US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1597

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001597 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN, DRL/IL, DRL/PHD, AND INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB, CU, HO, ILO 
SUBJECT: GOH, BUT NOT HONDURAN CIVIL SOCIETY, OPEN TO 
SUPPORTING CUBAN CIVIL SOCIETY; MFA NAMES NEW CHARGE FOR 
EMBASSY IN HAVANA 
 
REF: A. STATE 152813 
 
     B. STATE 153312 
     C. TEGUCIGALPA 1461 
     D. TEGUCIGALPA 793 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Derrick Olsen; 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) As noted in ref C, the GOH has actively worked to 
advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in 
Cuba.  On April 15, the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) 
passed a Honduran-drafted resolution calling for greater 
respect for human rights in Cuba.  The Government of Cuba 
(GOC) responded to the GOH's action by suspending pending 
maritime boundary negotiations with Honduras, something that 
has been a foreign policy priority of President Ricardo 
Maduro's administration.  Also, while the GOH does have 
formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, Honduras has not named 
an Ambassador to Cuba, partly out of deference to U.S. 
wishes.  However, the GOH consistently and publicly states 
that concern over Cuba's human rights policies is a 
fundamental tenet of its policy toward the Castro regime. 
 
2. (SBU) The MFA publicly announced that Humberto Lopez 
Villamil, currently the DCM at the Honduran Embassy in Quito, 
had been appointed as the new Charge d'Affaires in Havana. 
He will replace the current Charge, Reinieri Amador.  PolOffs 
will try to meet with Lopez to stress the importance of 
supporting Cuban civil society in late July or early August 
after he leaves Ecuador and comes to Honduras prior to taking 
his post in Havana. 
 
3. (C) Note:  MFA Director General (DG) Mario Fortin had told 
PolCouns earlier that this announcement was coming.  A 
22-year career officer, Lopez Villamil may also be promoted 
to rank of career Ambassador, but Honduran representation in 
Havana will not be elevated.  End Note. 
 
4. (SBU) In general, Honduran nongovernmental organizations 
(NGOs) do not share the same willingness as the GOH to 
advocate human and labor rights in Cuba.  As noted in ref D, 
many NGO and union leaders were highly critical of the GOH's 
drafting of the UNCHR resolution on Cuba.  The most common 
argument made by critics was that the GOH is in no position 
to criticize another country due to the serious human rights 
problems in Honduras, especially extrajudicial killings. 
Even Catholic Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez made a veiled 
statement along these lines.  Other arguments made by critics 
include castigating the GOH for criticizing a country that 
has been helpful since Hurricane Mitch hit in 1998 by 
providing doctors and educating medical students, and calling 
the GOH a U.S. lackey, among others. 
 
5. (C) Some NGOs are thought to receive financing or other 
assistance from the GOC.  Many NGOs and some unions in 
Honduras are also ideologically predisposed not to criticize 
the GOC, despite the fact that their ability to voice 
opinions critical of the GOH is a freedom Cubans do not 
enjoy.  A possible exception is Andres Pavon, President of 
the human rights NGO CODEH, and a recent IVP grantee.  During 
the controversy in March/April over the UNCHR Cuba 
resolution, Pavon told PolOff privately that, unlike most NGO 
leaders taking public stands criticizing the GOH, he 
supported the GOH drafting a UNCHR resolution on Cuba.  He 
agreed with his NGO colleagues that there is much to 
criticize about the GOH's human rights record, but said that 
did not preclude the GOH from drafting a resolution that 
criticized a country with clear human rights abuses.  Post 
notes that two labor confederations, CTH and CUTH, are 
affiliated with the International Confederation of Free Trade 
Unions (ICFTU), and might be willing to support ICFTU calls 
for labor rights in Cuba.  Post is not aware of any prominent 
Honduran labor leader having criticized the lack of labor 
rights in Cuba in the last couple years. 
 
6. (C) Comment:  Post believes that, while gun-shy of another 
public confrontation with the GOC, the GOH will continue to 
emphasize the importance of human rights in Cuba.  A new 
Charge in Havana will give the GOH a chance to focus on 
supporting Cuban civil society as well.  Unfortunately, Post 
has not seen any prominent Honduran NGO or labor leader take 
a public position critical of the GOC or strongly supportive 
of Cuban civil society.  As such, Post is not very optimistic 
that a Honduran civil society leader would be willing to 
publicly stand up for Cuban human and labor rights.  End 
Comment. 
Palmer