MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, AUGUST 23, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001773

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, AUGUST 23, 2005



1. On 07/26 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily, "La
Tribuna," published an op-ed by Oscar Antonio Oyuela
entitled "I Can't!" "We are an undeveloped country because
we have a `negativism syndrome' and prejudices such as: `I'm
embarrassed to do that' or `I can't.' If we don't change
our mentality we will continue to carry these burdens and
will let them conquer us and crush our right to think."

"We shouldn't allow national and international sociologists
to declare that we lack initiative and morals. We can prove
them wrong if we show that we are willing to work hard, at
fair salaries, of course. We can invent and have creativity
and administrative ability."

"To make this possible we must be firmly committed to
building a national educational project that will develop a
new man who will generate wealth and be capable of
innovation."

"The political and economic elite have the valuable
opportunity to make changes in the judicial, economic, and
cultural structures so that the country will have efficient
institutions that guarantee equal opportunities and fast
answers to social demands. Let's not forget that these
changes are requirements established by international
financial organizations so that the debt forgiveness will
help us get out of the poverty and terrible ignorance that
we are currently suffering."

"CAFTA, G-8 debt forgiveness, and the direct North American
aid are part of a `Marshall Plan' that will allow us to
fight against poverty."

"There is no justification for us to continue blaming
someone else for our misfortunes, and even less to blame the
`North American Imperialism' that is - giving us a hand to
improve our future. We are architects of our own destiny:
either we rise like the Japanese and Europeans did or we
will be `Africanized.'"

Williard