VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTG #0471/01 0752136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 162136Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5250
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC

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