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