NATIONAL |
NATIONAL |
Monday, January 25, 1999 Online Edition 142 |
| Operation
Smile brings 'World Journey of Hope' to Honduras By SUYAPA CARIAS
TEGUCIGALPA -- Do you know how you will celebrate the arrival of the new millennium? Well, some people already do, and they are actually working on it. Such is the case of members of Operation Smile, a leading international humanitarian and medical relief organization dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children worldwide. Through its unique World Journey of Hope'99, Operation Smile will carry on the largest ever surgical mission for correcting cleft lips, cleft palates and similar problems, enabling 5,000 children from 18 countries to smile for the very first time. The mission's first stop in its nine-week mission is Honduras, where it will stay Feb. 3-17. Dr. Edgardo Pagoaga, the man responsible for bringing the program to Honduras in 1997, told Honduras This Week that this year's goal is to provide free reconstructive surgery to 200 Hondurans. In order to select the patients, a pre-operation team will screen persons with these problems who come to the San Felipe Hospital in Tegucigalpa Feb. 4-6, while surgeries will be performed between Feb. 8-12. In addition to the hospital's medical activities, WJoH'99 will feature the presence at every international site of the Flying Hospital, a L-1011 Jumbo Jet that will provide a focal point and serve as a teaching tool through the use of telemedicine and on-site surgeries. In a cooperative effort with the cause, the Flying Hospital will transport medical teams, equipment and supplies in support of WJoH'99. Operation Smile founders Bill and Kathy Magee, sponsors, invited artists and international journalists will be included among the nearly 70 passengers. "We are honored to be the first destination of the Flying Hospital from the United States," said Pagoaga. The plane is scheduled to land on Feb. 6 at the Enrique Soto Cano Air Base in Comayagua and will fly to its next site three days later. Founded in 1982 and based in Norfolk, Virginia, Operation Smile's International is primarily financed through corporative donations. Its healing arm has reached more than 45,000 children, including Brazil, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador. In Honduras, almost 300 people have directly benefitted with the program in two previous missions. According to statistics, one out of 800 children in the United States and one in 500 in Third World nations are born with correctable facial deformities. In addition to contributing free medical treatment and aftercare to children and young adults, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals and provides necessary equipment. The essential component of Operation Smile's mission builds self-sufficiency by offering long-term solutions to an ongoing problem. The upcoming Operation Smile Honduras mission is being locally coordinated and supported by the members of the organization's Honduran Chapter, which is conformed by the Comite Pro Ayuda al Hospital San Felipe, the Club Rotario San Miguel de Heredia, Citybank, Texaco Caribbean, Grupo Jaremar and Corporacion Televicentro. Other private companies such as Emisoras Unidas, local restaurants and hotels are also contributing to the activity's success. For more information, contact Dr. Edgardo Pagoaga at 239-4061. Nation mourns the death of Dr. Hernan Corrales By BLANCA MORENO TEGUCIGALPA -- Honduran society was greatly bereaved by the death of renowned scientist and politician Dr. Hernan Corrales Padilla, who only recently presided the commission responsible for the transfer of the National Police from military to civilian control. Corrales Padilla, 74, died from a massive heart attack eight hours after being in an automobile accident on the road to the south coast on Saturday, Jan. 16. His wife, Gloria Alvarez, is in serious condition. The chauffeur-driven vehicle collided head-on with a truck, whose driver immediately fled the scene of the accident. Ironically, his son, Hernan Corrales Alvarez, his wife and two children were killed in a similar accident 20 years ago. Attending the funeral were President Carlos Flores and former presidents Rafael Leonardo Callejas and Jose Simon Azcona Hoyo. In honor of the veteran politician, the government also declared three days of mourning. Among his accomplishments was the founding of the Christian Democrat Party of Honduras. Distinguished for his seriousness and honesty, he was nominated its first presidential candidate. He was also rector of the National University during the 1970s and fought for the university's autonomy. But his most outstanding legacy to Honduras is the fame he achieved internationally as a doctor and scientist. Corrales Padilla was considered one of the top 27 dermatologists in the world, largely for a study he conducted of skin cancer in Central America. New foreign minister appointed Career diplomat Roberto Flores Bermúdez last Friday (Jan. 15) was named the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding Fernando Martínez who resigned last week. Flores, 49, is currently Honduras' ambassador to Great Britain. The veteran diplomat has also served as ambassador to the United Nations and the United States of America. He is married to Eloisa Henríquez de Flores and has two children. Last week, President Carlos Flores asked Martínez and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Amilcar Santamaría to resign only days after the Foreign Ministry issued a communique expressing the Honduran government's condolences to Iraq for the death of Iraqis during last month's joint U.S.-British air and missile strike on sites reputedly involved in constructing weapons of mass destruction. |
Suspects in kidnapping case arrested Scoring their second success in less than a week, the police on Thursday (Jan. 21) arrested four persons suspected of kidnapping and murdering businessman Jorge Domingo Mitry Rishmagui, the daily La Tribuna reported. Three of the four suspects were former employees of the 68-year-old owner of the Bambino Bakery. The arrests came just five days after the businessman's body was found by a dog near the community of Cofradía (in the Central District). La Tribuna reported that Mitry was just 150 meters from the spot where his kidnappers had abandoned his car. A preliminary forensic report indicated that Mitry was killed the same day of his abduction, Jan. 7. On Tuesday (Jan. 19), the police rescued Denis Geovany Bu Zaldivar just six hours after he was kidnapped in San Pedro Sula, at the same time arresting his four kidnappers. Senator Graham visits Honduras Senator Bob Graham (Dem.-Fla) visited Honduras last weekend to get a first-hand look at the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch and the progress of relief operations being funded by the U.S. government, the daily La Tribuna reported Monday (Jan. 18). During his brief visit, Graham met with President Flores at the Presidential Palace in Tegucigalpa to discuss reconstruction, trade and the creation of jobs, through the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Isleña airplane involved in near crash A small aircraft belonging to Isleña airlines made a forced landing at La Ceiba's Golosón Airport last Friday (Jan. 15) after problems were detected in its landing gear, the daily La Tribuna reported. Bound for San Pedro Sula, the aircraft was forced to return to La Ceiba and remain in the air for more than three hours to burn up the fuel in its tanks. On landing, the front gear failed to come down, causing the nose of the airplane to fall down on the runway once the airplane had lost speed. Neither the pilot, copilot nor the seven passengers aboard were injured. The aircraft, a Brazilian made two-prop EMB-ITO, received only minor damage and is currently being repaired. Dam studies underway To control annual flooding in Sula Valley, the government is studying the possibility of building two new dams, one on the Chamelecon River and another on the Ulua River, the daily La Tribuna reported Monday (Jan. 18). Funded by the Spanish government, the National Electric Company is currently conducting a feasibility study at a site called El Tablon on the Rio Chamelecon. In addition to flood control, the proposed dam would generate electric power and provide water for irrigation and domestic and industrial use. The estimated cost of the project, which would be undertaken by the private sector, is US$192 million. At the same time, the government is also considering the construction of a dam at a site called Los Llanitos on the Rio Ulua. The cost of this project is estimated at $122 million.
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Monday, January 18, 1999 Online Edition 141 |
President Flores requests resignation of Minister and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs By BLANCA MORENO  Fernando
Martinez, ex-minister of foreign affairs. (File)
After sustaining tense relationships with other Cabinet Ministers and publicly opposing President Carlos Roberto Flores, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was forced to resign from his post of almost one year. On the afternoon of January 14 during a meeting with the officials, the President requested that both the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Martinez and the Vice-Minister Amilcar Santamaria resign from their posts. Martinez since his resignation from National Reconstruction Cabinet has dedicated himself to giving radio and television interviews. He even made a scene on the morning of the 14th to denounce the fact that the Honduran government had, behind his back, taken the side of the United States and Great Britain in the war against Iraq. Without consulting President Flores --supposedly his friend--, Martinez made statements accusing the Vice Minister Amilcar Santamaria of making official statements on behalf of the Ministry on the instructions of Ivan Romero, Presidential advisor. The President called a surprise meeting of his collaborators, after 20 minutes, Martinez left the Presidential Palace, while Santamaria stayed a while longer. During the evening, both Santamaria and Martinez presented their resignations to the President. Within the next 24 hours, the President will announce replacements for Martinez and Santamaria, meanwhile he will be in charge of foreign affairs. Martinez warned that he will continue talking to the press, because he wants to be close to the population. He has left his position with a reputation of being inefficient, as he spent most his time campaigning for the next presidential elections and defending ethnic groups, he neglected his duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs. |
Kidnappings Squatters Evicted Border between Honduras and Nicaragua
changed Construction of macroshelters begun President Flores requests
resignations of Minister and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. |
Monday, January 11, 1999 Online Edition 140 |
No
Excuses By BLANCA MORENO
With the dawn of the New Year, President Flores sent a message to the nation in which he called on the five million inhabitants of Honduras to integrate themselves into the National Reconstruction effort because the future greatness or prostration of Honduras depends on all its citizens after Mitch. Flores emphasized the fact that after the emergency the country is in the process of getting back to their regular duties, as in the case of the transference of the shelters to the corresponding municipalities. "We have put, as much as we can, all our love and effort into doing things well. Within days, we repaired hundreds of kilometers of roads that were damaged by landslides, we opened alternative access roads and we built temporary bridges to areas that were left completely isolated." He also emphasized the fact that since we lost 70% of the national crop production, the government made and continues to make the utmost effort so that no one goes hungry." We want to go through the crossroads created by Mitch and with this hope we recently went to Washington and are optimistic about the results being achieved within the consulting groups organized by international financial institutions, as well as the contacts we made with prominent North American and world political figures. We shall slowly see the results of these efforts and gestures and of those that other nations have promised to bring to light, as well as of our attitude to not let ourselves be defeated by this disaster." The President also said, "Just for the sake of keeping clear the situation on the amount of funds available: They are very limited. We don't have bundles of money that can miraculously replace all that was lost. And even less, as some suggest, that in just two months the government will be able to multiply the loaves of bread and make wine from water." "What we have here is just a process that has been initiated, but that requires time so that all that has been committed can become translated into actual projects with disbursements going towards the achievements of our goals." "We are trying and continue to do our best, but only God can make miracles, and we can't expect that the government should do in days what it took the country 50 years to do before,and which has been destroyed, damaged or affected. Neither can we do everything at the same time, or as fast as some are expecting. Some may have forgotten in the last two months the magnitude and severity of an event that has been engraved in history not as just regrettable occurrence of this century, but as one of the most destructive tragedies of this millennium." Flores said that we should situate ourselves in the exact point of our tragic reality in order to understand that there will be no new Honduras for anyone if there is not a new mentality, a newly defined Honduran for shaping the future, and if there are no radical changes in conduct as well as attitude, we will simply find ourselves regressing to the old habits we have displayed in the past. The President was heard by thousands of Honduras on radio and television and said "This is the hour of the supreme test for the Honduran nation, we exhort every man and women of our country to reflect, so that with their hand on their conscience they will abandon those ways which have harmed us and kept us backwards" "Every person must give everything they can and do what they can to stand on their own feet and help others. No one has an excuse, neither physically or morally, of not being part of the gigantic rehabilitation machine and of the National Reconstruction that we have only just begun." He reiterated that it should not be understood that this process is dependent on the government, that we should expect the government to solve everything, or lean upon the government waiting for it to take care of everything. " This demands of everyone a commitment and above all an integrity. It means we should ask ourselves if this incomparable disaster has left us lessons that we should have learned years ago and practiced daily. "We only have this motherland,it's greatness or decadence, recuperation or prostration. Let us not return to a cannibalistic state between brothers, because we all need each other. If we open our Pandora's box of grudges, egoistic appetites and the arsenal of our personal or group ambitions, little space will be left for a true patriotism and for a spirit of generosity to manifest itself in our conduct."
Kidnappings Two people were kidnapped for ransom this week. In San Pedro Sula, Ana Castillo Torres, 27, a lawyer and the wife of Judge Ruben Mendoza Diaz on Tuesday night as she drove home. Kidnappers are asking for six million lempiras for her safe return. In Tegucigalpa, Jorge Alberto Ritshmawi, 68, owner of the Bambino Bakery was kidnapped Thursday morning. Mr. Ritshmawi's family has released no information concerning demands to the press. Access to Patuca Region reopened President Flores inaugurated on Thursday (Jan. 7), a Bailey bridge on the Guayambre River opening up access to the Municipality of Nueva Palestina and the Patuca Region. 300 Million Lempiras spent so far on reconstruction According to Moises Starkman, member of the Reconstruction Cabinet, the government has already spent more than 300 million lempiras on repairs to roads, schools, as well as on clean-up and vaccination campaigns in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Clean up of Choluteca River in Tegucigalpa begins The Municipality of Tegucigalpa began clean up activities in the Choluteca River this week. Truckloads of mud are being removed to avoid further flood problems during the next rainy season. Chamelecon River overflows once more Several barrios in San Pedro Sula were flooded again when a cold front hit Honduras bringing heavy rains. Several residents of the affected areas had just finished cleaning up their homes of the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch. |
Il SAGNI relief project conducts damage survey in La Mosquitia By Howard Rosenzweig The Copan Ruins based La Mosquitia relief project, operating under the name of Il Sagni, recently returned from conducting a Damage Assessment Census in the Wampusirpi area of La Mosquitia during the month of December. Team members; Susan Van der Linden, Angela Rivas de Rosenzweig and Dutch photographer Hiba conducted a census and met with community leaders in the zone. The village of Wampusirpi is located in the municipality of Wampusirpi, which comprises 18 villages, strung out along the banks of the Patuca River. The region, called the Middle Patuca , stretches from Wampusirpi to Boca de Cuyamel in Olancho. The zone was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch. Damage reports taken by Il Sagni indicate that in the 18 villages of the Municipality of Wampusirpi all villages suffered at least some damages. A brief overview of the Census looks like this; number of affected people 4,617. Number of houses destroyed 182. Number of houses partially damaged 156. Horses killed 36, cows killed 151, pigs killed 311. In terms of agriculture, the zone took a big hit, almost all crops were lost; including 622 mnzs of rice lost, 310 mnzs of yuca, 1036 mnzs of plantain, 492 mnzs of corn and 622 mnzs of cacao (an export crop). Due to crop loss and the isolation of zone, residents are now totally dependent on outside relief shipments of food. The recovery of agriculture in the area will be hampered by the damage done by flooding, erosion and sand buildup. During their stay in Wampusirpi, team members travelled via dugout canoe equipped with outboard engines to outlying villages to survey damage. The team also met with community leaders, the Catholic Church and area development organizations in order to formulate a Municipal Development and Reconstruction Plan for the Municipality of Wampusirpi. The Plan stresses short term goals such as the rehabilitation of the housing sector as well as long terms goals such as the development of agro-forestry projects. Team members came away impressed with the level of organization and community involvement displayed by the people of the Mid-Patuca region. According to Suzanna Van der Linden; " Upon our arrival in Wampu , much to our surprise we found an organized, Municipal Development Committee functioning." As to the purpose of the visit Van der Linden stated; "Communications in the zone is not the best, so in order to see the situation and know exactly what type and how much relief supplies to send, we thought it best to invest the time and money to conduct a Damage Assessment Census." Il Sagni undertook a grassroots fundraising campaign in the US, Canada, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark and England. It has also received valuable support from the North Carolina based, Paramedics for Children, the Virginia based, Central American Relief and Medical Aid and the Tegucigalpa based Tawahka organization, Asang Launa. Il Sagnis' first shipment of relief supplies, a container of basic foods was sent on Jan 4, Il Sagni team member Angela Rivas de Rosenzweig, a native of Wampusiri accompanied the shipment and documented it's arrival. Taking advantage of the relief shipment trip, Angela brought in a team of well diggers from Frisco, Colorado. A survey of the Mid-Patuca will be done to choose areas which will most benefit from the well diggers expertise. Future projects for Il Sagni include; further shipments of basic foods, a short wave radio, gas and oil for outboard motors used to transport relief supplies, an outboard engine to be donated to the municipality, and the elaboration of a long term plan to reconstruct storm damage as well as develop the zone and improve living standards while at the same time protecting the regions natural resources.
The People of Honduras |
Monday, January 4, 1999 Online Edition 139 |
New
laws, $1 billion help hasten deportation process BY W. E. GUTMAN Nearly 300,000 immigrants were deported by U.S. Federal authorities in the past two years. Over half came from Latin America, with more than 15,000 from nations in the Isthmus. Nearly 5,000 are from Honduras. The singularly high number of deportations was made possible by a new congressional mandate and bolstered by new funds set aside to pursue, prosecute and expel violators, sometimes in less than 12 hours. Most of the deported will not be allowed back into the U.S. for at least five years. Some have been barred for life. About $1 billion were earmarked for the detention and deportation of immigrants, thus making the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) the largest Federal law enforcement agency. Over 15,000 INS officers are now authorized to carry weapons and make arrests -- more than the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons, the Customs Service or the Drug Enforcement Administration. Stopping people from entering the U.S. has taken precedence, some say, over combating narcotrafficking. Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Immigration Subcommittee and one of the architects if the new legislation, said that the record number of deportations prove that the law works, "though not yet to my satisfaction." Smith added that the INS "is deporting only a small percentage of those who should be deported. The goal is to make sure as many illegal aliens as possible are returned home." Before the law was changed, most of the deportees had been convicted criminals. Now, the majority do not have criminal records but have been apprehended trying to enter the country without documents or with forged ones. About 78,000 illegal immigrants who were already living in the U.S. were also deported in the past two years. They were arrested during job raids, intercepted during routine traffic checks, at airports while returning from abroad and at immigration offices were immigrants seek services and often end up under arrest.
The new funds have allowed the INS to triple the number of beds available in detention centers and local jails around the country, increase personnel by 80 percent and greatly expand the number of investigations. The agency has been empowered to conduct job raids and check on tips from anonymous sources. The law began to get tougher in 1996 when Congress passed the Illegal Immigration and Reform Responsibility Act. Supporters of the law claimed that illegal immigrants overtaxed public services and took jobs away from citizens. The act granted the INS wide powers previously afforded only to the courts. A process called "expedited removal" the law now empowers immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants at the border and at airports. The officials, not judges, determine which should be deported and barred from the U.S. without benefit of legal counsel. The new law has also broadened the definition of a deportable crime and directs the INS to report immigrants convicted of crimes -- even if they gained legal status in the U.S. While the agency routinely expelled murderers and rapists, it is now required to deport check forgers, petty thieves and those accused of "sexual harassment." The law took away the power of judges to consider mitigating factors. Immigration officials say it is too early to know whether the high number of deportations is having the intended effect -- to send an unambiguous message to would-be immigrants that entering the U.S. illegally will be imprisoned and deported. Lawyers and advocates for immigrants are outraged. "The law, in practical terms, deprives them of due process," said Nancy Morawetz, a New York University Law School professor. "Congress passed these laws without paying really close attention the them. The results are just awful." Even immigration officials say that the law is too vague, but their concerns are more fiscal than humanitarian, arguing that the INS will need more funds to accommodate ever-increasing numbers of illegals. Some detention centers are now dangerously overcrowded, raising fears of violent confrontations. The People of
Honduras |
Hondurans in U.S. granted Temporary Protection Status Doris Meissner, Director of the US Immigration and Naturalization Services, announced (Dec. 30) that for the second time in history, Temporary Protection Status will be granted to illegal aliens in the United States. The Status will be granted to Hondurans and Nicaraguans who entered the US illegally before December 30, 1998 allowing them to remain in the country for 18 months without being deported; excluding convicted criminals or persons who have committed two or more petty crimes. Hondurans and Nicaraguans who have resided in the US continuously will be able to apply for the special status and for authorization to seek employment. Fingerprints are required for application. The status is temporary and may not be used to apply for permanent residency in the future; the purpose of this measure is to help Honduras and Nicaraguan overcome the disastrous effects of Hurricane Mitch by enabling applicants to be able to work and stay in the country for a year and half without problems. The measure will benefit approximately 90,000 Hondurans and 60,000 Nicaraguans. Leptospirosis Under Control A Cuban medical brigade has apparently gotten an outbreak of leptospirosis under control in San Pedro Sula. According to La Tribuna (Dec. 26) the medical brigade has been providing lectures and orientation in different communities as a means of prevention after there were 13 confirmed cases. The program also included massive rodent exterminations as the pests’ urine is a primary transmitter of the disease. Housing for the homeless The Minister of the Secretary of International Technical Cooperation (SETCO), Moises Starkman, a member of the Reconstruction Cabinet announced (Dec. 26) that massive temporary shelters will be built during the second week of January 1999 to house the homeless victims of Tropical Storm Mitch in Tegucigalpa. The Minister expressed the necessity of the new shelters due to the bad conditions found in current ones. On another note, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Elvin Santos, also a member of the Reconstruction Cabinet announced that the government plans to build a least 1000 permanent residents during 1999 for the homeless victims of Mitch in the Departments of Choluteca and Valle. Mayan archaeological pieces continue touring Olga Joya, Director of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology announced (Dec. 28) that approximately 356 Mayan archaeological pieces from Copan Ruins will be included in an exhibit of the Mayan culture in the Museo del Colegio de San Ildefonso de Mexico in Mexico City that will open to the public in May 1999. These are the same pieces that were on exhibition in Italy and France during 1998. Hondurans consume one third of beer production during Christmas Season According to the Director of the Honduran Institute for the Prevention of Alcoholism (IHDAFA), Dagoberto Espinoza Mourracón, Hondurans consume one third of the annual beer production during the Christmas season. (La Tribuna, Dec. 29) International auditing of reconstruction funds The government of Honduras and the US Agency for International Development signed an agreement (Dec. 24) for the international auditing of reconstruction projects financed internationally. Gabriel Nuñez, the Minister of Finance, announced that the main objective of this agreement is to assure proper handling of funds and goods donated towards reconstruction efforts. New member assigned to Reconstruction Cabinet Manuel Zelaya Rosales, Minister of the Honduran Fund of Social Investment was named to the National Reconstruction Cabinet after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Martinez resigned last week. |
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World Journey of Hope plans to
brings smiles back to 200 Honduran kids this year.
Honduras president Carlos
Roberto Flores. File video capture by Stanley Marrder
