MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, VISA REVOCATION AND

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001227

SIPDIS

FOR IIP/G/WHA AND IIP/T/ES,
FOR WHA/PDA, WHA/USOAS, AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV KDEM HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, VISA REVOCATION AND
BOLIVIA, JUNE 08, 2005



1. On 06/07, the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La
Tribuna" published an editorial entitled, "Another one
falls." "We had already anticipated where Bolivia's chaotic
situation would lead. A profound political and social crisis
pushes it towards ungovernability."

"Everything happens in front of the OAS, impotent in the
face ofconflicts. Some, like the U.S., maintain that the OAS
should watch over democracies, while others are against
intervention. There are others who prefer to act on facts."

"The truth is that they have their hands up in the air in
this crisis of ungovernability crisis that is now so
frequent. Everything happens so slowly in the OAS, a
bureaucratic hemisphere without a sense of urgency."

"Skeptical Honduran politicians ignore that this country is
presenting similar symptoms. If they don't protect
themselves, giving hope instead of hate and divisionism, one
day we will have a great scare."


2. The Tegucigalpa-based moderate paper "El Heraldo"
published an editorial entitled "Corruption and the
Embassy." "Confirmed revocation of public prosecutor Yuri
Melara's visa is a definitive step towards the International
Fight against Corruption."

"Although it is clear that it's about preserving U.S.
national interest, the U.S. decision was seen as a new and
effective weapon in fighting corruption in countries like
ours. But until now visa revocation from politicians and
former public officers has been questionable and justice
hasn't been able to act against corrupt actions."

"Honduras and the U.S. signed the OAS Inter-American
Convention against corruption in 1996 which establishes that
the countries will give reciprocal assistance and will be
able to investigate or try corruption acts."

"Hopefully the confirmation of the visa revocation from the
number two man in the Public Ministry will enable Honduran
justice to have access to the necessary information to put
on trial those who disappointed Honduran peoples' trust."


3. The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa"
published an editorial entitled "Bolivia." "Bolivian
president's resignation is one more step towards anarchy in
the South American country and evidence of another failure
of democracy."

"In Fort Lauderdale the debate arrived in the OAS General
Assembly. Juan Ignacio Siles, Bolivian Foreign Minister,
pointed out on Sunday that the problem was exclusively a
Bolivian matter, on Monday he demanded support from the
hemispheric organization."

"Bolivia, the South American country with highest level of
poverty, second largest gas reserves after Venezuela, has
experienced continuous punches and counterpunches that
created an unbalanced social ambience and violence for the
majority of Bolivians."

"Poverty, discrimination and despotism are the explosive
cocktail's ingredients that periodically shake the country.
Where democracy is handled by words and not by facts it's
impossible to live in peace, strengthen justice and assure
liberty."

Palmer