MEDIA REACTION ON UNCHR RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000855 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 13, 2004 ¶1. Op-ed by Julieta Castellanos in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 4/13 entitled "The aggression towards Cuba." "The last foreign policy move has placed our country in the disgraceful situation of becoming the backyard of a powerful country. Public officials are losing credibility, and nobody in Honduras or abroad believes this decision is ours. The presidential decision pleases Washington and the Cuban-American community, not the Honduran nor the Cuban people." "As the head of our foreign policy, the aggression towards Cuba is the responsibility of President Maduro and his government. It shouldn't be understood as an aggression of the Honduran people towards Cuba." ¶2. Op-ed by Gaspar Vallecillo in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 4/13 entitled "The principles of Maduro and human rights." "Maduro doesn't surprise us anymore with his acts, and his constant attempts to tarnish the international image of Honduras, confirming that we're not identified with him in any way." "The resolution on Cuba was the last reckless initiative of the President. To say that he did it because of his `principles' is another attempt to justify his imprudent actions. What principles is he talking about, when our human rights are being violated every day?" "If he had any principles, he wouldn't have talked in the name of the people he has persistently lied to. Maduro's principles have offended us all." Palmer