Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03TEGUCIGALPA2718
2003-11-19 16:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

BIO OF HONDURAN FIRST LADY AGUAS OCANA DE MADURO

Tags:  PINR PREL HO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002718 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2013
TAGS: PINR PREL HO
SUBJECT: BIO OF HONDURAN FIRST LADY AGUAS OCANA DE MADURO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002718

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2013
TAGS: PINR PREL HO
SUBJECT: BIO OF HONDURAN FIRST LADY AGUAS OCANA DE MADURO


1. (SBU) Aguas Ocana, the first lady of Honduras, married
President Ricardo Maduro on October 10, 2002. It is her first
marriage and his second. Born on April 29, 1963 in Sevilla,
Spain, Ocana was the former counselor of the Spanish embassy
in Tegucigalpa. Ocana first earned the Spanish equivalent of
a bachelor's degree in accounting, and later went on to study
law. She is a dynamic, self-confident woman that displays a
passion for children, women, and the elderly. While these
types of issues are normally associated with her formal
position, Ocana genuinely seems to be interested in promoting
social development in Honduras.


2. (SBU) Currently, her efforts are focused on reforming
adoption laws in order to eradicate irregularities in the
adoption process, as well as make it easier for foreigners to
adopt Honduran children. Ocana herself is in the process of
adopting two Honduran children, Milady and Kevin, for whom
she has written custody from the parents that allows her to
travel with them.


3. (C) Ocana has a strong personality and does not hesitate
to insert herself into the inner-workings of GOH politics.
She has publicly clashed with a number of GOH officials, much
to Maduro's chagrin, who would prefer that she keep a lower
political profile.


4. (SBU) Earlier this summer, Ocana returned to her native
Spain on "personal business." This period of estrangement
from her husband had been exacerbated by comments Ocana made
to the press about Maduro's ex-fiancee, and current Minister
of Culture, Mireya Batres. Ocana's public remarks came at a
price. Cesar Batres, the father of Mireya and close personal
friend to Maduro, resigned his position as legal advisor to
the president on land issues due to the controversy.
Minister Batres did not resign.
Palmer