ARABS VIEWED AS ETHNIC COMMUNITY WITH MOST

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002544

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, EB, AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ELAB SOCI PHUM KIRF HO
SUBJECT: ARABS VIEWED AS ETHNIC COMMUNITY WITH MOST
ECONOMIC CLOUT IN HONDURAS



1. A recent survey conducted in Tegucigalpa of 200 people
over the age of 18 indicated that the majority of those
polled view Arabs as having the most economic power in
Honduras. Those surveyed were asked two questions: which
ethnic community do you view as the most powerful
economically; and also, a somewhat generic two-pronged
question about the overall social image of each ethnic group.
The following ethnic groups were evaluated in the study:
Chinese, African, indigenous, Arabic, and Jewish.


2. After the Arab community, those perceived as having the
most economic clout (in descending order) were the Chinese,
Jewish, African, and indigenous communities. As far as hard
work is concerned, those surveyed overwhelmingly viewed the
Chinese as the hardest workers (71 percent),followed by the
Arabs (12 percent),indigenous (11 percent),African (3
percent),and the Jewish community (2.5 percent). When those
surveyed were asked what is your overall view of these ethnic
groups, the Chinese came out first, with 92 percent of the
people seeing them in a positive light. Following closely
behind were the African and indigenous communities, with 89
percent and 88 percent, with the Arabic and Jewish
communities receiving only 49.5 percent and 35 percent
respectively.


3. With respect to the Arab community, although perceived as
the most economically influential group, they are not
necessarily well-liked. (NOTE: The Arab community in Honduras
is overwhelmingly Palestinian-Christian, not Islamic. END
NOTE.) The Chinese, however, are seen as being both powerful
and having a positive social image, particularly in terms of
being hard workers. The African and indigenous communities
are viewed as having little economic power, but retain a good
perception according to the survey.


4. COMMENT: Although there are no official statistics, it is
estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 of Honduras' six
million inhabitants are of Arab descent, and of these, the
great majority are Palestinian-Christian. By some estimates,
no other country in the Western Hemisphere has a higher
proportion of Arab immigrants and, in absolute numbers,
Honduras ranks fourth after the United States, Canada, and
Chile. Important figures of Arabic descent include: the
former president Carlos Flores; the Canahuati family
(textiles); and the Kafati family (coffee). Despite their
economic clout, Arab-Hondurans are often the victims of
prejudice or stereotyping.
Palmer