MEDIA REACTION ON IMMUNITIES, JULY 16, 2003

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001697 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/PDA (JGREENBLATT); WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV IZ HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IMMUNITIES, JULY 16, 2003 ¶1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on 7/16 entitled "No way of winning". "Let's see how things work in Honduras: if the Honduran politicians don't put the ball through the basket they lose, and if they do it they lose too. A group of Congressmen got together after receiving a great deal of criticism, and in a moment of despair or irritation they decided to take away immunities from everybody. It's worth to point out that this has just been an announcement, there's nothing official yet, but as usual the decision making in Honduras is like a pendulum, moving back and forth." "This has been the case on the issue of immunities. The Constitution includes a broad definition of it, pretending to embrace everything, but it has resulted on a continuous abuse of this privilege, until the bubble burst. Once it burst, they decided to take an extreme measure: eliminate immunities for everybody." "We believe it's necessary to limit immunities exclusively to perform the duties of key public officials. It shouldn't be too broad to protect civil servants from civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution." ¶2. Article in San Pedro Sula-based daily "Tiempo" on 7/16 entitled "The elimination of immunity will only benefit criminals". "Olban Valladares and Toribio Aguilera, Congressmen representing the Innovation and Unity Party, declared that the elimination of immunities will only benefit organized crime, narco trafficking and a group of 12 untouchable entrepreneurs who have become rich through illegal activities." "They insisted that the abolition of immunities will affect many public officials, such as Congressmen, judicial agents, prosecutors, judges, members of the Superior Court and other officials of the Executive branch." "They believe it's essential to adjust the immunities law, to protect the officials of the Judicial, Executive and Legislative branch, and the Public Ministry during their duties as civil servants." Palmer