INCUMBENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER REAPPOINTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000243 SIPDIS SIPDIS BRASILIA FOR S. HENSHAW; MADRID FOR H. LLORENS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM HO SUBJECT: INCUMBENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER REAPPOINTED Classified By: AMB Charles Ford, reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (U) The incumbent head of the Honduran Human Rights Commission, Ramon Custodio, was reappointed by the Honduran National Congress to another six-year term on Wednesday. Custodio has been active in Human Rights since the 1980's and has been Human Rights Commissioner since 2002. The reappointment took place with almost no notice, and no other candidates appear to have been considered. Local newspaper El Heraldo points out that no one was saying anything about the reappointment until the paper raised the issue earlier this week. ¶2. (C) The Embassy learned late last week from a Swedish NGO contact that Custodio's term was expiring, but that he was a lock to be reappointed. (Note: Swedish and Danish NGOs that had a hand in setting up the Human Rights Commission here monitor the organization's day-to-day business and basically feel they have the moral authority to criticize the Commission.) Post's contact stated that the NGO was disappointed with the decision because Custodio lacks effectiveness, but that they were not raising the issue with Members of Congress. ¶3. (C) Comment: Although Post would agree that Custodio has lacked enthusiasm and lately championed questionable causes, he is certainly not a bad choice for the position. A largely nonpartisan elder statesman, Custodio has a long history of involvement in human rights issues. It is possible that his reappointment to a new six-year term may renew his effectiveness. Moreover, while a stronger and more influential leader could perhaps improve the effectiveness of the organization, the parties did not put any other candidates forward. The decision was already wired between the National and Liberal parties, and there appeared to be no strong policy interest in questioning his reappointment this late in the game. Post hears rumors that Custodio promised his vote on Supreme Court Magistrates for both the NP and LP candidates in exchange for his reelection. The press is also speculating that in exchange for his reelection, Elvin Santos's presidential candidacy will be voted out by the Supreme Court. Whatever the reasons, the bottom line is that Congress's lack of transparency in the election process and its failure to consider other candidates may signal bad news for the upcoming elections of the Supreme Court and Supreme Electoral Tribunal Magistrates. FORD