US embassy cable - 02TEGUCIGALPA3440

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 003440 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/PDA,(MBUCKLEY; MPROCTOR); IIP/G/WHA (DDIPASQUALE) 
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, APAOS, Ios, 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION:"AMBASSADOR PALMER AND THE JUSTICE 
SYSTEM" 
 
  1.   Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based daily "La 
     Prensa"(liberal party periodical) (12/23),"Palmer and the 
     Justice System": The statements of Ambassador Larry Palmer 
     have bothered some thin-skinned members of the political 
     establishment.  Essentially, what Ambassador Palmer said was 
     that that he hopes that legal cases involving U.S. Citizens 
     will be solved quickly based on principles of justice and 
     fairness. Ambassador Palmer also stated that if his country 
     feels that the legal system is not transparent and does not 
     provide a level playing field that this could affect trade 
     negotiations between the United States and Honduras." 
 
 
  2.   "For some time now, the justice system in Honduras has 
     been questioned. The lack of judicial safeguards is not just 
     a rhetorical issue: the media is a wash with cases of 
     corruption and the lack of an ethical code.  International 
     and local investigations into the legal system strongly 
     recommend reforms within the justice system. 
 
  3.   "So why now do we hear such hostile reactions against 
     Ambassador Palmer?  He is only asking for fair legal 
     procedures for his fellow-citizens and for Hondurans as 
     well. 
 
 
  4.   ".What bothers some people who do business with the 
     government in a non transparent and honest way is that their 
     interests can be harmed because of the Ambassador's honest 
     statement about the need for a transparent way of doing 
     business." 
 
  5.   Nevertheless, only the truth will set us free: free 
     from oppression, deception, and propaganda and above all 
     else free from corruption. 
 
 
 
 
 
     Palmer.