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Garifuna protest environmental destruction in Iriona, Colon

By MARIA FIALLOS

TRUJILLO — In a public denouncement made July 25, Garifuna organizations are strongly protesting environmental destruction of watersheds caused by the construction of a road in the Municipality of Iriona in the Department of Colon.

According to said documents, the road between Sico-Ciriboya was illegally built using Soptravi (Secretary of Public Works) machinery in the year 2000 despite numerous formal protests to pertinent government authorities —the National Forestry Agency - COHDEDOR, the Ethnic District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Protected Areas -PROBAP, and the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources - SERNA— by local authorities, patronatos and other community organizations; and without an environmental impact study having been realized. Construction and the now existing road has contaminated the Los Naranjos River watershed which supplies five Garifuna communities with water that since 2000 has been laden with sedimentation, unfit for human consumption.

The Garifuna are also protesting the fact that the area has come under Agrarian Reform, thus violating national laws and international agreements that supposedly protect the rivers that supply water to 12 communities. Recent immigrants to the area have built homes on the side of the road and subsequently contaminated water sources with fecal matter causing a hepatitis epidemic in the zone.
Although a formal denouncement was made to SERNA, by the time an inspection of the area was carried out, the damage was done. In the technical report emitted by SERNA, recommendations include an investigation to find those responsible for the building the road, restoration of affected areas, support of the Municipality of Iriona to conserve watersheds, payment to those affected, and the restriction of the use of natural resources in the area, such as the illegal logging and wildlife extraction.

The Garifuna state that from the beginning they made it clear that they did not oppose the creation of an access road for the inhabitants of Sico, as long it did not affect their interests. They clearly pointed out that the old train route could have been used without causing such a negative environmental impact.

The Los Naranjos River watershed forms part of the so called Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, and although this area receives much publicity, the Garifuna state the river is being destroyed by the road and the consequent deforestation of the surrounding area that causes severe sedimentation, as well as the destruction of the buffer zones of the Rio Platano Reserve of Man Biosphere. Although they have always protected the environment, the Garifuna say they believe in true sustainable development, and the lack of responsibility shown by a small group threatens the state of govern ability and the future of the zone. 

They are also petitioning the Secretary of Security proceed to immediately disarm campesinos inhabiting the area, as the tradition of pacifism that has reigned within their communities for centuries is being deteriorated by the violence of foreign cultures.

Miriam Miranda, a Garifuna leader and member of the Honduran Fraternal Negro Organization (OFRANEH), stated “The government has shown little interest in solving this problem that clearly violates the collective rights of the Garifuna people as stipulated in the Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples adopted by the International Labor Organization, which states that they should be consulted before projects that affect them are developed.

Politization in this country is so bad that political candidates will do anything for a vote, caring little about negative environmental impacts and even less, as in this case, about issues that affect the lives of human beings. I say this because during our investigations, we were informed that this road was built with funding approved by the National Congress when it was lead by Professor Rafael Pineda Ponce.”

Another public denouncement made by OFRANEH states that the road from Icoteas to Iriona Puerto, built with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), has increased the illegal traffic of lumber and the number of campesino settlements in the last existing lung of Mesoamerica. 

The document says that the ambiguity shown by international cooperation agencies dilutes efforts made in the name of sustainable development and creates a deep lack of trust inasmuch as intentions stated under the label of development are concerned. “Garifuna communities demand that environmental laws be applied immediately, and that this watershed be immediately reforested so we can recuperate the excellent quality of water we once possessed.”


Third annual conference on Honduras to be held in Washington, D.C.

By projecthonduras.com

Washington, DC – On July 23, 2002, projecthonduras.com announced its third annual Conference on Honduras will take place on October 25-26, 2002, in Washington, DC. The event will bring together individuals representing non-governmental organizations (NGOs), companies, churches, universities, and governments, as well as themselves to exchange information on projects to improve access to education, health care, and nutrition for the Honduran people.

The goal of the conference is to discuss and understand what is already being done to alleviate the problems and how private citizen volunteers can build on these activities through improved communication and coordination.

“You do not have to be a genius to figure out why Honduras doesn’t seem to be able to get substantially ahead, nor is it a matter of spending billions of dollars,” says projecthonduras.com cofounder Marco Cáceres. “The fact is that Honduras lacks the necessary human resources selflessly working in synergistic and innovative ways over the long-term to develop the full mental and physical potential of its people.”

The Conference on Honduras 2002 will provide an opportunity for hundreds of individuals who are involved in grassroots projects to meet face to face and strengthen the relationships they have established through the projecthonduras.com website at www.projecthonduras.com and network of listserver forums.

More than two dozen speakers will give presentations summarizing their current work and their future plans with respect to building schools and health clinics; supporting orphanages and other homes for children; creating student exchange and mentors programs; caring for people with HIV/AIDS; providing and teaching about good nutrition; developing an infrastructure for raising and distributing funds, equipment, and supplies; and other community outreach activities.

“The focus of any effort to make a real difference in Honduras should be to mobilize all of the country’s ‘human capital’ around the world and channel the full power of its experience, expertise, and talent over the course of one or two generations,” emphasizes Caceres. “Money is a valuable tool, but I believe our emphasis should be to inspire and motivate our most capable people to get involved constructively with Honduras and stay involved the rest of their lives.”

The conference represents the third part of a three-step strategy for creating an alternative development model for developing nations based on the Internet. The first part was the creation of the projecthonduras.com website, which serves as an online portal for information about Honduras.

The second part was the creation of listservers forums to allow people to communicate daily as specialized issue groups.

The Conference on Honduras 2002 will be presented by projecthonduras.com and sponsored by Special Missions Foundation, Inc. of Georgetown, TX-a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization.

Citizen Forum or Consejo Ciudadano: A promising new attempt for Justice for everyone

By EVA L. BROOKS

ROATAN — On Friday, July 19,02 a gathering of more than one hundred locals, islanders - citizen of Roatan - many of whom were women, took place at Roatan’s Dive & Yacht Club. Its owner, Marcel Houser had generously offered his gorgeous resort facilities and also provided refreshments after the gathering.

The Citizen Council or Consejo Ciudadano, a consultative group organized the meeting. Ms. Rosa Daniela Hendrix very capably chaired the proceedings.

It was a call to action. But, as it became clear during the proceedings, action based on meticulous fact finding and with the ambitious goal of involving everyone!

The meeting was addressed by many who came from Tegucigalpa and also by Islanders. They were: the governor, and congressional representative of the Bay Islands, Ricardo Mertens and Evans McCab, respectively; Juan Ferrari representing COHEP, Honduras’ Association of Private Enterprise; Roberto Bogran Idiaquez of the National Autonomous University; Mrs. Micaela Duron, representing the Federation of Honduran Women; Roy Edmundo Medina, General District Attorney; Julio Antonio Rodriguez representing the Confederation of the Workers of Honduras; Curby Doaker and Mayor Jose S. Guardiola.

Most addressed the meeting briefly, with a few remarks expressing their support of this new enterprise. 
The main speaker was Roy Edmundo Medina, the District Attorney. He spoke forcefully outlining the need for such an organization and also briefly mentioned President Maduro’s awareness of it and assured the group of the President’s support. Evan McCab ably translated Medina’s message amongst applause, laughter and cheerful responses.

The main idea and focus of this new organization is to teach islanders of governmental procedures. There was talk of workshops, seminars, and forums to carry actions, research, studies and more. Islanders will also be further encouraged to face up to problems, put their complaints into brief and concise communications, that will be respected and taken up with the relevant organizations. This is a truly ambitious program, a complicated process, yet surely a step in the right direction. 

Since this meeting was held almost entirely in Spanish and I am not fluent yet in this language, I had a brief talk with Rosa Daniela Hendrix and got this further clarification. She said, “If someone does not get their rights addressed by any of the local officials here, or any office does not process their complaint, which also includes judges, the complainant has the right to contact this organization (Consejo Ciudadano). Both Rosa (now the president of the group) and the governor of the Bay Islands, Ricardo Mertens will follow up each and every complaint, coordinate and report to the appropriate supervisor office of the Government of Honduras in Tegucigalpa.
Such a procedure has never been attempted previously. It involves a great deal of detailed work of all participants who are giving their time generously and I might add without compensation!

As I understand it, this is what it means, any official, including judges, will now be supervised and called to task. If any negligence, tardiness, or mishandling of cases occurs, each person on Roatan now has the possibility of redressing their just grievances.


San Diegans respond to national emergency of Dengue Fever epidemic in Honduras 

Gary Becks and Wendell Cutting of San Diego based Rescue Task Force (RTF) arrived in Honduras this week with medical relief team that will travel to the “Moskito” Coast Jungle to respond to that country’s nationally declared emergency of an overwhelming outbreak of dengue fever. All hospitals in Honduras are overflowing with dengue victims, 60% of which are children. Mexican, Guatemalan and El Salvadoran emergency teams are also rushing to provide help. While those countries are working the urban areas, Rescue Task Force will work with people in the jungles and remote areas. Dengue Fever is caused by mosquitoes, which have bred in stagnant water and unsanitary conditions. Dengue is often called “the bone crushing disease” and causes a horrible death. 

This will be Rescue Task Force’s 60th overseas relief mission. Rescue Task Force has responded to many emergencies, including Hurricane Mitch, the El Salvador earthquakes, and provided relief to Albanian refugees during the Kosovo War. RTF was the first relief team to enter Kosovo. 

In October, following the September 11 attack on America, Becks and Cutting went to Pakistan and the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to set up a distribution system for American relief supplies for Afghan refugees. 

On this mission, Becks and Cutting will be taking a medical team of volunteers from San Diego area, Michigan and Pasadena. The U.S. team was joined Honduran volunteers upon arrival in Tegucigalpa, the capitol of Honduras, from where they traveled by bush plane and dugout canoes to reach their area of work in the jungles of Honduras. Becks and Cutting are the principals in Rescue Task Force (RTF); a volunteer non-denominational relief organization supported primarily by donations of San Diego area people. Many Rotary Clubs and individualRotarians in San Diego County also support RTF. They first went into “Moskito” Coast Jungle, and became the first outside visitor’s two years ago after hearing that children were dying in the region from dysentery. They discovered that not only was dysentery a major problem, but that 100% of the people had worms, intestinal parasites, cholera, etc. At the request of the local people, Becks and Cutting completed the construction and equipping of a medical clinic that now serves some 27 communities. While in the jungle, Becks and Cutting will be bringing in relief supplies and start construction on their second medical clinic building. They will again be the first outside visitors into other remote areas helping villagers put in water wells and pumps to help stop dengue fever and dysentery and assisting their medical team in providing lifesaving medical treatments.Upon leaving the remote jungle area, Becks and Cutting will go to Tegucigalpa, the capitol of Honduras, where they will recently sent over $3 million in donated medicine. They will again assist a hospice home for children with cancer. This hospice home was visited on an earlier trip and it was learned that the children had no pain medicine and were in need of other medical supplies.This past year RTF also provided $800,000 in medical equipment, medicine, food, clothes and educational material to Mexico; support orphanages for abandoned children in Tijuana; and facilitated the construction of 57 homes in Oropoli, a town in a remote area of Honduras that was devastated by floods. 

Becks and Cutting are members of the district office staff of Congressman Duncan Hunter. Cutting is also on the governing board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

Hemorrhagic dengue epidemic in Honduras

As of July 19, President Ricardo Maduro has declared, through a national decree, a state of emergency due to an epidemic of hemorrhagic dengue that currently exists in Honduras. HEMORRHAGIC DENGUE is the grave manifestation of Dengue, which is caused by a virus, which is transmitted, to the human by the Aedes Aegipti mosquito. This epidemic makes it difficult for us to fight efficiently, for the necessary reserves of supplies and equipment are no longer enough for us to counteract the current situation, which has resulted in the loss of precious life—especially the infant population. That is why the Government of the Republic of Honduras requests assistance in order to get the following specific necessities: SUPPLIES * Acquisition of 80 Barrels of Deltramina for fumigation (Nebulization) * Acquisition of 5000 Bags of 25kg of Aba to eliminate larvae from the vector EQUIPMENT * Acquisition of 20 Lecon Fumigators * Acquisition of 160 thermobulizators * 6 Leco Machines, 30 Moto/backpacks and 11 Thermobulizators * 3 respirators and infusion pumps for hospitals Note: For any orientation or information, please do not hesitate to contact Ramon Custodio from the Embassy of Honduras by contacting him at: E-mail: embassy@hondurasemb.org Phone: (202) 966-7702 Fax: (202) 966-9751 —Government of Honduras

Tax Bureau closing businesses that evade taxes and break the law

The executive director of the Tax Bureau, Mario Duarte has expressed satisfaction with the fact his bureau has successfully closed several businesses for tax evasion, “This way, the Honduran people will know who the lawbreakers are,” he stated. Approximately 150 auditors are working around the country to apply the Financial Equilibrium law.

When questioned by a reporter why only businesses in Comayagüela had been closed, Duarte ironically reply, “The Mall isn’t located in Comayagüela, and we closed two there for a total of 34 around the city.”

“Tax evaders don’t pertain to any political party, it doesn’t matter how big a company is, whoever they may be, we will apply the law.” The Director also stated that the inspections would be carried out on a permanent basis. —La Tribuna

Honduras ungovernable

According to a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report, “Human Development World Report 2002,” the level of law and order in Honduras is very low. 

Concerning corruption, according to Transparency International, Honduras rates 2.7 on a scale of 10 the report stated. Other interesting data: Illiteracy rose from 74 percent to 74.6 percent; life expectancy remains static at 65.7 years; with regards to poverty, Honduras ranks 36 amongst 136 countries, this means 20.5 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty; the country rises slightly in human development, but when compared with other countries in the region, it fell from position 106 to position 115, this is due to the fact that 11 more countries were rated this year, many with higher levels of development. —La Tribuna

Jaguar seized from Vice-Mayor of Trojes

Authorities from the Environmental District Attorney’s office transferred last week a jaguar found in the possession of the Vice-Mayor of Trojes, Roberto de Jesus Espinoza, in the Department of El Paraiso, to the zoo in El Pichacho in Tegucigalpa. According to the officials the animal probably came from the Patuca area. The mayor, who had owned the animal for nearly two years, did not resist when the jaguar was decommissioned. 

Although the cat was found to be in good conditions, legally it is considered a grave offense to catch protected wild life species such as the jaguar, and offenders can be fined anywhere from 600 thousand to one million lempiras for doing so. —El Heraldo

Honduras protests Nicaraguan petroleum bid in controversial maritime zone

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA – Nicaragua is bidding on Caribbean maritime zone where there is supposedly oil. The problem is that the area covers the 15th parallel that is in litigation with Honduras in the International Court of Justice of The Hague and for which a sentence will not be decided for another four years.

The president of the Nicaraguan Energy Institute (INE), Octavio Salinas, stated that the area is Nicaraguan territory and “We are not going to abstain from exploiting it, after the Hague resolution, we will share profits with Honduras, if the sentence is unfavorable to us.”
It has been estimated that 500 million barrels of oil can be found in just one field and up to a 100 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
In November 1999, disputes between Nicaragua and Honduras began when the later ratified an agreement with Colombia fixing the border on the 15th parallel.

According to Nicaragua, with that agreement, Honduras is appropriating 130 thousand square kilometers of the continental maritime platform, because they argue that the border is on the 17th parallel.

After analyzing Nicaraguan information, the Honduras Chancellor Guillermo Perez-Cadalso Arias made an official protest against the neighboring country’s pretensions to concede petroleum exploitation permits in Honduras’ juridical space.

1. The Honduran government justifies its protests on the following points.
   
   Honduran maritime spaces, located north of the 15th parallel, have historically been and continue to be under the control and jurisdiction of Honduras.

2. In said maritime spaces, Honduras, since the 1960’s has been conceding hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation permission to international companies, amongst these Mobil Oil Company and Shell Oil Company, and the Nicaraguan government has never protested.

3. Honduras has exercised and continues to exercise all activities of state competence in said maritime sector, and in all other fields of administration.

4. Only the International Court of Justice has the competence to alter a sovereign historical and juridical situation, and of state competence, exclusive of Honduras, in the referred maritime sector.

5. Honduras does not recognize opposition or action that Nicaragua might commence in reference to judicial differences over maritime spaces in the Caribbean submitted to a decision by the International Court of Justice.

6. The government of Honduras reserves the right to put into action as many measures necessary in defense of and safeguarding its rights and interest in said maritime spaces.

It should be noted that an irresponsible international news agency irresponsibly reported that Honduran troops were being sent to the Nicaraguan border, a situation that was immediately rectified and denied by the Honduras government, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guillermo Perez-Cadalso and the Minister of Defense, Federico Brevé Travieso.


Justice is finally served, Jorge Chavez captured for murder of Carlos Luna

According to the Daily La Prensa, nearly four years after he was accused of being responsible for the murder of Carlos Luna, Catacamas councilmen, Jorge Chavez, son-in-law of former Congressional President Rafael Pineda Ponce, was captured in Talanga, after being on the run for several months. 

The arrest was made by local police at the request of the Catacamas Court that had requested his apprehension twice before, requests that had been disregarded by the last government, stated the Luna family legal representative, Marco Ramiro Lobo. Lobo (Democratic Unification Party) is currently a member of the National Elections Tribunal and the.

Chavez was captured Saturday night while he was leaving a 15-year-old birthday celebration in a Talanga restaurant and then remitted to the police in Catacamas.

Carlos Luna, a Democratic Unification Party member, was gunned down on May 18, 1998 as he was leaving a municipal meeting at 10 p.m., he died in the back of a pick-up truck en route to a Juticalpa hospital after delays of over an hour in acquiring a vehicle to transport him. Luna had made many enemies in the local community because he was fighting illegal logging ardently. Both Jorge Chavez and Jose Angel Rosa, both lumber businessmen were accused of being the intellectual authors of Luna’s death. Luna had denounced both of them to the Municipality for illegal logging. Oscar Aurelio Rodriguez, alias Machetillo, was also detained in October 1998, as being the actual murderer.

Marcos Hernandez and two other persons were also accused and are currently on the run. The judicial actions were made at the petition of the Luna family, the District Attorney’s office and other environment groups in the area that applied pressure for action in the case.

Lobo stated that on May 18, 1998, Luna and Chavez had a disagreement in which Chavez threatened Luna. 
Luna was at the time accusing Chavez of irrational use of forest resources. Some claim that Chavez made death threats while others maintain he just threatened to sue Luna for unjustly accusing him. 

Members of the Democratic Unification Party stated they expect impartiality when Chavez goes to court because Luna died for a just cause and defending the rights of the people.

President Maduro promises not to forget ethnic groups

In a special event held in the Presidential Palace in which the document “Profile of indigenous and black peoples of Honduras” was presented, President Maduro stated that “Ethnic groups will no longer be forgotten, together with them, pride in being Hondurans will be recovered.” The document elaborated by the ethnic groups covers such issues as social, political, cultural and economic characteristics. 

During the ceremony, the President of Congress, Porfirio Lobo Sosa also presented to the ethnic representatives an international agreement eliminating all forms of racial discrimination that was approved by Congress and published in the government newspaper, La Gaceta. At the same time the Minister of the Honduran Social Investment Fund (FHIS), Leoncio Yu-Way, signed a series of pro-indigenous development projects. 

According to the profile, the indigenous and black ethnic groups represent nearly nine percent of the total population with an approximate total of 490,553 people, living in 362 communities in 15 departments. The groups represented in the profile were the Miskitos (64,000), Tawahka (1,353), Pechs (2,900), Islanders (80,000), Tolupanes or Xicaques (25,000), Lencas (110,00), Cortis (6,000) and Nahoas (1,300). 

Eddy McNab, an ethnic representative, stated, “the novelty of this document is that all facts acquired came from indigenous and black people themselves in workshops and seminars held to discuss ethnic issues.” Profile elaboration was coordinated by the Secretary of Government and Justice, with technical assistance from the Technical Assistance Regional Unit and World Bank financing. –La Tribuna

Economic growth will decrease to 2.5% from 3%

According to the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), economic growth in Honduras will decrease .05 percent in comparison to 2001, as a consequence of a reduction of the volume of exports and the world economic recession.

Numbers from the first trimester of this year show a decrease of 14% in comparison with 2001. These numbers correspond not only to a decrease in the exports of coffee, bananas, wood, seafood and corn, but also to a decrease in the international market price of these products.

Maria Elena Mondragon, President of the BCH, stated that these factors would not allow Honduras to reach the three percent expected growth, but that in comparison with other Latin American countries, it is comparable with the world economic recession. –La Tribuna

Gun law in Congress

A new bill that has been introduced to Congress would make it a crime to carry a gun without a permit within six months of the law being passed. Currently, possession of a firearm is not a criminal offense, if someone is caught carrying a gun without a permit, the weapon is simply seized.

The new bill is part of a packet of reforms in Congress aimed at fighting crime. According to a consultant to the Legislative Power, Carlos Torres Lopez, stated that if the law were passed, the Secretary of Security would acquire special equipment to initiate a dactyl and ballistic register of arms used by Hondurans within six months. –La Tribuna

35% Import Tax discussed 

By BLANCA MORENO

GUASAULE, NICARAGUA - On Thursday, the Presidents of Honduras and Nicaragua, Ricardo Maduro and Enrique Bolanos respectively, discussed the issue of the 35% import tax Nicaragua has imposed on Honduran goods. Bolanos stated that measure would stay in place as long as Honduras does not withdraw charges made in international courts because the ex-Nicaraguan President Aleman counter-sued. The Presidents signed an agreement to further ties between the two countries and they reaffirmed their support of the Central American integration to consolidate well being in the area, as well as insert the isthmus into the world.

They also discussed the maritime controversy and promised to use preventive diplomacy to solve any differences that could arise in the future. The Presidents also promised to accept the sentence that will be issued by the International Court in Hague.

Joint patrols in the Caribbean 
The Declaration indicates that while the case is still in court, both countries will cooperate inasmuch as security, natural disasters, exploitation and conservation of resources is concerned. They also agreed to fight organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism together with the international community.

They also stated that as of August 16, the date on which the bridge that unites the two nations will be inaugurated, a single 24-hour customs office would be opened in El Espino, in this way strengthening international commerce and fighting illegal trade.



Forestry permits play important role in resource management

By IXCHEL GRANADA

TEGUCIGALPA - The pressure on natural resources in Honduras continues to grow unabated. The challenge for the countries' leadership is to create management plans, which will provide for the present generation without compromising environmental quality. Several government institutions are responsible for resource management such as; SERNA, Secretary of Environmental Quality and Natural Resource Management, COHDEFOR, Corporation for Honduran Forestry Development and UMI's, Local Municipal Institutions with environmental programs. 

Through congressional decrees as early as the 1960's, Forestry Permits have been used as a tool to manage a resource, which is in high demand. COHDEFOR is the institution that authorizes such permits. 

The Forestry Permits are divided into two general categories: a Commercial Permit and a Private or Domestic-Use Permit, each of which requires two different sets of protocol. 
For example, a domestic use permit would be solicited in the case that an individual would like to construct a home. The maximum amount of forest that can be cut in this case is limited to 10 cubic meters or 1,800 board feet. At this level a long-term management plan is not required.

When a commercial permit is sought a long-term management plan must be submitted along with the request for removing the selected trees. Approval of the permit is based on assessment of land productivity, amount of forest to be cut and recommendations from a forestry technician. The technician elaborates the kinds of forest ecosystem which is targeted in the determined areas, as well as the kinds of activities or treatments which would optimize productivity of that area. 

This report is the most important factor in the ability of forestry permits to control environmental degradation. In these reports are specific acts to reforest and regenerate trees which will perpetuate new seedlings and new growth. The reports include wildlife protection measures, forest-fire prevention measures and annual revision of the efficacy of the management plan. 

Forestry Permits have allowed controlled use and management of forestland, however abuse of these permits has caused many environmental groups to request stricter supervision within the infrastructure of management institutions such as COHDEFOR. 

Dengue death toll: 11

A five-month-old baby is latest victim of dengue in the Capital of Tegucigalpa. So far the total number of death related to the illness totals 11. According to health officials, although the population between the ages 0 -14 years has been most affected by the epidemic, the number of cases of infected adults is also rising. - El Heraldo

Education slates Lps. 11 million for new desks

After a minor protest in which students and teachers of middle level schools placed broken desks around the Ministry of Education, authorities from the institution announced that they have signed a Lps. 11 million contract for new school furniture, including desks and blackboards. - El Heraldo

Three million undernourished Hondurans 

According to United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), 46% of the Honduran population or three million people are undernourished. The situation can be attributed to the fact that in the last few years, food insecurity has increased, especially in rural areas, due to economic adjustment packages that have increased poverty.

Lawrence Paul, FAO representative in Honduras stated also that if international coffee prices don't improve soon, matters could get worse as nearly one million Hondurans depend on this crop for their livelihood.

"FAO studies show that both the population and poverty are increasing in rural areas, we need to work more in these areas to improve the quality of life for these people. We had planned to decrease poverty worldwide by the year 2015, but it looks like we won't reach that goal." - El Heraldo

Standard Fruit Company will indemnify workers

The U.S. Company Standard Fruit Company, that has been operating in Honduras since 1889 will indemnify nearly 3000 ex-employees affected by the use of the insecticide Nemagon on their banana plantations on the North Coast of Honduras. The Ministry of Labor, German Leitzelar, stated on Wednesday that the company will indemnify workers in exchange for them dropping the case against the company presented in the U.S. in 1994.
Towards this end, a commission of two workers and a Honduran government official will travel to Washington, D.C. on Sunday. 
A total of six U.S. companies were sued in the United States, Shell Oil, Occidental Chemical Co., Standard Fruit, Dole Food Corporation Inc., Del Monte Foods and Dow Chemical.
According to Leitzelar, each worker could receive between US$3,000 and US$8,000.

Standard Fruit Company, who so far has not commented on the case, used Nemagon for more than 10 years on their plantations. Laboratory studies done in the U.S. and in Honduras indicate that during the 1960's, Nemagon caused cancer, genetic malformations, blindness and sterility in a number of ex-laborers. The company ceased using the product in 1977. -El Heraldo

Casa Alianza continues battle against sexual exploitation of children

On July 10, Casa Alianza Honduras held a round table meeting with the National Congress' Commission for Family and Children in their installations in Tegucigalpa. The purpose of the reunion was to coordinate activities aimed at stopping the commercial sexual exploitation of Honduran children, victims of international human trafficking rings; specifically 100 children that are being prostituted in Guatemala, Mexico and the United States.

The table was lead by the president of the Legislative Commission, Lilian Jimenez and coordinated by the Casa Alianza National Director for Honduras, Jose Manuel Capellin. In attendance were other non-governmental organizations as well as government officials. A work plan was devised to be carried in three action plans: prevention of commercial exploitation and attention to victims; the establishment of regional agreements to counteract human trafficking for sexual purposes; and the repatriation of girls to Honduras.
Organizations belonging to the Commission include: Casa Alianza Honduras, the National Congress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the United States, Interpol, UNICEF, the World Migration Organization, the Honduran Institute of Children and Family, Save the Children, the Ministry of Government and the Center for the Investigations and Promotion of Human Rights.

Recently, and thanks to denouncements made by Casa Alianza more than 60 brothels in which Honduran children are exploited in Guatemala have been identified and in May a prostitution ring working out of Fort Worth, Texas was dismantled.

Casa Alianza Honduras is also offering through its Family Reintegration Program, psychological and educational assistance to help young girls, victims of sexual exploitation, return to their families, and form part of society once again.

The new Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Honduras, Mr. Your Tien-der

The new Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Honduras (left) Mr. You Tien-der arrived in Honduras on July 1.
The Ambassador was warmly received by Ambassador Ricardo Flores, Director of Diplomatic Ceremonies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials from the Chinese Embassy, Chinese Mission technicians and leaders of the Chinese community in Honduras.

Ambassador You is 53 years old, married with two daughters. He possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences from the National University of Taiwan and a Masters Degrees in International Relations from the University of Georgetown.

Mr. You has worked as a diplomatic in several countries in Europe and South America.

Protest staged in front of Ministry of Education

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA – Although the problem was thought solved, students in support of their teachers, protested outside the Ministry of Education on Thursday morning, demanding the application of the Teacher’s Statute. 

Around 7 a.m., several teachers along with students marched in front of Ministry although they were at risk of being repelled by the army and national police forces that had orders to forcibly remove them. Immediately thereof, a large amount of police and army officers were on site threatening the use of gas if the protestors did not leave. 

For more than an hour the protestors held their stance and the students stated they will continue supporting the teachers demands, which they consider fair and that should be resolved to avoid instability in the public system. The situation was controlled around 8:00, when teachers and students abandoned the protest pacifically. 

Apparently protest measures will continue to be carried, and leaders stated a hunger strike would soon begin, as well as other actions. Meanwhile, dialogue between the government and the teachers are at a stand off, after President Maduro’s last offer of a three year differed payment. 

Primary and middle school students in Honduras could lose the academic year if the situation continues. As well as the labor problem, National Party congressmen are petitioning the Minister of Education, Carlos Avila Molina be removed from his post since he does not pertain to the National Party. 

Avila is also under fire for not understanding the situation since he is by profession, an engineer.

Remains of Jaclyn Smith’s son cremated in Roatan

The remains of Casey Beckner (16) were cremated in Roatan on Tuesday, after the young man died of injuries sustained from a bicycle accident he had on the island. Beckner, the son of Jaclyn Smith, was on vacation in Roatan with his mother, who has bought a home there. Beckner died on Friday after the bicycle he was riding crashed into a pick-up truck driven by Calixto Alberto Gomez. —El Heraldo

Embassy has cancelled visas, but no black list exists

The U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Frank Almaguer, stated on Monday, that although the embassy has cancelled visas to the U.S. of a reduced group of Hondurans, amongst these, politicians, businessmen and military people because of ties to drug trafficking, money laundering and child trafficking, but that no black list exists as was stated on the radio by government official Sergio Zavala. Zavala made such statements after holding a meeting with Almaguer. “At no time, did I give him (Zavala) a list of persons or a number of persons to whom visas have been cancelled,” stated the Ambassador. —El Heraldo


Gasoline prices increase again

The price of gasoline increased approximately 50 cents on Wednesday. According to Petroleum Technical Unit (UPT), the reason for the increase can be attributed to the fact that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to limit the distribution of oil due to the instability found in the region.

Another reason is the fact that the lempira was devaluated by four cents in last two weeks, affecting buying power seriously. According to UPT, a decrease should not be expected before August or September. —La Tribuna


80,000 Hondurans registered under TPS

According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), nearly 80,000 Hondurans registered for Temporary Protection Status by July 2, the latest deadline.

An I.N.S. official stated that this number represents a mere 80% of those eligible for the TPS, however that does not mean that those persons not registered will be deported. The official said that many of the other people might have already received another type of legal status before July 2. —El Heraldo


Child trafficker fined Lps. 50,000

A coyote or human trafficker from Guatemala was fined 50,000 lempiras this week when authorities proved he was involved in the illegal traffic of persons. The Guatemalan, Edgar Orfilio Peraza de Leon, also known as Jaime Rosales Archiaga, was caught illegally trafficking three minors (11,12, and 13 years old) and one adult (34), all Honduran, to the United States.

Peraza de Leon was charged under the new Financial Equilibrium Law, that prohibits this type of activity for money. According to Honduran Migration officials, the coyote was captured in the border crossing of Agua Caliente trying to get into Guatemalan. According to his victims, he had charged them each Lps. 6,000.00 and promised to get them to the United States. —La Tribuna

Congress revises laws that will aid women

By IXCHEL GRANADA

TEGUCIGALPA – The Women’s Commission of the National Congress revised legislation this week which are focused on cultivating a greater awareness and support system for women’s issues. Approximately a dozen laws are targeted for revision with the hopes that these revisions will benefit women in the rural sector and continue to equalize the economic and social fields between men and women. The President of the Commission, Doris Gutierrez, presented the proposal, which included investigation of regions with lowest literacy rates, highest pregnancy rates and lowest employment opportunities among women. 

The Commission assured congressional members that the regions targeted and the plan of action would have long-term and lasting impacts on the economies of Honduras as women have a statistically higher probability of investing economic gains in their children and in their families. Congress agreed to the work plan, which is summarized for the next four years and specifies which authorities have jurisdictional order over particular regions and non-profit groups involved in women’s rights. 

The plan has received support by various women’s groups, campesino and farm workers unions and a number of united fronts that defend women’s rights. International organizations such as the German Alliance for International Development and the Spanish Cooperative have lent their support for the revisions and for the Women’s Commission. 

The plan emphasizes seven major focus areas: training and promotion; revision and reform of existing laws; technical assistance, evacuation plans and legal consulting; inter-institutional coordination and finally, strengthening the Women’s Commission. 
The laws which are targeted for revision are the following: The Reduction of Poverty Act, the Forestry Law, the Water Access Act, the Territorial Order Act, the Act for Children’s Rights, the Electoral Law and Political Organizations Act, the Law for Equal Opportunity, the Domestic Violence Act, the Family Code, Agrarian Reforms and Cooperative Reforms.

Swearing in of tourism committee

By IXCHEL GRANADA

TEGUCIGALPA - In one of several concentrated efforts to strengthen the Secretary of Tourism, the President of Operations, Vicente Williams Agasse, swore in a commission made up of six professionals with years of experience in the tourism industry. These six individuals will serve as an advice committee with Arnoldo Aviles as its head. Aviles will take the place of Felipe Elvir Rojas as the new Vice-minister of Culture, Art and Sports.

The commission is made up of business owners Raul Welchez, Mayra Morillo, Armando Funez, Alba de Bonilla, Epaminondas Marinakys and Juan Angel Welchez. This group will be in charge of approving projects and activities presented by the Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT). The commission will provide administrative support; it will assign resources for the various projects, as well as define the general politics for publicity, advertisement and other promotional activities. Congress recognized this project which would effectively create two new Vice-ministers, one of Sports and the other of Arts and Culture. The initiative to create two positions may well move through within the next week. A review panel declared that there were no restraints within the law that would not allow new positions with the Tourism Institute. However, the solicitation for another Vice-minister needs to be approved by the Legislative body and would require another swearing in of yet another functionary. 

With respect to tourism projects, the Minister of IHT, Thierry de Pierrefeu, stated that a development project for the Tela Bay was underway. The IHT will continue to search for and solicit investors for projects worth approximately 150 million dollars. 
Among the project ideas, the Institute looks to diversify and augment tourism in the Bay Islands, build a new airport in Copan, and name La Ceiba as the capital of ecotourism in Honduras. 

Small-scale projects such as the Lenca Trail, and the Mayan Trail, two routes within the Honduran borders that exhibit indigenous cultures will receive support. In order to achieve new goals IHT will involve both the private sector and international donors.

Three Honduran crimes bosses captured

The National Police of El Salvador captured three Hondurans involved in several criminal activities on Tuesday, stated the Secretary of the Fight against Drug Trafficking, Alfredo Landaverde.

Landaverde said that El Salvador's police recently captured a very dangerous criminal name "Frank" who also goes by Mario Alvarado, Martinez Ramiro, Milton Francisco Lopez Paz. The official would not give details concerning extradition date, but he stated that Frank is considered the boss of several gangs not just one.

According to Landaverde, these situations change strategic security planning inasmuch as kidnappings are concerned. "Every time someone disappears now, we cannot keep on saying that bands from other Central American nations are responsible." There are many Hondurans involved in drug, immigrant, artefact and child trafficking, as well as money falsification. Just last week a Honduran who is a member of an international money falsification ring was captured. "I personally feel that kidnapping bands are headed by Hondurans, some Hondurans even head up crime gangs in Mexico, the United States, Guatemala and El Salvador. There is also a Honduran judge now on the run because it was proved he was involved in drug trafficking in La Mosquitia.

Police forces from Central America are all connected to an information system in El Paso. According to Landaverde the crime school began when Ramon Mata became famous for trafficking drugs between Mexico and Spain. This school has evolved and Hondurans have been captured in Guatemala, Panama, Spain and even Holland for trafficking drugs. In Honduran jails alone, there are more than 100 persons imprisoned for drug trafficking, amongst these, boat pilots, policemen and military officials. -La Tribuna

U.S. cancels visas of corrupt Hondurans

The Ambassador of the United States in Honduras, Frank Almaguer, announced this week that his Embassy had cancelled the visas of several Hondurans who are suspected of corruption or criminal activity.

"If you are corrupt, if you steal, if you rob the people's benefits, we don't want you on vacation in Disney Land, we don't want you to go shopping on Fifth Avenue; we don't even want to get a check-up in Houston," he said.

The Ambassador stated that during the last six months several visas have been cancelled, but he would not say how many nor if the persons involved are government officials or ex government officials. "We have always been on top of this aspect, because persons who are granted visas must have the economic capacity to travel, however we want our message to be clear, we are not interested in the United States being a place for corrupt people to visit. We just don't want them." He also said that the financial statements of politicians and some businessmen should be made public, because they have enriched themselves with public funding. -El Heraldo

Maduro urges Hondurans to declare war on dengue fever

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA - The rapid increase in the number of cases of dengue to epidemic proportions, an illness that affects children the most, has caused health officials to send out an alarm for citizens to take preventives measures.

Even President Ricardo Maduro has involved himself in the eradication campaign, visiting poor Tegucigalpa neighborhoods such as the Colonia Los Pinos himself to help increase awareness.

The health center in Los Pinos is attending up to 250 people a day and is lacking medicines, materials and doctors to attend. 

"We are especially worried about the fatalities that have been confirmed and it is up to the community to increase prevention," said the President. So far, 2,002 cases of classic dengue have been registered, 124 of the hemorrhaging type, two of which resulted in death.

The president stated that the government will take all necessary actions and the Minister of Health, Elias Lizardo explained that there are ample resources available. Maduro emphasized the fact the recent budget reforms approved by the National Congress was to cover Health, Education and Security issues, so when emergencies such as these arise, funds can be assigned to cover them.

TO MEXICO
After visiting Los Pinos, President Maduro left for Merida, Mexico to promote the Puebla-Panama Plan in which more than 500 businesses will participate.