US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1746

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001746 
 
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, AUGUST 22, 2005 
 
 
1. On 08/22 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El 
Heraldo" ran an op-ed by Juan Carlos Elvir, mayor of Santa 
Rosa de Copan, entitled "Keys for the Future of Honduras." 
"There is no doubt that the subject of the moment is the 
external debt relief which creates a lot of expectations 
about our future; also a matter of concern is where those 
resources should go to help those sectors in the country 
most in need. Now more than ever, corruption and lack of 
resources are becoming serious obstacles for any action in 
the fight against poverty." 
 
"In reality, the country requires a more accelerated state 
structural reform, a decision that should be dynamic and 
with a clear vision, factors that are not present at this 
moment. There should be a democracy that integrates, as it 
really should be, the whole territory and the nation's 
population. For this integrated democracy the best strategy 
should be a decentralization of power so that a new state- 
society relationship should be established." 
 
"Since 1995 Santa Rosa de Copan has been managing a citizen 
participation process. This is a clear sign that in the 
country local democracy has gone farther and accomplished 
more than the central government will be willing to 
recognize. We have to conclude that this sustainable process 
can only be achieved if civil society has enough power." 
"To put into practice real citizen participation there 
should be enough freedom to accomplish the maturity required 
from civil society to consolidate this process successfully. 
It is also fundamental to know where are we going and what 
we wish to accomplish. A way to avoid a deviation in our 
path is to plan and establish indicators that will show us 
the correct way to go." 
 
"Today more than ever we, who belong to the political class 
of this country, should be aware that we have few available 
alternatives to develop the country and that one alternative 
is to promote a responsible decentralization and guarantee 
transparency in resource management." 
 
Williard