MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, JUNE 27, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001372 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES DEPT. FOR PM AND EB/TRA DEPT. FOR WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO PGOV MASS EAID HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, JUNE 27, 2005 ¶1. On 6/27 an op-ed by Mario R. Alvarado in Tegucigalpa- based moderate daily "El Heraldo," titled "Debt Forgiveness." "Putting into practice the partial and generous debt forgiveness of the heavily indebted poor countries means a sure loss of our state's businesses and our natural resources that will end up in the hands of international corporations. The main condition imposed by the World Bank and IMF for debt forgiveness is the continuance and deepening of the neo-liberal policy of structural adjustments, privatization of national businesses and the absolute submission of our governments to the dictatorship of the World Bank and IMF." "The governors and officials expect a `special prize' in the privileged bureaucracy of international organizations, such as IBD, IMF, World Bank, UN, OAS, etc., as payment for their `efficient services.'" "The HIPC is not more than minor propaganda expenses to hide the exploitation and domination of the third world by the modern empires." "When the puppets [governors and officials] finish selling our country, a never before seen crisis will come but also a new level of popular fight against our country's oppressors. As the South Americans that fought for their rights, so will the Honduran and Central American people rise." Palmer