PRESIDENT-ELECT LAUNCHES NATIONAL DIALOGUE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001298

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI HO
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT-ELECT LAUNCHES NATIONAL DIALOGUE


1. (SBU) Summary: President-elect Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo
presided over a meeting on December 14 with representatives
of many sectors of Honduran society, following up on his
announced intention to create a dialogue with the Honduran
people in order for his administration to be an inclusive
one. Lobo believes his national dialogue will help unify the
Honduran people, who have been deeply polarized by the
country's political crisis. In addition, it could help give
a voice to many Hondurans who feel they have been excluded
for too long from their country's decision-making process.
End Summary.


2. (U) President-elect Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo launched a
national dialogue on December 14. Lobo and his advisors met
in a Tegucigalpa hotel with representatives of professional
and business organizations, religious groups, unions, and
cooperatives. The anti-coup pro-Zelaya movement known as the
"resistance" was invited, but did not attend. According to
press reports, more than 60 persons spoke at the event. The
press reported that Lobo said his government will be marked
by austerity and the lack of tolerance for corruption.


3. (U) According to Lobo, the purpose of the event was to
create a dialogue with the Honduran people and establish a
permanent relationship and channel of communication between
the nation's president and its citizens. Lobo has said that
he wants to govern on behalf of all Hondurans and his goal is
for his administration to be inclusive of all sectors of
Honduran society. He also believes that a national dialogue
will help repair the damage caused by the political crisis of
the last several months. Lobo wants to encourage direct
participation by those who in the past have been excluded
from public and political decision-making. The Lobo
administration plans for this to be the first of several
meetings and for this dialogue to continue throughout its
four-year term, but especially during the first months of its
term of office.


4. (U) The press reported that crime, frequent strikes by
teachers, the lack of land titles, and the recurring flooding
of the nation's capital were issues brought to Lobo's
attention by those who took the floor at the event. The
press said that business groups called for strengthening of
innovation and technology in the sector and for capacity
building for the labor force. The agricultural sector
reportedly called for technical assistance and technology to
improve planting and harvesting. According to the press, the
organizations present agreed to reach out to the most
excluded members of society and gather their concerns and
transmit them to the Lobo government.


5. (SBU) Comment: Lobo's launch of a national dialogue is a
sure sign that his administration is committed to listen to
the people and seek to unify a badly divided nation. Many
Hondurans feel marginalized, left out, and unable to have an
impact on public sector decisions that affect their everyday
lives. The situation has been worsened by anxiety created
by the political crisis. Lobo's national dialogue is an
excellent step towards addressing these concerns.
LLORENS