MEDIA REACTION ON UNCHR RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000853

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, WHA/PD, WHA/CCA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR DRL, DRL/MLA, IO, INR, AND IIP/G/WHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO PHUM PREL KDEM CU HO CHR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON UNCHR RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
IN CUBA, APRIL 14, 2004



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" on 4/14 entitled "Ours and theirs." "To take to
Congress the resolution presented by Honduras to the UNCHR
will stir a meaningless discussion when we have other issues
and laws that, despite their importance, are being ignored
by our deputies."

"Why should they keep talking about this? For better or
worse, the Maduro government has gotten the attention of the
international community on this issue, confirming a position
that the Maduro and previous administrations have maintained
on the alleged violations of human rights by the Castro
regime."

"We should be clear on something: nothing should be more
important than promoting the respect for human rights here,
in Cuba, or anywhere else."

"We have so many problems here that we can't afford to go on
with this issue. We should save our energy to solve our own
problems."


2. Op-ed by Jorge Ramon Hernandez in the Tegucigalpa-based
moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 4/14 entitled "The curious
case of Cuba." "It's been curious to see the commotion
caused by some people on the resolution presented by the
Honduran government to the UNCHR, which only asks the Cuban
government to allow a visit of a U.N. representative, to
report on the human rights situation in Cuba."

"It's curious to notice that those who have said that our
resolution is aggression against the Cuban people have
remained silent when journalists, intellectuals, political
leaders, workers, and other dissidents haven't been able to
express their opinions and have failed to take notice of the
fact that the Cubans don't have the same freedom and
guarantees as we do here in Honduras."

"It's curious that they have a double standard when judging
human rights, and that what's an obligation for the Honduran
government isn't for others."

"Sovereignty or friendship between some governments can't be
in opposition to the respect for life and to freedom in all
its forms."

"The protection of the rights of any human being is beyond
the slogans, the demonstrations, the opinions, and even
political ideologies."


3. Op-ed by Mayra Navarro in the Tegucigalpa-based liberal
daily "La Tribuna" on 4/14 entitled "Why don't they just
tell the truth?" "We know our authorities aren't used to
telling the truth, but sometimes to be honest is the only
honorable way to get out of trouble. Most of the criticism
that President Maduro has gotten from Honduras and abroad
could have been avoided just by telling the truth, but the
loyalty to the U.S. has driven him to sacrifice the
country's and his own reputation."

"The error of the Maduro government is not wanting to tell
the whole truth to the people. The government isn't just
doing a big favor to the U.S., it's also trying to make them
unaccountable for this decision, and that is just
inexcusable. One thing is having to do something under
pressure, and other is trying to defend foreign interests
without regard to our own dignity."

Palmer