US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2457

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002457 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR PD/WHA (OHILTON), IIP/G/WHA, WHA/CEN 
INFO IIP/T/ES 
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, SMIG, KPAO, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON TPS, NOVEMBER 1, 2004 
 
 
1. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" 
on 10/30, entitled "TPS."  "The decision of President Bush 
to extend TPS until June 6, 2006, is vital because of the 
critical economic and social situation the country is going 
through, where the problem of unemployment is significant 
and without an apparent solution in the short term." 
 
"We're well aware that the key to the problem of illegal 
immigration by Hondurans resides in creating the appropriate 
conditions to develop our production, to improve our trade 
relationships, and to establish a democratic society that 
creates opportunities for all here." 
 
"However, in the meantime, these aspirations would be 
frustrated if the U.S. doesn't offer an alternative like 
TPS, or better yet, granting a permanent status to all 
undocumented Hondurans." 
 
2. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El 
Heraldo" on 11/1, entitled "Fifth Time."  "The fifth TPS 
extension, which benefits more than 90,000 Hondurans, is 
very good news for our countrymen, their relatives, and the 
country in general, because not only are we still 
experiencing high unemployment levels, but also the our 
economy increasingly depends on the remittances sent by 
those who have fled from poverty." 
 
"An obviously excited President Maduro made the announcement 
on Friday in a press conference broadcast by radio and 
television, where he said that this generous gesture of the 
U.S. government was `the most important success of our 
foreign policy and even of our economic and social policy.' 
The Maduro Administration has achieved three TPS extensions, 
and the negotiations for the next one will be carried out by 
his successor." 
 
"Until the day comes when no Honduran has to leave the 
country due to the lack of opportunities here, we must keep 
aiming for a permanent status for those registered in TPS 
and an agreement with the USG to allow Hondurans to work 
temporarily in the U.S. to avoid more tragedies occurring to 
those still seeking the `American dream'." 
 
3. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
on 11/1, entitled "Fifth Extension."  "As was foreseen a few 
days ago by Ambassador Larry Palmer, the USG, in response to 
a petition by the Maduro government, has granted a fifth 
extension of TPS to our undocumented countrymen living in 
the U.S." 
 
"No one knows how many more extensions we can get, and 
that's why the next administration has to look for an 
amnesty or any other kind of permanent solution." 
 
Palmer