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FONAC priority: Developing Honduras country project 

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA – Beginning its second stage, the National Convergence Forum Assembly (FONAC) was inaugurated by President Ricardo Maduro this week. FONAC, whose mission is contributing to the adoption and execution of State policies that guarantee governability, participatory democracy and the integrated development of Honduras, as an expression of the consensus reached by participation and dialogue between civil society and the government.

The President urged all sectors to join forces to fight crime, child malnutrition, high mortality rates and the advance of AIDS. 
He asked FONAC to begin discussion using his Government Plan as a starting point, for the country project, because they have demonstrated their capacity to generate a consensus concerning fundamental issues, such as education.

FONAC Executive Secretary, Juan Ferrera, reflecting on what can be done to make up for lost time, overcome egoism, stop improvisation and irresponsibility for our own destiny, the “give me, I am poor” attitude we incubate in the culture and in education. “It would be immoral to do nothing to change the situation,” he said.

Ferrera pointed out that the ideal of national transformation is to put Honduras in a long-term economical, social and political development perspective. This, together with an integrated national vision that is the product of dialogue and genuine social participation, that keeps in mind the aspirations of the many, and the responsibilities and rights of all.

FONAC is comprised of members of the Federation of University Professionals of Honduras, the School of Journalism, Teachers Associations, Workers Confederations, Farmers, Native ethnic groups, Cooperatives and the Association of Honduran Municipalities.

It should be noted that FONAC was created during the administration of former President Carlos Flores. For the last year, FONAC has been directed by Juan Ferrera who replaced Marco Orlando Iriarte, who participated in the Stockholm Consulting Group.

Microsoft will initiate operations in Honduras

The international computer company Microsoft is planning to initiate operations in Honduras and plan to invest approximately 70 million lempiras in their first five years of operations.

The Director of Microsoft for Honduras and the Caribbean, Jose Luis Rodriguez, explained that Microsoft’s insertion in the national market would help reactivate the economy and attract globalization, as well as generate employment. 

Other benefits include the generation of computer’s products and innovative services to national companies. —La Tribuna

Policemen on buses

Due to the suspension of interurban transportation providers in some areas of Tegucigalpa on Tuesday who claimed gang members where making it impossible to work; the Preventive Police Force has assigned two armed police officers to units that cover these routes. Police were also assigned to protect certain bus stops in conflictive areas. —El Heraldo

President Maduro says police do good job

President Maduro stated on Wednesday that there is no reason to fire any police official for not being effective even though some business sectors are pressuring him to do so. 

According to Maduro, the perception of insecurity can be attributed to the commotion created after criminal events take place, but that in reality, car theft, kidnappings, burglaries and bank robberies have dropped by 75%. He also stated that when the new public order law went into effect, police control over gang behavior has advanced considerably.

The President stated that although there is still a lot of work to be done, no country in the world has eliminated crime in a day, but that Honduras can expect to be successful in its war on crime. He also reiterated that one of his government’s proposals is an integrated police force against organized crime and the common criminal with the application of a fast justice system. He also said his government would supply all the support needed to reduce judicial tardiness, because this is a central point in achieving credibility of the Honduran judicial system. —El Heraldo

Supreme Court supports life sentence for kidnappers

The Supreme Court of Justice is ready to support all of the National Congress’ initiatives aimed at fighting any form of crime, stated the magistrate Suyapa Thuman on Wednesday when she learned that an inter-institutional commission is planning to reform the Penal Process Code.

The purpose of the reform is to condemn persons convicted of kidnapping to life imprisonment. Although any congressional reform concerning the justice system must be approved by the supreme court, the magistrate stated, “Any measure adopted in this sense will be approved, because criminality is a problem we all have and we are all obligated to fight it.” —El Heraldo

Dengue epidemic

TEGUCIGALPA - Health officials confirmed this week that the country is suffering an epidemic of dengue fever. This illness, an acute infectious disease characterized by sudden onset, headache, racking joint pain, and a rash, is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus aedes chiefly in tropical and semitropical regions.

In Tegucigalpa, the public hospital, Hospital Escuela is receiving between eight and ten cases of classic dengue a day, of which five are usually children. The total number of patients is 51 percent higher than 2001. According to the health authorities, if the disease continues in epidemic proportions, the probability of an epidemic of hemorrhaging dengue is likely due to re-infection. When a person, who has already suffered classic dengue fever, contracts the disease for a second time, the consequences are usually worse and the illness can develop into the hemorrhaging variety. 

Although health officials state the situation is under control and does not merit declaring a national emergency, the population has been alerted to keep their homes and other living spaces free of mosquitoes.

Rescue Task Force: timely volunteerism that saves lives

Rescue Task Force representative in Central America Claudio Casas and President Gary Becks deliver medications during a medical mission in Honduras.  

By SUYAPA CARIAS

The president of the Rescue Task Force volunteer organization, Gary Becks, recently announced the delivery of a load of medicine worth $3 million to Honduras. Donated by different drug manufacturers headquartered in the United States, the products will be distributed throughout the national health system. 

The Rescue Task Force, headquartered in San Diego, California, is non-denominational philanthropic agency specializing in serving remote areas, some which have never had outside contact. 

Becks, along with volunteer mates Claudio Casas, Jorge Paz and Oscar Salgado, recently invited the Tegucigalpa press to an informative meeting concerning their work. The purpose of the conference was to give recognition to cooperation provided by a group of businessmen and caring people that have made it possible to carry out a series of social and health projects in the country’s more remote areas, such as the La Mosquitia.

While offering an illustrative overview of the work that Rescue Task Force has been doing so far, the representative in Honduras and Central America, Claudio Casas, explained that this entity is committed to help those in need and those wanting to help themselves worldwide. 

Outreach programs
“Our objective is to give support and relief wherever there is human suffering at any level.” Volunteers first came to the Honduran Mosquitia jungle in 1987, where in a few years they were able to set up a complete medical clinic, given the lack of access to health services its inhabitants have always been facing. The Ministry of Health is now supporting the project. 

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch made Rescue Task Force come back with a considerable amount of humanitarian aid, medical assistance and supplies which was distributed in coordination with other groups that included fire departments, rotary clubs and private enterprises.

This year, the agency managed to donate an entire container filled with a product called Metabolife, as well as cereal and different medications that were all delivered to charity homes, churches and the Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa. The aid had a total value of US$300 thousand.

Fighting Tosferina
Rescue Task Force latest mission is taking place in the community of El Carbon, in the Department of Olancho. Last winter, the area was attacked once again by a whooping cough epidemic that affected all children under 15 and killed eleven of them.
“We have just brought a plane with specialized medications to treat this infection. 

According to our estimates, there are currently a total of 756 people infected with the disease,” said Casas.
On the other hand, the members of the organization in Honduras are working on a major educational project aimed at establishing an automated information system between the Ministry of Education and the rest of the Honduran educational structure. 

“We hope to carry out this project during the Maduro administration with the help of the private sector,” emphasized the speaker.

Spreading the word
At the end of the presentation, Becks and Casas especially thanked the Hotel Excelsior, Cofinol, Vendors Marketing, the World Emergency Relief, as well as other businesses, entities and volunteers who are making Rescue Task Force a reality in this Central American nation.

“It is said that one single person can make a difference. It sounds nice, but it doesn’t make sense,” said Becks. “It’s the effort of many people that has made this work possible in Honduras, for which we want to thank all those who have been involved with it.” 
In behalf of the Board of Directors, Becks invited the public to join this organization by helping in any way they can. Rescue Task Force has also been present in other sites in need such as the mountains of Kosovo, the central plains of Afghanistan and the slums of Thailand. 

If you would like to find out how to join a mission, offer a donation of just get more information about this valuable collective volunteer action, see the webpage www.rescuetaskforce.org, or call (619) 424-7415, fax (619) 424-9393.

Five people massacred in residential home

On Monday, three children, one young woman and an older man were all found murdered in their home in the Colonia Kennedy in Tegucigalpa after neighbors complained of a bad smell coming from the house.

According to the police report, the bodies of Rolando Gallardo (76 years old), Sofia Lopez (7 years old), and Jeremy Lopez (1 year old) were found on a bed, while Milagro Aguilar’s (18 years old) was on the floor in the same room. The body of Gabriela Lopez (3 years old) was found in another room under a bed. Apparently, Mr. Gallardo was knifed to death when he tried to defend his grandchildren who were strangled. It is unknown how Aguilar was killed. Apparently the reason for murdering the family was robbery, although police are now launching a full scale investigation. —La Tribuna

Two more suspects in Panting case captured

After searching four homes on Tuesday, police captured two more suspects in the kidnap-murder case of Reginaldo Panting. Jose Israel Madrid (20) and Jose Hernan Lopez (30). Along with the men, the police took mattresses found in their homes, as well as other evidence into custody to do forensic comparisons with material found on Panting’s body. Both men have previous records. Five other suspects have also been questioned. —La Tribuna

IDB evaluates 32 unfinished projects in Honduras

The Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) is currently evaluating the 32 projects that are being executed in Honduras at a cost of the US$620 million due to a series of irregularities committed through several different government periods. The acting Minister of Finance, Ralph Obelholzer stated that the commission sent to Honduras is evaluating all project executions that IDB is executing in the country due to the fact that several are backed up. Many of these projects form part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy for which their completion is vital to reach another level of development. — El Heraldo

District Attorney from Catacamas abandons post

Javier Umanzor Silva abandoned his post this week after receiving continuous deaths threats related to the imprisonment of Jose Angel “Chango” Rosa. Rosa was implicated in the murder of Carlos Luna, a Catacamas councilmen in 1998 and is currently imprisoned for illegal logging. Luna was shot to death in front of the municipal building when leaving a late night session. Reasons for his death were related to illegal logging in the area.

The new District Attorney, Tiburcio Amador, stated that both he and Umanzor have been threatened repeatedly, for which reason, Rosa has been transferred to a jail in Choluteca. —La Tribuna

Teacher’s conflict reconciled with two-year differed payments

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA – After several days of negotiations, strikes and serious confrontations, the government and the education sector finally coincided on a differed payment agreement over a period of two year, at the new price for an hour of class, included in the Teacher’s Statute.

This is a big step inasmuch as this Statute is concerned and President Maduro expects an end to the conflict that was getting worse by the day.

After several months of conflict, in an environment of mutual respect, the negotiations that were once again taken up last week, with an official delegation named by Maduro’s administration representing the government and the Lps. 10.19 increase was almost agreed upon. This amount concurs with the Statute, but the government wanted to make differed payments over 2003 and 2004, and not completely apply the new rates until 2005.

President Maduro was forced to choose Cesar Batres and the Vice-Minister of Finance, William Chong Wong as representatives for the government because the Federation of Teacher’s Associations rejected the Minister of Education, Carlos Avila. 

The Agreements:
• In the first semester of 2002 an increase in salary averaging Lps. 5.00 will be applied.
• A similar amount will be added in the second semester to complete the Lps. 10.19
• As of 2003, teachers will receive new wages on an hourly scale in one singe payment.
• This form of payment will allow the government to avoid paying Lps. 600 million all at once.
• 52 thousand teachers nationwide will benefit.

Education on hold: government - teacher conflict

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA - The relationship between the government and the teacher's sector has deteriorated further and come to a near standstill after teacher's went on a general strike from Monday to Wednesday of this week, causing thousands of students to miss class.

Although the government and teacher representatives had agreed to apply the teacher's statute over a two year period, the negotiation were not able to overcome an impasse that persisted over total application beginning in 2004.

Approximately 60 thousand teachers will receive an average increase of Lps. 2.60 per hour during 2002, and a little more than Lps. 5.00 per hour in 2003.

Another factor that has been an obstacle in the negotiations is the fact that for the first time in history, a person not even vaguely connected to the education sector was named Minister of Education. 

The new minister, Carlos Avila, further estranged himself from the sector when he applied a "zero tolerance" policy and he deducted from the teacher's salaries three days from Easter week holiday. The official holiday began on Thursday of Easter week. 

This action provoked teachers on a national level, who went on a general strike, demanding their entire salary and calling Avila a thief. Both sides refused to budge, the teacher's state that the authorities want to cause chaos, while the government states it will not submit to pressures and that the law will be complied with. Some of the teachers did give classes during the strike to avoid having their salaries deducted from, while others refused to do so, following the instructions of teacher's organizations.

The government has not been able to solve this problem after five months in office, and every indication points to the loss of the school year. 

President Maduro states that education is a national priority, second place only to security, and he has followed the event closely, but he has still not met with representatives of the educational sector that reject his Minister of Education, Carlos Avila.



Casa Alianza Honduras appeals sentence against policeman

TEGUCIGALPA - Casa Alianza Honduras has presented a formal appeal against the "pathetic" sentence received in the first case in which a Honduran policeman was condemned for murdering a young boy.

The policeman, Cesar Alexis Montoya was sentenced on April 29, 2002 to six years, six months and 7 days by the Second Court of Letters, for the murder of Eddy Nahum Donaire Ortega, a 17 year old boy in the Municipality of San Jeronimo, close to Comayagua. 

Domaire was illegally detained by the police in Comayagua and accused of robbery on January 19. However, he was not sent to juvenile court. Two days later, Donaire escaped, but was then trapped by Officer Montoya, who shot him in the legs and left him to bleed to death.
The defense argued that Montoya's intention was just to intimidate the boy. However, according to Article 22 of the Honduran Constitution, his intention is irrelevant, stating "lethal force cannot be used against an underage person." Besides the fact that Donaire was defenseless and unarmed.

The judge that sentenced the policeman stated that Donaire's murder was just bad luck. 
He refused to review the evidence that proved that Donaire was shot directly at and not hit by one of the "six warning shots" the police alleges he fired. 

"According to the Honduran Penal Code, such an atrocious crime should receive from 11-20 years," stated Jose Manuel Capellin, National Director of Casa Alianza in Honduras. "We have presented an appeal because we want to set a precedent for those who use their uniforms to kill children." "We are not sure why the judge ignored such important evidence."

This is the first time a police officer has been sentenced in Honduras. Casa Alianza has documented more than 1,200 cases of murder of children in Honduras since January 1998.

Reginaldo Panting found murdered

Although his family paid the two-million lempira ransom requested, kidnappers of Reginaldo Panting, 72, still murdered him and disposed of his body in San Pedro Sula last week. Panting, a former Minister of Economy and Congressmen had been sequestered two weeks earlier. Public outcry reached a peak after the discovery of his body, forcing the Chief of Police, Coralia Rivera de Coca to promise to resolve the case. -La Tribuna

Eight percent increase in residential electricity

The National Energy Commission announced this week that effective July 1, the price of electricity would rise by eight percent for the residential sector, five percent for the commercial sector and 3.5 percent for the industrial sector. -La Tribuna

Gas prices on the rise

As of Monday, the price of gasoline and diesel increased. According to the Petroleum Technical Unit (UTP), a dependency of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the rise can be attributed to international market prices. The price of super gasoline rose from Lps.39.84 to Lps. 40.13 gallon; the price of regular gasoline rose from Lps. 38.06 to Lps. 38.29 a gallon; the price of diesel rose from Lps. 26.49 to Lps. 26.89 a gallon; and the price of kerosene rose from Lps. 22.44 to Lps. 22.96 a gallon. -La Tribuna

Supreme Court agrees to withdraw representatives from National Election Tribunal

In a plenary session held on May 31, the Supreme Court of Justice agreed to withdraw it's representatives that were accredited to the National Election Tribunal due to the fact that this state power should not participate in electoral matters. -La Tribuna

New police and co-existence law put into effect

On Wednesday, members of the preventive police force in Tegucigalpa carried out a 24-hour operative in compliance with the new co-existence law that recently went into effect. In less than twelve hours, more than 400 persons had been arrested for vagrancy and other socially unacceptable behavior. 

The law permits police to arrest people who molest women on the street; do not possess the proper identification papers; beg without possessing municipal authorization; are in a state of undress; practice street prostitution; managers of bars and billiard halls open anytime other than from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m; and students found out of school during school hours. -La Tribuna

Honduras and Nicaragua agree to new round of discussions

The International Court of Justice and the governments of Honduras and Nicaragua agreed on Wednesday to begin a new round of written discussions concerning maritime disputes between the two countries.

The Nicaraguan Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Honduran and Nicaraguan agents in the court met with the President of the Court on Wednesday and came to the following conclusions: to continue legal procedures to determine maritime borders between the two countries which will be followed by oral arguments, after which the court will emit a final sentence. -El Heraldo

Majority rule

By BLANCA MORENO

TEGUCIGALPA - To attain a majority rule in the National Congress, the ruling National Party was able to gain four more votes by fusing with the Christian Democrat party, and now has 65 votes or a simple majority to pass laws, projects and other measures.

Both parties subscribed to the "Agreement to assure governance, economic growth and sustainable development." It was signed in the presence of President Maduro and Congressional President, Porfirio Lobo Sosa and representatives of the Christian Democrat party, Arturo Corrales Alvarez and Ramon Velasquez Nazar.

The negotiations were heavily criticized by the Liberal party that has 55 congressmen; the Democratic Unification Party with five congressmen; and the Innovation and Unity Party (PINU) with three congressmen. They were also asked to subscribe to the agreement by President Maduro. "This parliamentary alliance is based on a shared vision of the future of the country, it is not a blank check, but rather guarantees that all initiatives will be approved by both parties."

The first measures approved by this alliance was the blue package or Paquetazo azul, a series of economic measures that hit the middle class the hardest; voted on and approved in the absence of the rest of the congressmen, who all abandoned the legislative chambers. 
The President of the Christian Democrat Party (considered a small party), Arturo Corrales Alvarez, has been criticized the hardest for turning over his party. On the other hand, other analysts consider him a great negotiator as this political action guarantees a simple majority to take decisions concerning national objectives.

The legal frame of the agreement establishes that: both parties recognize the fact that problems exist between different sectors that must be solved. Among these: the interpretation of Teacher's Statute; the need to balance public finances; government support of price freezes; support of structural problems caused by agricultural reactivation; and the urgency to take steps to avoid the continued destruction of forests and watersheds.
One situation that was not negotiated, but that was an obvious product of these negotiations, was firing the President of the National Election Tribune (TNE), Heriberto Flores Lagos.

Flores Lagos is a member of the Christian Democrat Party, but had an obvious affinity to the former presidential candidate and former president of Congress, Rafael Pineda Ponce. Just goes to show that politics is a science of calculations. 



Honduras and Guatemala to reduce illegal immigration 

By IXCHEL GRANADA

Tegucigalpa - Immigration officials and the Migratory Corps of Guatemala and Honduras are searching for means to reduce the number of individuals transporting illegal immigrants to and from Guatemala and Honduras. So called coyotes that charge up to $1000.00 for their services traffic people from the borders of Honduras through Guatemala and Mexico on route to the United States. 

The Director of Honduran Immigration offices, Ramon Romero explained that the number of traffickers and immigrants has increased by 5% in the past three years. A limited budget and scarce number of competent authorities has made border patrol, tracking, and prosecution very difficult. Therefore, offices of both Guatemala and Honduras have solicited both an increase in budget and an increase in collaboration between authorities of both countries.

This increase in vigilance will perhaps make travel from one country to the next more difficult in that crossing borders will involve more paperwork and stricter visa requirements. An increase in border patrol at the United States- Mexico border has left many so-called coyotes vulnerable and easier to locate and expose. However, further south, the borders are easily crossed and systems of communication, detention and transportation are inadequate to combat the increase in illegal activity. 

Romero has also made the recommendation that immigration personal receive more basic training in reduction of illegal trafficking, and human rights. 

A network of immigration personal beyond the borders is necessary to track those that have made illegal trafficking of immigrants their profession. 

Other organizations that are working in conjunction with Immigration Services include the Center for Criminal Investigation (DGIC) and the Public Ministry Against Corruption (FGCC).

Electronic airline tickets will pay sales tax

The Director of the Tax Bureau, Mario Duarte announced this week airlines will soon have to charge customers sales tax for tickets bought online. Duarte stated that once the Financial Equilibrium and Social Protection Law is published in the official government newspaper, La Gaceta, airlines will be obligated to charge traveler's this fee. -La Tribuna

40 thousand boxes of banana exports daily being lost due to strike

The Vice-President of Public Relations of Chiquita Brands, Fernando Sanchez stated this week that the worker's strike is affecting productivity, generating a loss of foreign exchange for Honduras, and allowing other countries to take over foreign markets supplied by Honduran. He also stated that the bags treated with the insecticide Turban, used against the cochineal insect that affects 30 percent of the banana production, does not affect the workers health because the product is handled properly. 
The strike began last Monday and is causing the company to lose 40 thousand boxes of exports daily. -La Tribuna

More austerity measures

As a means of saving Lps. 350 million a year, President Maduro approved a new series of austerity measures. These include reducing travel expenses of government officials, and use of cell phones, freezing 60 percent of the government jobs to avoid paying severance pay and reducing overtime by 40 percent in comparison to 2001. 
Other measures included: no salary increases in collective contracts of more than 8%, the reduction of gasoline consumption by 70%, and reducing the number of new cars purchased for government purposes. -El Heraldo

Flooding causes 15,000 people to be stranded in Danli

Due to heavy rainfall throughout the country this week, 15 thousand persons in the Department of Danli are stranded after two small bridges where washed away by flooding on Tuesday night. -El Heraldo

And more flooding in Talanga

Located just 60 kilometers from Tegucigalpa, neighborhoods in the area outlying Talanga, Ermita 1 y Ermita 2 were partially evacuated after 6 homes were destroyed from flooding caused by heavy rains. More than 3000 people live in these areas and state that the main problem is the road that is not adequately drained. -La Tribuna

National Electric Company deficit, Lps. 300 million

An increase of the use of thermal energy has caused the price of a kilowatt of electricity to rise to Lps. 1.53, while the electric company (ENEE) sells a kilowatt for Lps. 1.50, or at a Lps. 0.03 loss. According to Angelo Botazzi, the General Manager of the ENEE, the scarcity of water caused the production of hydro-electric power in El Cajon to drop by 72 megawatts, which means that at this time 70 percent of the energy consumed is thermal. It is hoped that with the onset of the rainy season the situation will improve. -La Prensa