Frente de Resistencia about not participating. But of course, these do not constitute part of the "political and social sectors" recognized by the editors of the pro-coup newspapers. But surely, some of their readers will put two and two together and wonder, if this is true, why are there those reports of the police putting together lists of people to be picked up for advocating election boycotts?

The surrealism of the pro-coup spin continues with one sad line:

The US maintains firm its position to recognize the process.

Yes indeed. Notice what has been lost in translation and left along the side of the long road down for US policy: apparently, we will recognize the elections no matter what; fraud or no fraud; violence of no violence. Of course, we have been honing our ability to recognize new governments that result from fraudulent elections while trying simultaneously to take the high moral ground recently, so maybe State will manage the miracle of recognition without approval that seems to be the new normal here.

And we cannot leave out the next piece of the Heraldo's attempt to minimize the statement of the government of Guatemala that it will not recognize the elections:

On Guatemala's part, the elections will be observed by members of the Committee of Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations.

So there, official government: we don't need you, we have your businessmen and bankers. New world order, anyone?

There is another curious detail about this news item, that draws out the semiotician in me: the line above the headline irrelevantly notes that Patricia Rodas, Zelaya cabinet minister, attended a conference of "leftist parties". The first sentence of the actual article cites the Guatemalan chancellor, who is coincidentally named Rodas as well-- Haroldo Rodas. This is a brilliant piece of guilt by association: a syllogism, I think (readers with better knowledge of classic logic correct me, please): if Patricia Rodas is a leftist, then all Rodas's are leftist, so Hector Rodas is a leftist...