MEDIA REACTION ON IMMIGRATION, SEPTEMBER 2, 2004

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002016

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/PD (OHILTON); IIP/G/WHA; CA, PRM AND EB
INFO IIP/T/ES
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOs

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL SMIG KPAO HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IMMIGRATION, SEPTEMBER 2, 2004



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
on 9/2, entitled "Corridor of Death." "Statistics from the
National Forum on Immigration show that in the first
semester of 2004, 66 Hondurans died, 74 were injured and 25
were maimed attempting to enter illegally in the U.S."

"The reasons that cause the constant migration of our
countrymen are still the same: the lack of jobs and the
precarious living conditions that most Hondurans endure.
This situation has been worsened by other recent
developments, such as the high prices of oil and public
services, the shortage of basic grains, and the lack of
educational opportunities and health services."

"It's unfortunate that a country isn't able to provide
basic, sufficient options for its people to prevent them
from risking their lives on such a dangerous quest. It's
acceptable that one of our priorities is to achieve
permanent migratory status for our undocumented countrymen
living abroad, but it's also crucial to develop the
necessary conditions here to prevent their exodus."


2. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" on 9/2, entitled "Migrants." "Even though the
remittances sent by the almost 800,000 Hondurans working
abroad (most of them as undocumented aliens) have become an
important source of foreign currency for our economy, both
government and society shouldn't overlook the suffering and
humiliation the emigrants and their relatives go through."

"Although we can't expect, at least in a short term, that no
Honduran flees the country due to the lack of opportunities
here, our authorities should join forces with other
countries of the region to negotiate agreements with the
United States to allow legal migration of Hondurans who
would work temporarily in the U.S. Such an effort would
save us a lot of tears and frustration."

Palmer