US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1556

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001556 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES 
DEPT. FOR PM AND EB/TRA 
DEPT. FOR WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, PGOV, MASS, EAID, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, JULY 26, 2005 
 
 
1. On 07/26 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily, "La 
Tribuna," published an op-ed by Orlando Henriquez entitled 
"Funds."  "According to newspapers and President Maduro `the 
electoral period presents a danger to the funds available 
under debt relief.' The newspapers are concerned that much 
of the money could be lost through bad management or `be 
stolen by the Maduro government.' Maybe the distrust is 
because, according to some information, the government has 
received more than a billion dollars during for the past 
three years, which it has turned into an annual deficit that 
can't be stopped." 
 
"God knows what President Maduro is looking for, creating a 
parallel government that will manage the debt forgiveness 
funds, a `Poverty Reduction Funds' organization, an 
independent organization in charge of `watching out that the 
state's money is used correctly,' and a Consultative board 
that will have the power to `prioritize project demands,' a 
phantom entity composed of politicians that believe that 
governments are corrupt, two international observers, and 
eight government officials. And it is not out of the 
question to think that Maduro will be part of it too." 
 
"Also, Maduro, who thinks he has had the best government in 
the world and also thinks he has the right to decide the 
future following his term, has already established the 
projects to invest on without considering that it is the 
Congress' job to decide how the investment will be used and 
to take Maduro's suggestions if they want. Others will judge 
whether Maduro invested the funds with wisdom once he has 
finished his presidential term." 
 
"Any way, maybe Maduro has the best intentions. The bad 
thing is that during his government he wasn't as concerned 
with honest management of the people's money." 
 
2. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La 
Prensa" entitled "Tortillas and Corn."  "The discussion 
about the destiny of debt forgiveness funds should not only 
be channeled toward priorities but also should widen the 
vision and not be blinded by today's urgent and multiple 
problems. The poor can be consoled today but poverty can 
only be vanquished long term." 
 
"The great risk in the use of these resources is that they 
can be used up in projects that meet community needs, but 
that are not long lasting and don't provide sustainable 
income for poor families such as job opportunities." 
 
"We will experience better life styles when job 
opportunities increase and labor relations proceed according 
to law. There has to be equal opportunities in order to 
reduce the great abyss that separates the few with almost 
everything and the many with almost nothing." 
 
"To use demagoguery to provide immediate assistance will 
only keep the poor in misery. While we are eating tortillas, 
we need to prepare the land and cultivate so we won't lack 
corn to make more tortillas." 
 
Tuebner