CENTRAL AMERICA

CENTRAL AMERICAN ROUNDUP 

U.S. firm interested in
Nicaraguan phone company

(LATIN.NET) -- The U.S. telecoms giant BellSouth Corporation is currently in talks to purchase almost half of the state telephone company of Nicaragua. A figure of $20 million has been mooted. Just 2 percent of Nicaraguans own phones. The company, which last year generated almost $1 billion in revenue from its international cellular service, currently has investments in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela, Panama and Peru.

Panama to accept bids
on water plants

(LATIN.NET) -- Panama plans to open bids in October to privatize its 48 water plants. The authorities have decided to sell 51 percent stock in water plants servicing the nation's two largest cities, Panama City and the Atlantic coast city of Colon, with the government retaining 47 percent of stock and workers the remaining balance of 2 percent.

Guatemala, Belize to discuss
land conflict

(LATIN.NET) -- Guatemala and Belize have held their first talks for six years over a disputed area of territory. Unless a bi-lateral agreement can be reached, Guatemala has signalled its intention to seek outside arbitration, perhaps by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

In 1991, Guatemala granted Belize diplomatic recognition in 1991, while still maintaining some territorial claims over its territory. In 1994 the Guatemalan government formed a Council on Belize to establish its legal position in the border dispute, but negotiations left off in 1991 were never renewed.

Guatemala in the past has demanded retribution from the United Kingdom as part of a settlement. Recently, the British government reiterated an offer of a $22 million grant as part of a settlement of the territorial dispute.

Belize, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala, and formerly known as British Honduras, was a British colony until 1981. In 1994, the United Kingdom withdrew its 45-year-old military presence.

Cost of crimes high in LatAm

(LATIN.NET) -- Crimes have cost Latin America some $200 billion in the past five years, according to Shahid Javed Burki, World Bank Vice-President for the region. In Brazil, the annual losses caused by criminals represented 1 percent of GDP, equivalent to $7.5 billion. The Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Cesar Gaviria, said that the annual murder rate in Latin America of 30.7 for every 100,000 inhabitants is six times higher than the world average.

Honduras This Week In Pictures

View Honduras through the camera of Eric Schwimmer.

The above articles appeared in Latin.Net, a weekly newsletter published by Dr. Chris Brogan that provides an analysis of key event's in Latin America. More information about the newsletter can be obtained at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/LatinNet/

Central American Roundup

Panama to privatize water plants

(LATIN.NET) -- Panama plans to open bids in October to privatize its 48 water plants. Panama will sell 51 percent stock in water plants servicing the nation's two largest cities, Panama City and the Atlantic coast city of Colon, she said. The government will retain 47 percent of stock and workers two percent. Panama will grant concessions of up to 20 years for the remaining water plants.

Commission to investigate atrocities in Guatemala

(LATIN.NET) -- Guatemala has named a high-level commission to investigate atrocities committed during more than three decades of civil war.

However, under pressure from the military, the commission will insist on anonymity. Guatemala will not name those responsible for war crimes and the deaths or disappearances of some 140,000 people, nor will legal proceedings be launched against those deemed responsible.

The government and leftist rebels, the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit (URNG), designed the truth commission during peace talks in 1994.

Those sitting on the commission include two Guatemalans, pedagogy professor Otilia Lux and lawyer Alfredo Balsells, to the commission. U.N. human rights expert Christian Tomuschat will chair the body.

The commission will begin work in two months and "objectively" report on all violence and human rights violations on both sides of the war and recommend "measures to preserve the memory of the victims."

Fresh uncertainty over U.S. Canal troops

(LATIN.NET) -- A U.S. Senate report has called for the maintenance of U.S. troops in Panama after the Canal passes to Panamanian control. The report argues that a presence is essential for U.S. counter-narcotics operations.

Unless the U.S. and Panama make other arrangements, the Panama Canal treaties dictate that all U.S. forces must be withdrawn from the country by December 31, 1999, the same date that the Canal reverts to Panamanian control.

In addition to counter-narcotics operations, the report says, maintaining a U.S. presence in Panama assists other U.S. objectives in Latin America, including the training of military personnel, humanitarian and civic action programs and logistical support.

The study cited seven facilities in Panama that the U.S. military views as essential for carrying out its objectives in its area of responsibility, which extends from the Mexico-Guatemala border to southern South America.

The most important of these is Howard Air Force Base. "Without Howard, the U.S. military would find it extremely difficult to conduct its operations in the region, especially counter-drug operations," the study says.

But the two countries are exploring the possibility of permitting American troops to stay there as part of an international counter-narcotics center. Panama is home to the U.S. Southern Command, whose mandate includes 19 countries. Two years ago, President Clinton announced that the command's functions will be relocated to Miami.

The above articles appeared in Latin.Net, a weekly newsletter published by Dr. Chris Brogan that provides an analysis of key event's in Latin America. More information about the newsletter can be obtained at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/LatinNet/

CENTRAL AMERICAN ROUNDUP 

Guatemalan phone company to be auctioned

(LATIN.NET) -- The state-owned Guatemalan Telecommunications Company (Guatel) will be on the auction block by April. The government plans to finance 10 percent of its 1997 budget with the privatization of Guatel and other state-owned industries. Guatemala has just four telephone lines for every 100 inhabitants. Up to 1 million requests for new lines are currently before Guatel. In the capital, Guatemala City alone, a total of 425,000 requests for telephone lines are waiting to be filled.

Honduras This Week In Pictures

View Honduras through the camera of Eric Schwimmer.

The above articles appeared in Latin.Net, a weekly newsletter published by Dr. Chris Brogan that provides an analysis of key event's in Latin America. More information about the newsletter can be obtained at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/LatinNet/

All original articles and photographs published in Honduras This Week are protected by international copyright law. Reproduction, in whole or in part without prior written permission, is strictly prohibited. 

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