US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1227

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001227 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IIP/G/WHA AND IIP/T/ES, 
FOR WHA/PDA, WHA/USOAS, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, KPAO, PGOV, KDEM, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, VISA REVOCATION AND 
BOLIVIA, JUNE 08, 2005 
 
 
1. On 06/07, the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La 
Tribuna" published an editorial entitled, "Another one 
falls."  "We had already anticipated where Bolivia's chaotic 
situation would lead. A profound political and social crisis 
pushes it towards ungovernability." 
 
"Everything happens in front of the OAS, impotent in the 
face ofconflicts. Some, like the U.S., maintain that the OAS 
should watch over democracies, while others are against 
intervention. There are others who prefer to act on facts." 
 
"The truth is that they have their hands up in the air in 
this crisis of ungovernability crisis that is now so 
frequent. Everything happens so slowly in the OAS, a 
bureaucratic hemisphere without a sense of urgency." 
 
"Skeptical Honduran politicians ignore that this country is 
presenting similar symptoms. If they don't protect 
themselves, giving hope instead of hate and divisionism, one 
day we will have a great scare." 
 
2. The Tegucigalpa-based moderate paper "El Heraldo" 
published an editorial entitled "Corruption and the 
Embassy."  "Confirmed revocation of public prosecutor Yuri 
Melara's visa is a definitive step towards the International 
Fight against Corruption." 
 
"Although it is clear that it's about preserving U.S. 
national interest, the U.S. decision was seen as a new and 
effective weapon in fighting corruption in countries like 
ours. But until now visa revocation from politicians and 
former public officers has been questionable and justice 
hasn't been able to act against corrupt actions." 
 
"Honduras and the U.S. signed the OAS Inter-American 
Convention against corruption in 1996 which establishes that 
the countries will give reciprocal assistance and will be 
able to investigate or try corruption acts." 
 
"Hopefully the confirmation of the visa revocation from the 
number two man in the Public Ministry will enable Honduran 
justice to have access to the necessary information to put 
on trial those who disappointed Honduran peoples' trust." 
 
3. The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" 
published an editorial entitled "Bolivia."  "Bolivian 
president's resignation is one more step towards anarchy in 
the South American country and evidence of another failure 
of democracy." 
 
"In Fort Lauderdale the debate arrived in the OAS General 
Assembly. Juan Ignacio Siles, Bolivian Foreign Minister, 
pointed out on Sunday that the problem was exclusively a 
Bolivian matter, on Monday he demanded support from the 
hemispheric organization." 
 
"Bolivia, the South American country with highest level of 
poverty, second largest gas reserves after Venezuela, has 
experienced continuous punches and counterpunches that 
created an unbalanced social ambience and violence for the 
majority of Bolivians." 
 
"Poverty, discrimination and despotism are the explosive 
cocktail's ingredients that periodically shake the country. 
Where democracy is handled by words and not by facts it's 
impossible to live in peace, strengthen justice and assure 
liberty." 
 
Palmer