When threats, fines, imprisonment, exile and government-led defamation campaigns fail to silence journalists, assassination often will. So concludes the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its latest worldwide survey, Attacks on the Press --  1999. By W. E. GUTMAN

New moniker; same old monster

Now you see it, now you don't. Congress closes U.S. Army School of the Americas and promptly reopens clone

Washington, DC -- The U. S. Army School of the America (SOA) expired after years of controversy and a sustained barrage of bad press that exposed its bloody history and further tarnished its tainted image. Or has it? By W. E. GUTMAN

U.S. President Bill Clinton last week signed into law legislation passed by the U.S. Senate amplifying benefits of member countries of the Caribbean Basin Initiative. For Honduras, the best break came in the form of suspension of the 18 percent import tariff for clothing assembled in Honduras. More briefs in Business and Economics

There have been serious changes in the Honduran banking system. The debt paid by industrialist Miguel Facusse has caused an overflow of liquidity in the country or, in other words, a flood of cash.  Full editorial in Opinions and Editorials

Have Hondurans had their fill of judicial corruption? President Flores recently created a commission of distinguished citizens who will have the task of studying the judicial system in Honduras and of working to implement positive change in the direction of a more efficient and equitable judicial system. Or, to put it simply, to effect more justice. Full article in Opinions & Editorial by Erling Duus.

By DON PEARLY

Before I tell you the meaning of the Spanish word ladron, what comes to your mind? A tender word for a child maybe? Perhaps a nickname for a 15-year-old boy with no manners, no morals, no ethics, no education and probably a rough way to go for the rest of his life?

TEGUCIGALPA -- Heydy Vanessa is an attractive 16 year old with expressive brown eyes and freckles on her face. But what you can't see on the outside is the suffering she went through for years, when her stepfather would come home and brutally beat her with a whip. He is a policeman. Her humble mother, another victim. So she just handled the situation the best way she could: By drinking, smoking and hanging out with "bad elements" in the neighborhood. Full article by SUYAPA CARIAS in National

Do you know what planetary alignment is? From a mathematical point of view, it is three or more objects that are aligned and their centers are exactly on the same straight line. This implies that the centers of the objects must be on the same plane. If this were the case and all the planets were on the same side of the sun, the ones nearest to the sun would eclipse those farthest away. Since the planets move on elliptic orbits that are on different planes, the probability that these are ever in a straight line is almost zero. Full article by ROSIBEL PACHECO DE GUTIERREZ in National

Angels are used to express realities beyond materialism, where kindness and love are important and essential, in the paintings of Claudine Milla. (Photo by Alejandra Flores Bermudez.)

On the banks of the Choluteca River in downtown Tegucigalpa lies Barrio Abajo with its historical structures and houses where the years of coming and going of families still echo in their halls. In one of those houses with a terra cota colored facade lives a young girl with a special talent and personal history.  Full article in Cultural by ALEJANDRA FLORES BERMUDEZ

"Buiti Binagui," I said, and the congregation of about 50 replied back with delight, "Buiti Binagui" (Good Morning). "Now it's your turn to say good morning in my language, I informed them, and carefully pronounced the Irish words, "Dia Dhuit." The 50 black faces replied back, saying more or less "Dia Dhuit." Full article in Cultural by CIARAN O'NUANAIN

If there is something a North Coast resident needs, it is probably for sale in La Ceiba. However, the traffic and bustle of La Ceiba is quite a change from sleepy towns on Roatan or around Trujillo. After a morning of running errands, some shoppers prefer to retreat to the Sambo Creek restaurant for lunch. Full article in Travel & Tourism by Wendy Griffin

Well, it's that time of the year again! June 1st marks the start of the annual Hurricane season in the Caribbean and U.S. forecasters are forecasting another year of above normal hurricane activity. For this coming season experts are predicting 11 tropical storms, seven of which will convert into hurricanes and three of which will be major ones. According to Bill Gray of the University of Colorado, the increasing number of hurricanes in recent years will probably continue for the next 20 years! Full update in Travel & Tourism by Howard Rosenzweig

Planeta.com is now sponsoring a new mailing list about environmental news and travel in Honduras. Full article in Environment