CHALLENGES FOR IMPROVING SECURITY ENVIRONMENT

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000471 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, INL/LP, AND DRL: BIBBINS, MAGGIO AND MITTELHAUSER STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/CEN, WHA/PDA, PRM, CA AND G/IWI STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM DOL FOR ILAB: JANE RICHARDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ELAB KCRM KJUS KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG SOCI, HO SUBJECT: CHALLENGES FOR IMPROVING SECURITY ENVIRONMENT FACED IN HONDURAS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS OUTREACH REF: A. 06 STATE 200959 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 0306 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: All leading dailies and a number of television and radio stations in Honduras covered the U.S. Human Rights Report on Honduras and the National Human Rights Commission's own Human Rights Report for 2006, both released on March 6. Major media also highlighted the signing, on the same day, of a NAS-funded TIP capacity building project between the USG and the UN's International Migration Organization in Honduras. On March 14, the Embassy coordinated a videoconference on the NGO ten principles with DRL and other speakers from the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law and a local NGO, all of whom engaged in a meaningful discussion with 25 participants locally on how the principles can be applied to the proposed new NGO law in Honduras (ref A). At the conference, the press interviewed a representative from the Association for a More Just Society about the killing of their lawyer (ref B). On March 15, the Ambassador then held a luncheon at his residence for human rights leaders to discuss the reports, worsened security environment and pending legislation in Honduras. Major media interviewed the Ambassador on separate occasions about the rollout of the two reports, the TIP project and USG support of NGOs in Honduras and reported on the luncheon. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On March 6, Ambassador Charles A. Ford attended the presentation by the Human Rights Commissioner at the National Congress on the Honduran Human Rights report for 2006, which coincided with the release of the U.S. report. The Commissioner cited the deteriorating crime situation and that in 2006 there were 46 killings for every 100,000 persons in Honduras, third only to Colombia and El Salvador in Latin America. In the annual U.S. report on Honduras, the news media cited "serious human rights problems exacerbated by government corruption, impunity, and gang violence" despite "some positive steps". Articles also highlighted in the U.S. report the erosion of press freedom, discrimination against women and indigenous groups, and trafficking in persons. Foreign Minister Milton Jimenez was quoted as saying that administration officials, inheriting a difficult situation which cannot be changed overnight, have put in a great effort in this area. He said that they have met with all the human rights organizations in the country to register their concerns. Also on March 6, Ambassador Ford signed an agreement to donate USD 99,989 of NAS funds to the International Migration Organization in Honduras for building capacity to assist victims of trafficking in Honduras. The project will train at least 120 justice officers and key representatives of civil society on the prevention, identification, assistance, and protection of victims and effective sanctions against violators of human trafficking. ¶3. (U) On March 14, Post held a videoconference for Honduran NGOs on the NGO ten principles and proposed NGO law (ref A). During the conference, Nicole Bibbins Sedaca from DRL spoke about U.S. support of strong judiciaries and civil societies worldwide, including NGOs. She also discussed the ten principles and five initiatives announced by the President in December 2006 during Human Rights week. Greg Maggio from DRL then spoke about the value of the Annual Human Rights Reports, such as helping lawmakers and officials make decisions about foreign assistance and training. He also reviewed two projects, one to strengthen civil society participation in local politics in Honduras and Nicaragua (PRODEM) and the other to encourage freedom of the press in Central America. Laura Garcia Olson of theInternational Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) then discussed the activities of ICNL, including assistance in formulating a draft Honduran NGO law. Gabriela Castellanos of the Federation of Organizations for the Development of Honduras (FOPRIDEH),a local NGO supported by AID, spoke in more detail about the draft law such as rights and obligations of NGOs and the registration process. ¶4. (U) During the question and answer period of the DVC, participants expressed concerns about problems with NGO funding, registration of "morally unsuitable" NGOs, and harrassment. Sonia de Aspra, Secretary General of the Ministry of Government and Justice, defended the highly subjective registration process but said that the Ministry is looking carefully at the ten principles and draft NGO law. Gabriela Castellanos indicated that subjective registration criteria are not/not included in the new NGO law. (NOTE: The draft law corresponds to the recently passed and amended Transparency Law in terms of the legality and openness of the transfer of public funds to private entities. END NOTE.) After the signing ceremony of the TIP project and the NGO videoconference, the Ambassador answered questions from the press about the project, the treatment of NGOs in Honduras, and the U.S. and Honduran human rights reports. At the videoconference, the press also interviewed a representative from the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ) about the recent killing of its lawyer, Dionisio Diaz Garcia (ref B). These interviews were shown on major television stations. ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador then held a luncheon at his residence on March 15 with leading human rights advocates, including two representatives from ASJ, to discuss the U.S. and Honduran 2006 human rights reports, the deteriorating security environment including the recent killing of the ASJ lawyer, and human rights concerns about the Police Organic Reform Bill. Demoralized with the worsening security situation under the Zelaya administration, the group expressed, nevertheless, human rights concerns about the new law, encouraged the donor community to place stricter conditions on its aid, and discussed the need to coordinate their efforts to implement existing laws. They complimented the Embassy on its report and wished that it had gotten even more press coverage. (NOTE: The translated version in Spanish is scheduled to be released before the end of March, which should get some additional coverage. END NOTE.) The luncheon was covered in the local media. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Post supports the proposed NGO law, which is scheduled to be presented to the National Congress by the end of this month. The Embassy now is reviewing the latest draft of the Police Organic Reform Bill, which the President of Congress, Roberto Michelleti, has opened up for discussion with the Mission. Originally drafted by DEA, the law would provide protection of witnessess and internal police reform. Despite human rights sensitivities left over from the 1980s, such reform would help police enforce existing laws that the human rights community believes should be implemented more fully. At the urging of the Ambassador, human rights leaders at the luncheon agreed to come up with three areas in which they could coordinate their efforts. Post believes that the last two weeks of outreach helped raise awareness of the challenges of and possible solutions for human rights and security problems facing the country. END COMMENT. FORD