US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2016

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002016 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/PD (OHILTON); IIP/G/WHA; CA, PRM AND EB 
INFO IIP/T/ES 
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOs 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, SMIG, KPAO, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IMMIGRATION, SEPTEMBER 2, 2004 
 
 
1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
on 9/2, entitled "Corridor of Death."  "Statistics from the 
National Forum on Immigration show that in the first 
semester of 2004, 66 Hondurans died, 74 were injured and 25 
were maimed attempting to enter illegally in the U.S." 
 
"The reasons that cause the constant migration of our 
countrymen are still the same: the lack of jobs and the 
precarious living conditions that most Hondurans endure. 
This situation has been worsened by other recent 
developments, such as the high prices of oil and public 
services, the shortage of basic grains, and the lack of 
educational opportunities and health services." 
 
"It's unfortunate that a country isn't able to provide 
basic, sufficient options for its people to prevent them 
from risking their lives on such a dangerous quest.  It's 
acceptable that one of our priorities is to achieve 
permanent migratory status for our undocumented countrymen 
living abroad, but it's also crucial to develop the 
necessary conditions here to prevent their exodus." 
 
2. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El 
Heraldo" on 9/2, entitled "Migrants."  "Even though the 
remittances sent by the almost 800,000 Hondurans working 
abroad (most of them as undocumented aliens) have become an 
important source of foreign currency for our economy, both 
government and society shouldn't overlook the suffering and 
humiliation the emigrants and their relatives go through." 
 
"Although we can't expect, at least in a short term, that no 
Honduran flees the country due to the lack of opportunities 
here, our authorities should join forces with other 
countries of the region to negotiate agreements with the 
United States to allow legal migration of Hondurans who 
would work temporarily in the U.S.  Such an effort would 
save us a lot of tears and frustration." 
 
Palmer