Council Foreign Relations Society Of Honduras

Home | Contact Us | FAQs | Site Map
About Continuing Professional Education at VIU

* About CPES at VIU
* Objectives
* Approximate Tuition/Accommodations Fee
* Rave Reviews for CPES Programs

Downloadable Materials

* Downloadable CPES Brochure
* Downloadable CPES Course Catalog
* Downloadable CPES Video
* Downloadable CPES Flyers
* Application for CPES

CPES Career Success Program

* Program Goals
* Program Description
* Who Should Attend?
* Proposed 2008-2009 Calendar
* Reviews for VIUâ€™s CPES Career Success Program
* Study Materials

Rave Reviews for CPES Programs

"VIU continuing education is very useful for those wishing to participate in short-term in-service programs. I'm particularly pleased with the idea of using experienced instructors who have had considerable real-life experience in the outside world."

-- Andrew Ighofovwe Joe, Professor,
College of Education, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

"VIU instructors are good at identifying specific needs and packaging programs to meet identified needs. In addition, VIU delivers its programs well."

-- Amrakpo Grant Ovie, Bursar
College of Education, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

"I enjoyed the program very much. It was interesting, funny, and educational. I also got to meet people from other embassies. I recommend this program to everyone who has just arrived in the United States and also to those who have been living here for awhile."

-- Edit Papai, Counselor for Economic Affairs, Embassy of Hungary

"Thank you so much! You did an outstanding job and we did learn quite a few things about American culture. It was an interesting morning spent with you and the officials of Virginia International University and also with our colleagues from other embassies."

-- Simcha Barukh, Senior Administrative Officer, Embassy of Israel

"I enjoyed the seminar, and I think it's very useful information that you gave to us as new people in the U.S. Thank you."

-- Nor Aza Abu Bakar, Embassy of Malaysia

"The seminar was excellent and well-presented. The topics were great and the speaker and panel discussion were super. Laura Hills and Virginia International University do an excellent job."

-- Lincoln Oviedo, Embassy of Honduras

"This program gave many insights and an overview of American values and culture, which was very helpful to me. Now I understand Americans much better and have enhanced my knowledge."

-- Ram Singh, Agricultural Attache, Embassy of Malaysia

"Thank you so much for hosting such an interesting event."

-- Nguyen the Cong, Press Attache, Embassy of Vietnam

"I can assure you without a doubt that your briefings were really interesting."

-- Jorge Perez, Embassy of Spain

"Thanks for the warm hospitality and great event. I will certainly keep in mind the opportunity to join VIU again and will also inform others."

-- Pavany Thiagarajan, Embassy of Malaysia

Continuing Professional Education Series (CPES).

Clinton: U.S. Not Declaring Events in Honduras a 'Coup'

2009-06-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

Clinton: U.S. Not Declaring Events in Honduras a 'Coup'

By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 29, 2009; 5:15 PM

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today the U.S. government is refraining from formally declaring the ouster of Honduras's president a "coup," which would trigger a cutoff of millions of dollars in aid to the Central American country.
This Story

*
Clinton: U.S. Not Declaring Events in Honduras a 'Coup'
*
Honduras's New Government Vows to Maintain Power

Her statement appeared to reflect the U.S. government's caution amid fast-moving events in Honduras, where President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya was detained and expelled by the military yesterday. But the move could put Washington at odds with the rest of the hemisphere, which has roundly condemned the Honduran military's actions.

"We are withholding any formal legal determination," Clinton told reporters at a State Department briefing. She acknowledged, however, that it certainly looked like a coup when soldiers snatched a pajama-clad Zelaya and whisked him off to Costa Rica.

Later in the day, President Obama said the U.S. government believed the takeover was "not legal" and that Zelaya remained the country's leader.

White House officials made it clear they would like to see Zelaya restored as president of the country, but left vague any specific efforts the country's diplomats are making toward that goal.
ad_icon

"We're seeking to restore that democratic norm in Honduras, and haven't changed the recognition of who we believe is the president of that country," press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters this afternoon.

Gibbs called the military coup a "severe disruption in any sort of democratic norm" and said U.S. policy is aimed at returning to that norm.

"Our goal now is on restoring democratic order in Honduras, again, working with partners at the OAS and in the international community," Gibbs said. But he added, "I don't want to get ahead of the 'what if' as we're focused on the -- restoring that democratic order."

Asked earlier in the day whether that included returning Zelaya to the presidency, Clinton said: "We haven't laid out any demands that we're insisting on, because we're working with others on behalf of our ultimate objectives."

Clinton's remarks reflected the complex situation in Honduras, where the congress overwhelmingly voted to depose Zelaya after he had been forcibly removed. The congress then named a new president, Roberto Micheletti, from the same party.

Zelaya, a close ally of Venezuela's anti-American President Hugo Chavez, had clashed with congress, the Supreme Court and the military in recent weeks, particularly over a referendum that might have permitted him to run for another four-year term.

The Honduran congress and Supreme Court said the referendum was illegal.

The Obama administration has devoted considerable attention to improving relations with Latin America, promising to work more closely with the hemisphere and not dictate policy in a region where it traditionally has had enormous influence.
This Story

*
Clinton: U.S. Not Declaring Events in Honduras a 'Coup'
*
Honduras's New Government Vows to Maintain Power

John Negroponte, a former senior State Department official and ambassador to Honduras, said Clinton's remarks appeared to reflect U.S. reluctance to see Zelaya returned unconditionally to power.

"I think she wants to preserve some leverage to try and get Zelaya to back down from his insistence on a referendum," he said.

U.S. foreign aid to Honduras totaled $43 million in 2009, according to budget documents the administration submitted to Congress. Under the Foreign Assistance Act, no U.S. aid can be given to countries whose elected heads of government are removed by military coups.

In addition, Honduras was awarded a five-year, $215 Millennium Challenge grant from the Bush administration in 2005 to improve its roads and agriculture. That program also requires countries to be democratic.

U.S. officials said they were working to solve the Honduran crisis with other members of the Organization of American States (OAS), the main forum for political cooperation in the hemisphere.
ad_icon

The secretary-general of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, said that the organization "will not accept a return to the past in the continent" and will not make any concessions to the new president named by the Honduran congress.

The OAS will be open to dialogue only, he said, "if it contemplates the return of President Zelaya to his legitimate position."

Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.

Zelaya fue separado por decreto del Congreso

2009-06-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

Zelaya fue separado por decreto del Congreso
“Por poner en peligro el Estado de derecho”, el Poder Legislativo tomó la decisión. Además, se conoció la renuncia de Mel

Tegucigalpa,

Honduras

Un decreto legislativo fue leído para explicar los motivos por los cuales el presidente Manuel Zelaya sería separado de su cargo.

El secretario del Congreso, José Alfredo Saavedra, leyó el documento frente al pleno y explicó las causas por las cuales Zelaya había actuado “en forma irregular” y había puesto “en peligro el Estado de derecho”. Este decreto fue resultado de la investigación de una comisión especial nombrada por el Congreso para conocer las actuaciones de Zelaya y el porqué había desacatado fallos judiciales.

La decisión de separar a Zelaya de su cargo fue fundamentada en el hecho de que el entonces gobernante “generó un clima de confrontación, división y zozobra al grado de poner en peligro inminente y de rompimiento al Estado de derecho y la gobernabilidad”.

El decreto también explica que “de conformidad con los artículos 245, numeral 1, 321 y 322 de la Constitución de la República es deber del ciudadano presidente, ser fiel a la República, cumplir y hacer cumplir la Constitución y las leyes, los tratados y las convenciones y demás disposiciones legales.

Considerando que es potestad del Congreso Nacional velar, aprobar o improbar la conducta de los Poderes Constituidos y demás instituciones del Estado. Considerando que los funcionarios no tienen más responsabilidades que las que les confiere la Ley”, cita.
Entonces se dio paso a los diputados para que expusieran sus opiniones sobre la situación.

“La sustitución legal de Zelaya Rosales está condicionada a que se establezca lo más pronto posible un gran diálogo nacional con todos los sectores políticos y no políticos”, dijo el diputado Antonio Rivera Callejas, en nombre de la bancada del Partido Nacional.

“Nuestro país desde hace algún tiempo se encuentra sin norte, agitado políticamente, y en una confrontación nunca antes vista. En estos momentos esta situación requiere de un gran diálogo nacional”, agregó el diputado nacionalista. Según él, el apoyo a la sustitución legal “está condicionado a ese gran diálogo nacional”, todo con el fin de establecer la paz y la tranquilidad del país.

El congresista pidió que se trabaje a nivel internacional, para darle a conocer a todos los organismos “que todo esto se hace en el marco de la legalidad y la paz. Tenemos que vernos como un país que respeta la ley y la democracia”, expresó.

La renuncia

Seguidamente, Saavedra leyó una carta de renuncia que fue dejada por Zelaya Rosales antes de viajar a Costa Rica.

“Dada la situación política polarizada que se ha presentado, la cual ha dado lugar al desencadenamiento en un conflicto nacional que ha erosionado mi base política y debido a problemas insuperables de salud que me han impedido concentrarme en los asuntos fundamentales de Estado, cumplo con el deber de interponer mi renuncia irrevocable a la Presidencia de la República junto con la de mi gabinete de Gobierno efectiva a partir de esta fecha.

Con mi renuncia espero contribuir a sanar las heridas del ambiente político nacional.

Atentamente,

José Manuel Zelaya Rosales,
Presidente de la República de Honduras”, explicaba la nota.

Sin embargo, el presidente negó que haya renunciado. “Es totalmente falso. “Eso es una conspiración política apoyada por los militares”, dijo Zelaya a la cadena de televisión estadounidense CNN.

El diputado Ricardo Rodríguez, coordinador de la comisión investigadora, explicó al pleno que el mandatario ha descuidado la atención a problemas sustanciales como la gripe A/H1N1, a los afectados por el terremoto, la crisis financiera, el desempleo y la seguridad de los hondureños.
Además sus acciones como la sustracción del material que estaba confiscado en la Fuerza Aérea “demuestra que la conducta del ciudadano Presidente hace peligrar su fidelidad a la República, al cumplimiento de la Constitución y demás leyes que enmarcan el funcionamiento de los funcionarios poniendo en precario el Estado de derecho, la gobernabilidad y el sistema democrático”.

Micheletti: promete combatir el hambre y la inseguridad

2009-06-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

Dispuesto a convocar a un gran diálogo a todos los sectores nacionales e internacionales, Roberto Micheletti Baín juró con su mano izquierda sobre la Constitución de la República que hará un gobierno de integración nacional, garantizando además que las próximas elecciones de noviembre de 2009 se harán como las ha convocado el Tribunal Supremo Electoral.

Micheletti, con la mayoría de diputados como testigos, asumió la Presidencia “en el estricto respeto y cumplimiento de la Constitución de laRepública.

Le doy gracias a Dios por permitirme esta bella oportunidad”, exclamó. Desde las 3.41 de la tarde de ayer, es oficialmente el nuevo presidente constitucional de Honduras.

Resolución jurídica
Ayer a la 1.40 de la tarde, el Pleno Legislativo, luego de improbar la conducta del presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales mediante decreto, respaldado por la mayoría de diputados, determinó la separación del ahora ex mandatario.

El secretario de la Cámara Legislativa, José Alfredo Saavedra, leyó un decreto legislativo que en el artículo número uno establece que “el Congreso Nacional en aplicación de la Constitución de la República acuerda en el literal A: improbar la conducta del ciudadano presidente de la República, Manuel Zelaya, por sus reiteradas violaciones a la Constitución de la República y a las leyes y la no observación de las resoluciones y ordenanzas de los órganos juridiccionales”.

En el literal b del referido decreto se consigna que “se separa al ciudadano José Manuel Zelaya del cargo de presidente constitucional de la República de Honduras”.

Según Saavedra, ahora nombrado presidente del Congreso, el decreto fue aprobado por unanimidad de los diputados de la Cámara Legislativa.

El Congreso Nacional también nombró a Micheletti como presidente constitucional de la República de Honduras, pero por el tiempo que falte para terminar el presente período constitucional que será el 27 de enero de 2010.

Nuevo canciller
El analista Enrique Ortez Colindres fue el único funcionario de su nuevo gabinete que ayer oficializó en sus funciones Roberto Micheletti.
Ortez Colindres será el sustituto de Patricia Rodas, ahora ex canciller de Relaciones Exteriores.

De manera preeliminar y en conferencia de prensa, el Presidente dijo que se empeñará en combatir la inseguridad, la pobreza y el hambre en la nación, así como fortalecer el sistema electoral y político “para que las próximas elecciones de noviembre sean las más transparentes y democráticas en la historia”.

El mandatario afirmó que ya tiene conformado un equipo especial de ex cancilleres del país y otras altas personalidades para que ayuden en la tarea internacional “porque lo que hemos hecho aquí es un acto democrático”.

Resaltó la labor apegada a ley que han hecho las Fuerzas Armadas, quienes, afirma, sólo han cumplido con la función que les ordenó la Corte Suprema de Justicia, el Ministerio Público y el mayor sentimiento del pueblo hondureño.

A la histórica reunión legislativa asistieron como testigos de honor los miembros de la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente de 1982, además del comisionado nacional de los Derechos Humanos, Ramón Custodio, magistrados del Tribunal Supremo Electoral y representantes de la sociedad civil que pusieron alma, vida y corazón exigiendo en las calles que se respetara la Constitución.

“Nuestra Carta Magna sigue vigente, nuestra democracia sigue viva”, les dijo el Presidente.Entre las primeras decisiones que Micheletti tomó como presidente de los hondureños está el decretar toque de queda por 48 horas a fin de evitar disturbios que trastoquen el proceso de transición que ha comenzado.

No teme aislamiento
En cuanto a la política internacional, el Presidente dijo que no teme un aislamiento internacional luego de conocer la postura de diferentes naciones y organismos internacionales que mostraron su descontento ante la expulsión de Manuel Zelaya Rosales.
Él afirmó que ni el mandatario de Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, ni el de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, impondrán lo que debe hacerse en Honduras.

“Tengo mucha fe en Dios que tenemos la capacidad de mostrar al mundo que en Honduras no ha habido un golpe de Estado; nosotros no golpeamos la Constitución”, puntualizó Micheletti.

Saavedra, presidente del Congreso Nacional de Honduras

José Alfredo Saavedra es el nuevo presidente del Congreso Nacional de Honduras en sustitución de Roberto Micheletti, a quien la ley le ha otorgado el privilegio de dirigir el destino de siete millones de hondureños.
Saavedra, quien se había venido desempeñando como secretario del hemiciclo legislativo, será sustituido como diputado por Choluteca por

Carlos Lara Watson. Luego de su juramentación, Saavedrá señaló que su principal responsabilidad será cumplir y hacer cumplir la Constitución y las leyes.

Se comprometió a dialogar permanentemente con todas las bancadas de los partidos políticos que integran la Cámara Legislativa de 128 diputados.

“Con nuestra acción legislativa vamos a buscar las oportunidades del desarrollo, del ejercicio de las libertades y derechos de la sociedad y de las personas”, dijo

Lecture/Arrêt Vidéo Putsch au Honduras : le couvre-feu décrêté

2009-06-28T23:45:00.000-07:00

Le couvre-feu décrêté au Honduras quelques heures après l‘éviction par l’armée du président. Manuel Zelaya a été arrêté chez lui dimanche matin par des militaires qui l’ont ensuite expulsé au Costa Rica. Le Parlement a choisi, dans la foulée, le président du Congrès pour lui succéder à la tête du pays. Roberto Micheletti a légitimé l’opération et rejeté les accusations de coup d’Etat.

“Je veux juste dire que c’est bien une succession constitutionnelle”, a-t-il affirmé. “Et je crois que personne, ni Barack Obama, et encore moins Hugo Chavez n’ont le droit de menacer ce pays”.

Les partisans du président déchu ont érigé des barricades dans les rues de la capitale. Manuel Zelaya a été élu en 2005 sous l‘étiquette libérale. Mais il s’est rapproché ces dernières années de la gauche radicale latino-américaine, un changement de cap peu apprécié par l’armée et par la bourgeoisie.

“Je suis le président du peuple du Honduras : seul le peuple peut me destituer ou me faire revenir, pas un groupe de gorilles”, s’est-il insurgé. “Ce n’est pas à eux de m’enlever le pouvoir moral de représenter le peuple du Honduras”.

Manuel Zelaya voulait organiser ce dimanche un référendum pour modifier la constitution et obtenir le droit de briguer un second mandat. Une consultation populaire jugée illégale par la Cour suprême. C’est donc au nom du respect de la loi que les militaires auraient agi.

Putsch militaire au Honduras, le président Manuel Zelaya au Costa Rica

2009-06-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

Putsch militaire au Honduras, le président Manuel Zelaya au Costa Rica

28/06/09 19:35 CET
Honduras

Au Honduras, des militaires ont lancé leur assaut malgré les protestations. Ils ont arrêté à l’aube, dans sa résidence de Tegucipalpa, leur président Manuel Zelaya.
Des coups de feu auraient été tirés lors de l’opération. On ignore s’ils ont fait des victimes.
Derrière ce putsch, des militaires hostiles au projet du chef de l’Etat hondurien de réformer la constitution en vue de lui permettre de briguer un deuxième mandat.

Manuel Zelaya a été emmené de force sur une base aérienne. Il se trouve actuellement au Costa Rica où il a demandé l’asile. “Je suis à San José, au Costa Rica, témoigne-t-il. J’ai été victime d’un enlèvement de la part de militaires honduriens.”
Depuis le Costa Rica, il a appelé ses compatriotes à résister de manière pacifique, tandis que dans le centre de la capitale hondurienne, la police a dispersé ses partisans au gaz lacrymogène.

L’expulsion du président, un allié du Vénézuélien Hugo Chavez, est intervenue juste avant le début d’une consultation populaire qu’il voulait organiser sur son projet de réforme constitutionnelle, et ce malgré l’opposition de l’armée, du Parlement, de la Cour suprême qui l’avait jugé illégale.
Dans ce contexte, ses partisans s‘étaient eux-même chargés de mettre en place le matériel de vote.

2009-06-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06/2009628155845590287.html

Honduras president condemns 'plot'

Zelaya said that the referendum was aimed at making constitutional
changes to help the poor [File: AFP]

Manuel Zelaya, the president of Honduras, has called for "peaceful
resistance" after the country's military forced him to leave the
country.

After arriving in Costa Rica on Sunday, Zelaya said that he had been
the "victim of kidnapping" when Honduran soldiers raided his home
earlier in the day.

The military made its move after Zelaya vowed to go ahead with a
referendum on constitutional changes, which the Central American
nation's supreme court and attorney-general had declared illegal.

"They came to my house in the early hours of the morning and firing
guns they broke the doors with bayonets and threatened to shout me,"
Zelaya told Venezuela's Telesur television station.

"I don't think that the whole army supported this interruption of the
democratic system by capturing a president elected by the people.

"I think that this has been a plot by an elite whose only wish is to
keep the country isolated and in total poverty."

Palace protests

Zelaya's supporters gathered outside the presidential palace, shouting
insults at the soldiers inside and setting fires in the street, after
news of his arrest emerged.

Factbox: Honduras

Second largest country in Central America
Population of 7.2 million
Second poorest country in the region
Economy forecast to grow less than two per cent this year
Relies on money from Hondurans in the US for more than 25 per cent of
its gross domestic product
Former Spanish colony gained independence in 1821

"They kidnapped him like cowards," Melissa Gaitan, an employee of the
official government television station, said, referring to Zelaya.

"We have to rally the people to defend our president."

Al Jazeera's Marian Sanchez, reporting from Tegucigalpa, said that
people were setting barricades around the building.

"A lot of people are wielding sticks and steel batons and they are
very angry. At one point they tried to push their way into the gates
of the palace, but the army inside resisted," she said.

"There are some people among the protesters who are trying to calm people down.

"They have come with loudspeakers and they are telling people that
they are too few to go into the presidential palace."

Many union, labour and farm movements support the non-binding
referendum, which Zelaya says is aimed at improving the lives for the
nearly three-quarters of Hondurans who live in poverty.

Oscar Hendrix, a youth movement leader in the northwestern city of San
Pedro Sula, said that the military had burned the ballot papers that
had been distributed in defiance of the supreme court ruling.

"This is inconceivable. This is one of the fundamental rights of the
people," he told Al Jazeera.

Hendrix said that there would be protests against the military's actions.

"We are analysing right now whether we are going to do something here
or whether we are all going to mobilise to the capital city," he said.

"We will stand up for our rights."

The referendum, which was due to take place on Sunday, would have
asked Hondurans whether they approved of holding a poll on
constitutional change alongside general elections in November.

Zelaya fired the armed forces chief of staff last week after he
refused to help him organise the vote.

'Illegal' poll

The supreme court and the attorney-general had said that the vote was
is illegal because the constitution bars changes to some of its
clauses, such as the ban on a president serving more than one term.

Their decision was backed by the military and congress.

Colin Harding, an expert in Latin American politics, told Al Jazeera
that Zelaya had apparently overestimated his own power in pushing for
the referendum.

"He has no support in within his own party, he is opposed by congress,
he is opposed by the judiciary and the military, who are not the power
they used to be but have lined up against Zelaya ostensibily in
defence of legality," he said.

Zelaya was elected for a non-renewable four-year term in 2006 as a
member of one of Honduras's established conservative political
parties.

However, since taking power Zelaya has moved to the left, aligning
himself with Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Honduras president detained, sent to Costa Rica, official says

2009-06-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Honduras president detained, sent to Costa Rica, official says

* Story Highlights
* NEW: Jose Manuel Zelaya arrested Sunday amid referendum controversy
* Referendum could set stage to create assembly to write new constitution
* Zelaya recently fired top commander for failing to support referendum

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (CNN) -- Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya
arrived in Costa Rica on Sunday after a military-led coup, a Honduran
government official told CNN.

The Honduran military arrested Zelaya early Sunday morning, the same
day he vowed to follow through with a referendum that Honduras'
Supreme Court had ruled illegal.

"They detained the president and sent him out of the country," the
government official said.

A military team entered the president's residence and met resistance
from Zelaya's guards, the official said.

The official at first said Zelaya was injured, but later said it
appeared he had not been.

Military guards were seen walking around the capital, but there
appeared to be no unrest, according to Radio America.

Zelaya, a leftist elected in 2005, has found himself pitted against
the other branches of government and military leaders over the issue
of Sunday's planned referendum. It would ask voters to place a measure
on November's ballot allowing the formation of a constitutional
assembly that could modify the nation's charter to allow the president
to run for another term.

His four-year term ends in January 2010, and he cannot run for
re-election under current law.

The Honduras Supreme Court had ruled the poll illegal, and Congress
and the top military brass agreed, but Zelaya had remained steadfast.

In the end, it appeared the opposition to Zelaya was too great.

The military confiscated the ballots from the presidential residence,
in effect canceling the disputed vote.

Meanwhile, the state-run television news station was taken off the
air, and there were reports of cell phones and electricity
interruptions in parts of the country.

In Tegucigalpa, a growing crowd, including families with children,
gathered outside of the presidential residence. Video showed soldiers
walking down some of the streets of the capital, and military
helicopters flew overhead.

Sunday's events followed a tumultuous week in Honduras, a country
where 70 percent of the population lives in poverty.

At the crux of the current political crisis was the referendum. After
the Supreme Court ruled the poll illegal, the country's top military
commander, Gen. Romeo Vasquez Velasquez, told the president that the
military would not support the referendum.

In response, Zelaya fired Vasquez on Wednesday.

The next day, the Supreme Court stepped in again and ruled that the
general's dismissal was unconstitutional. Initially, Zelaya referred
to the court as the "Supreme Court of Injustice," but later said that
Vasquez still held his military post.

Determined to hold the referendum, the president on Thursday led a
protest to the military base where the ballots were being housed and
took possession of them -- the same ballots that the military seized
Sunday morning.

http://www.oas.org/OASpage/live/OASlive.asp?lang=ENG

2009-06-26T13:35:00.001-07:00

special Meeting of the OAS Permanent Council to receive information from the Permanent Mission of Honduras regarding the risk to the democratic institutional political process and/or the legitimate exercise of power in the Republic of Honduras

“Violando la ley no se podrán conducir cambios”

2009-06-26T13:32:00.001-07:00

“Violando la ley no se podrán conducir cambios”
El columnista Aníbal Delgado Fiallos recomienda al presidente Mel Zelaya retornar a la vía de la cordura
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 12:49am - Redacción: redaccion@laprensa.hn

San Pedro Sula,

Honduras

Más claro no está. El proceso de consulta que se llevará a cabo el próximo domingo no está sustentado en ley, ratificó el connotado economista y catedrático universitario Aníbal Delgado Fiallos.

La encuesta que el presidente Manuel Zelaya, su gabinete y un grupo de aliados pretenden aplicar no es legal porque así lo determinó la ley y además porque no hay un organismo del Estado que garantice que se va a celebrar con total transparencia, ya que todo el proceso lo harán los mismos interesados, afirmó.

“No sabemos si van a actuar correctamente o si van a adulterar esa consulta. Yo espero que el presidente de la República encamine sus pasos por la vía de la cordura”, recalca.

Desde su óptica, eso es lo único que puede encauzar al país por la ruta de los cambios sociales que urgentemente se necesitan.

“Por otra vía, evidentemente que no podemos llegar. La vía de la violación a la ley, el imponer decisiones al margen de la ley. Por ese camino no podemos conducir los cambios que el país necesita”.

“Que Mel hable claro”

Fiallos, quien también es un reconocido columnista, afirmó que Zelaya no ha definido con absoluta claridad cuáles son sus objetivos al pretender la creación de una nueva Constitución.

“Él ha dicho que su objetivo es el cambio, pero de eso no nos dice absolutamente nada. Él debe precisar programáticamente cuáles son los elementos de cambio que necesita implantar en Honduras, porque así como hay cambios hacia adelante, puede haber cambios hacia atrás. Entonces eso se debe precisar. Debe decir cuáles son los elementos concretos de su propuesta de cambio”.

En cuanto a la incertidumbre que vive la población hondureña, Fiallos recomendó aglutinarse alrededor de la idea de que necesitamos avanzar hacia la transformación democrática de la sociedad por la vía de la cordura y la paz.

“No podemos alterar el orden porque los primeros que sufren no son los funcionarios públicos ni los ricos. Los primeros que sufren son los pobres, aquellas personas que se apasionan por estas cosas y salen a la cabeza de movilizaciones son quienes sufren las consecuencias”.

Sobre el papel que tendrán las Fuerzas Armadas, recalcó que ha observado un importante nivel de desarrollo y que no debemos esperar de ellos un comportamiento como el de hace 30 años, sino de un comportamiento distinto.

“Los líderes militares de hoy no son como los de ayer que consumaban golpes de Estado y eran brazos represivos. Las FFAA son profesionales”, puntualizó.

“Mel Zelaya está actuando visceralmente”

2009-06-26T13:29:00.001-07:00

“Mel Zelaya está actuando visceralmente”: Dumas
El abogado y ex ministro dice que si vienen refuerzos militares de Venezuela y Nicaragua el pueblo de Honduras tendría el privilegio de expulsarlos a ellos y a los que permitan el ingreso
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 01:44am - Redacción: redaccion@laprensa.hn

San Pedro Sula,

Honduras

La situación del presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales es delicadísima, y su futuro está en manos del Congreso Nacional, expresó el abogado Edgardo Dumas Rodríguez.

“No quisiera estar en los pantalones de él, le faltan cien días de Gobierno y está en una situación de peligrosidad. Pueden pasar muchas cosas, una de las principales posibilidades es que puede ser sustituido por el presidente del Congreso Nacional y no le quedaría nada que hacer más que convocar a turbas como lo hizo ayer al llevar a manifestantes a la Fuerza Aérea. Su futuro está en manos del CN”, reafirmó el ex ministro de defensa de Honduras.

Dumas consideró que, de alguna forma, el presidente Zelaya ha perdido autoridad luego de la resolución de la Corte al anular la orden que separaba al general Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas.

Dijo que la decisión que ya tuvo que haber tomado es desistir de efectuar la consulta el próximo domingo.

“Si un tribunal de justicia le dice a usted que no haga algo, se tiene que cumplir”.

Con Romeo Vásquez Velásquez restituido dijo que los militares deben seguir manteniendo la prudencia y defendiendo la Constitución.

“Ellos han manifestado que no estarán aprobando algo ilegal, han demostrado un considerable espíritu cívico, han obedecido la orden de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, no de un particular”, agregó Dumas.

Dijo que siente tristeza y pena por la situación en la que está el Presidente, con un espíritu de solidaridad humana hacia él.

“Ha sido pésimamente aconsejado por sus asesores y cercanos colaboradores, hasta llevarlo a la situación en la que nos encontramos actualmente. Está enfrentado con todo mundo, con los principales componentes de la sociedad civil, religiosa y la hondureña y ahora más la resolución de la Corte, es una resolución que no puede evitar, no la puede negar. No le queda otra alternativa, salvo que la Corte posteriormente cambie, pero no hay ningún asidero legal para que el Presidente pueda cambiar esa orden. No puede nombrar a nadie, porque si lo hace seguirá incurriendo en la ilegalidad”, dijo el jurista.

Expresó que con la conducta de insultos, irrespeto y menosprecio, el Presidente no consigue nada y que debería hacer uso de la conducta del respeto.

Expulsión de apoyo externo

Respecto al apoyo con refuerzos militares que podría mandar Venezuela y Nicaragua a Zelaya, Dumas dijo que sería una oportunidad para los hondureños de sacarlos. “Sería una situación que yo la vería con satisfacción porque nos darían la oportunidad a los hondureños de expulsarlos.

Allí participaríamos todos porque no se pueden meter en asuntos internos y podríamos aprovechar para expulsar a los de adentro que estén permitiendo su ingreso también”, dijo Dumas.

Lamentó que el Presidente esté provocando tumultos, pues no está dando ningún ejemplo de orden. “Está actuando visceralmente, y eso no le corresponde a él. La prudencia es lo más aconsejable para no provocar una situación que nadie quiere y por la que él sería recordado, no los funcionarios”.

Sobre que Zelaya estaría recibiendo instrucciones del presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, dijo que éste quiere convertirse en el nuevo Simón Bolívar o convertirse en el sustituto de Fidel Castro. “Ésa es su misión, y está tratando de destruir a los militares, la familia, todo en su país y los tiene sumidos en la pobreza”, explicó el profesional del Derecho.

Mel Zelaya se está quedando solo

2009-06-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

Mel Zelaya se está quedando solo.

Intentó convocar una masiva manifestación, pero la presencia fue escasa y hasta sin ministros
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 12:34am - Redacción: redaccion@laprensa.hn

Tegucigalpa,

Honduras

Está quedando solo. El poder de convocatoria es ínfimo. Y ahora hasta sus ministros le dan la espalda.

El presidente Manuel Zelaya programó una masiva movilización para sustraer de las bodegas de las Fuerza Aérea Hondureña, FHA, las urnas que piensa usar en la ilegal encuesta de opinión, pero el apoyo fue escaso.

Lo programado era que, como mínimo, participaran unas 30 mil personas, sin embargo apenas unas 1,500 atendieron el llamado.

En un discurso que dio al mediodía en Casa de Gobierno ante la corta concurrencia, se mostró desafiante de la justicia, al asegurar que el Poder Judicial no puede obligarlo a restituir al jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto, Romeo Vásquez, como se determinó al aceptarse un recurso de amparo con suspensión de acto, es decir contra el despido del militar.

Zelaya removió de su cargo a Vásquez porque éste se negó a cumplir la orden de cuidar el proceso de la encuesta de opinión, pues el Juzgado de lo Contencioso Administrativo ordenó que se dejara en suspenso toda actividad relacionada a ese proceso.

No obstante, Zelaya dijo que con esta decisión el Poder Judicial está desconociendo que él es el comandante general de las Fuerzas Armadas.

Pero también acusó a los militares de revelársele:

“Alerta países del mundo, se están revelando de nuevo los ejércitos en contra del poder civil, del pueblo y de la democracia hondureña”.

Pero de ese discurso virulento, pasó a una conducta casi sumisa cuando llegó, en medio de la lluvia y en compañía de la pequeña turba, a la Fuerza Aérea Hondureña a recoger las urnas.

No se cansó de dar gracias al comandante de las FAH, Luis Prince, porque el general le hizo el saludo y le dijo que él era el comandante de las Fuerzas Armadas.

Prince renunció junto al jefe del Ejército, Miguel García, y el de la Fuerza Naval, Juan Pablo Rodríguez, en solidaridad con Romero Vásquez Velásquez la noche en que éste fue separado del cargo.

Manuel Zelaya llegó en uno de los buses que transportó a sus seguidores junto a la canciller Patricia Rodas.

Fue notoria la escasa presencia de los ministros, pues el secretario de Comercio, Fredy Cerrato, fue el otro además de Rodas con ese rango que los siguió hasta la FAH. El resto eran servidores de mediana categoría como la gerente de la Enee, Rixi Moncada, y el comisionado de Conatel, Raúl Valladares.

“Me dijo el general Prince que me reconocía como jefe de las FF AA y que si quería las urnas que me las podía llevar”, aseguró el Presidente.

El ex jefe de Estado Mayor dio la orden para que se le dieran las urnas, indicó.

Pero Zelaya sigue sin el poder suficiente para obligar a las FF AA a que trasladen las urnas para la encuesta.

Desesperado porque no tendrá el apoyo de los militares, indicó que el traslado de las urnas estará a cargo de “voluntarios”, aunque no aclaró si se usarán vehículos del Estado o se utilizará el dinero del erario para alquilar automotores.

Zelaya indicó que fueron sacadas de las bodegas unas 11 mil urnas que este día serán trasladadas a distintos municipios y que el sábado se repartirán en barrios y colonias.

Aunque la movilización era pacífica, los manifestantes reflejaron la intolerancia del Gobierno, pues quisieron agredir a dos periodistas de TN5 por la postura crítica que el noticiario ha hecho del proceso.

Sin embargo, para decepción de Zelaya, el número de simpatizantes era más reducido que en horas del mediodía, por lo que tuvo que dirigir sus palabras en las gradas de Casa de Gobierno.

En ese escenario retó a Micheletti a que midan fuerzas de popularidad para que la gente decida quién quiere que se vaya del cargo. “Ya le dije a Enrique Flores -ministro de la Presidencia- que mañana emita un decreto y lo publicamos en el diario oficial La Gaceta, para inhabilitar a Micheletti, porque el Congreso no me puede inhabilitar a mí”.

“¿Qué te pasa Roberto (Micheletti)? “A mí me eligió el pueblo y no el Congreso, ¿por qué me vas a inhabilitar vos, un pinche (pobre) diputado de segunda que saliste en ese puesto por mí, porque te di espacio en mi corriente política, tomá té de valeriana para que te calmés”, expresó.

Partido Liberal le da la espalda a Manuel Zelaya.

2009-06-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Partido Liberal le da la espalda a Manuel Zelaya.

Los líderes de los dos partidos tradicionales se han pronunciado en contra de la consulta popular
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 12:25am - Norma Pineda. Redacción La Prensa: norma.pineda@laprensa.hn

San Pedro Sula,

Honduras

Ante la crisis política que atraviesa el país, los partidos políticos tradicionales Nacional y Liberal se han pronunciado en contra de la propuesta del presidente Manuel Zelaya de convocar a una consulta popular el próximo domingo.

El Partido Nacional, el principal opositor del Gobierno, mediante un comunicado establece su posición sobre lo que ocurre en el país.

El documento establece que ante la decisión del Presidente de destituir sin ninguna explicación al jefe de las Fuerzas Armadas hace un llamado a las altas autoridades del Poder Ejecutivo para que se respete la institucionalidad del país, la Constitución y demás leyes de la República, y se deje de actuar en forma arbitraria contra las Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras quienes, respetando la legalidad, se oponen al cumplimiento de órdenes contrarias a la ley, cuya ejecución ya fue suspendida de manera clara y precisa por el Poder Judicial.

El comunicado expresa su solidaridad con las Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras en estos momentos de crisis y le reitera todo su apoyo para defender el Estado de derecho.

Además, llama al pueblo hondureño a mantenerse alerta, y al nacionalismo en particular a estar pendientes de las instrucciones emanadas de las autoridades del partido, para defender la democracia y la institucionalidad del país.

También hace un llamado al pueblo hondureño para que prevalezca la concordia y el entendimiento, ya que a través del diálogo, unidos y no divididos, superaremos las amenazas y recuperaremos la convivencia pacífica entre todos los sectores de la sociedad.

El presidente del Comité Central del Partido Nacional, Ricardo álvarez, hizo un llamado a los hondureños a mantener la calma y a permanecer atentos, luego de las acciones ilegales tomadas por el Presidente.

El edil del municipio del Distrito Central en medios radiales capitalinos hizo un enérgico llamado al presidente Zelaya para que respete la institucionalidad del país y la Constitución de la República. “Se debe dejar la arbitrariedad y respetar el Estado de derecho”, expresó el líder nacionalista Ricardo Álvarez.

Le dan la espalda

El propio Partido Liberal, al cual pertenece el gobernante Manuel Zelaya, le ha dado la espalda y se ha visto en la obligación de pedirle que respete el orden democrático.

Ayer, a través de un comunicado, se establece que la Constitución Política en su artículo cinco instituye mecanismos de consulta a los ciudadanos, a fin de asegurar y fortalecer el progreso de Honduras, basado en la estabilidad política y en la conciliación nacional.

Advierte que el Poder Judicial dejó en suspenso legalmente la llamada “consulta ciudadana, encuesta de opinión o cuarta urna” posición que ha sido respaldada por el Ministerio Público, la Procuraduría General de la República y la sociedad civil organizada. Ratifica que Honduras es un Estado de derecho en el cual prima la majestad de la ley por sobre cualquier interés particular o de grupo.

“El Partido Liberal de Honduras, como expresión política de la sociedad hondureña, tiene entre otros objetivos: el respeto absoluto a la Constitución de la República y demás leyes, así como la formación cívica del pueblo hondureño para desarrollar un profundo sentido de patria e identidad nacional. Que el Partido Liberal de Honduras se fundamenta en la soberanía del pueblo, asume el legado de sus fundadores en la lucha permanente contra cualquier forma de tiranía y defiende los principios democráticos”, dice en tu texto el comunicado del Partido Liberal.

El Partido Liberal recuerda que el Tribunal Supremo Electoral ha convocado al pueblo hondureño para el 29 de noviembre del presente año para elegir al Presidente, diputados al Congreso Nacional, diputados al Parlamento Centroamericano y alcaldes.

Por tanto, rechazan cualquier intento de continuismo y abogar por la defensa de la institucionalidad, basado en la vocación democrática y pluralista del Partido Liberal.

Se reconocen el plebiscito y el referéndum como mecanismos constitucionales de participación ciudadana.

Se reconoce al Congreso Nacional como la única instancia legítima para poder instruir al Tribunal Supremo Electoral el uso de estos mecanismos.

Reiterar que por mandato constitucional no son objeto de referéndum o plebiscito los proyectos orientados a reformar los artículos pétreos ni mucho menos convocar a una Asamblea Nacional Constituyente sin que para ello implique la ruptura del orden constitucional. Finalmente, el propio Partido Liberal exhorta al presidente Zelaya para que “demuestre su vocación democrática, su lealtad a la Constitución y demás leyes, desista en su intento de violar el marco Jurídico del país y el Estado de derecho por el cual fue electo Presidente”, concluye el comunicado del Partido Liberal.

Jóvenes protestan frente a la Embajada de Venezuela.

2009-06-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Varios jóvenes de la organización Generación por Cambio protestaron en las afueras de la Embajada de Venezuela en contra de la consulta.
Jóvenes protestan frente a la Embajada de Venezuela.

Los manifestantes expresaron que están en contra de una consulta ilegal y pidieron que se respete la libertad de expresión en Honduras
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 12:28am - Ingrid Cruz Yanes. Redacción La Prensa: ingrid.cruz@laprensa.hn

Tegucigalpa,

Honduras

La imposición de una consulta ilegal también ha provocado el repudio de la juventud del país. Ayer, miembros de la organización Generación por Cambio protestaron frente a la embajada de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela para exigir que se respete la Constitución de la República y la libertad de expresión en Honduras.

Los manifestantes portaron pañuelos rojos en su boca que simbolizaban el silencio y el cierre al cual han sido sometidos varios medios de comunicación en Venezuela.

También mostraron su apoyo a los cuatro jóvenes que protestaron el miércoles frente a Casa de Gobierno imitando a Mel Zelaya cuando éste buceaba en las cristalinas aguas de Cayos Cochinos.

Apoyo

Generación por Cambio mostró su indignación al referir que es intolerante la forma como fueron agredidos los jóvenes cuando una turba de personas pagadas por Casa de Gobierno les propinaran una golpiza.

El acto de violencia fue filmado y fotografiado por decenas de medios de comunicación. Ahora, todas estas imágenes serán usadas para entablar acciones judiciales contra los antisociales, dijeron.

Otros representantes de la organización han expresado su preocupación por la incertidumbre y la inestabilidad en la nación.

Manifestaron que varios sectores hondureños han criticado que el Gobierno copia actitudes intolerantes del gobierno venezolano, al que el mandatario Manuel Zelaya es muy afín.

La organización también se manifestó en varios países y dio lectura a una nota dirigida al presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, para repudiar los actos vandálicos y el cierre de medios.

La ciudadana Laura Gómez opina que las protestas en favor de la democracia son esenciales para evitar que un régimen totalitario siga conculcando los derechos de los ciudadanos. “Estos jóvenes de Generación por el Cambio demuestran que no le temen a Mel ni a Chávez, aunque a otros manifestantes el miércoles los atacó una turba chavista en Casa Presidencial, pero siguen adelante. Honduras se puede salvar por gente como estos jóvenes”, señaló la dama.

Los manifestantes expresaron su apoyo a mecanismos que reconocen y fortalecen la democracia participativa, como el plebiscito y el referéndum, ya reconocidos en nuestra Constitución, pues con ellos los hondureños deciden directamente en cuanto a los grandes temas de interés colectivo sobre los que se les consulta.

Crisis política preocupa a varios sectores del país

La opinión de varios dirigentes del espectro político del país coincide en que mediante el diálogo sincero se puede resolver la crisis política que lo afecta.

Diputados del Congreso Nacional de los partidos de oposición señalaron que el estado de cosas es producto, en parte, de la manera como los políticos han gobernado alternadamente la nación.

Desde el retorno a la vida democrática de Honduras, los dirigentes políticos han señalado al presidente Manuel Zelaya por inclinarse hacia la rebeldía y a un paso de caer en la sedición. Los analistas han visto con preocupación cómo el mandatario desconoce las determinaciones legales en contra del desarrollo de una consulta ilegal.

El director del Consejo Hondureño de la Empresa Privada, Cohep, Benjamín Bográn, indicó que es necesario establecer en el país un diálogo verdadero, con un pensamiento a favor de Honduras.

La dirigencia del Cohep ha visto cómo entre octubre de 2008 y marzo de 2009 se han perdido unos 180 mil puestos de trabajo.

Para el vicepresidente del Cohep, Alejandro Álvarez, sería lamentable que a los efectos negativos de la crisis se añada el daño provocado por una confrontación entre hondureños que arriesgue la vida humana.

Habitantes de varias zonas del país esperan una resolución favorable de los problemas del país.

Hugo Chávez amenaza a Honduras

2009-06-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chávez amenaza a Honduras
El mandatario dice que habló por teléfono con Zelaya cuando destituyó a Vásquez
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 10:26am - Redacción: redaccion@laprensa.hn

Caracas,

Honduras

El presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez denunció ayer que “en Honduras está en marcha un golpe de Estado” impulsado por la “burguesía retrógrada” de ese país e hizo un llamado a los “soldados hondureños a que sigan a su presidente Manuel Zelaya y al pueblo”.

“Quieren destituir al presidente Zelaya, eso es lo que se está cocinando ahora en el Congreso y la Corte Suprema”, afirmó Chávez, quien se mostró convencido de que la “burguesía” no lo conseguirá y “ganará el pueblo”.

El mandatario venezolano advirtió de que los gobiernos “revolucionarios” de la región no se van a quedar de brazos cruzados ante el eventual intento de derrocar a Zelaya, al que calificó como un “líder que surge y asume su responsabilidad”.

“Estamos dispuestos a hacer lo que haya que hacer para que se respete la soberanía de Honduras y la voluntad del pueblo de Honduras”, afirmó Chávez después de revelar que en las últimas horas ha hablado sobre la situación hondureña con sus colegas de Bolivia, Evo Morales, y de Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega.

Reveló que anoche conversó telefónicamente con Zelaya y le expresó su apoyo a las medidas de destitución de los jefes militares que tomó el mandatario hondureño. “Todo nuestro apoyo al pueblo hondureño, a los movimientos revolucionarios, al presidente Zelaya”, destacó durante la tercera edición de su nuevo programa semanal nocturno “Aló, Presidente”. Chávez explicó a simpatizantes que lo escuchaban en una sala de conferencia que la crisis se desató en Honduras a raíz de la decisión de Zelaya de preguntar al pueblo si quiere que se incluya en las próximas elecciones de diciembre una “urna” para pronunciarse sobre una eventual convocatoria de una asamblea constituyente.

Entonces salta “la burguesía, la alianza burguesa retrógrada... está tratando de frenar sólo una consulta. Le temen al pueblo... Abajo la burguesía y arriba el pueblo”, expresó el jefe de Estado.

Resaltó que “sí es coincidencia cualquier parecido” entre la actual situación hondureña y la vivida por Venezuela entre 2001 y 2003, cuando su gobierno fue asolado por varias huelgas nacionales e incluso un golpe de Estado que lo derrocó brevemente.

Chávez alabó la cobertura informativa dada a la situación en Honduras por la multiestatal Telesur, impulsada por su gobierno, y criticó a la estadounidense CNN porque “toda la tarde” ha centrado su programación, según él, en la muerte del cantante Michael Jackson. “Bueno, es una noticia lamentable... la muerte de un ser humano. Si murió Jackson, que en paz descanse”, manifestó el presidente venezolano, quien atribuyó la actitud de CNN a los supuestos males del “capitalismo”.

Investigan actos del presidente Zelaya

2009-06-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

Investigan actos del presidente Zelaya.

El artículo 205 numeral 20 de la Constitución de la República faculta a los legisladores para aprobar o improbar la conducta del Presidente de la República
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 01:28am - Jessica Figueroa. Redacción La Prensa: jessica.figueroa@laprensa.hn

Tegucigalpa,

Honduras

Mientras los rumores de una inhabilitación del presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales crecían como la espuma, el Congreso Nacional mantenía firme la moción para que fueran investigadas las actuaciones del mandatario y de urgencia aprobar o improbar su administración.

La moción la presentó el vicepresidente del Congreso Ramón Velásquez Nazar, quien se esmeraba en aclarar que “no se trata de un golpe de estado técnico, porque este lo inició hace tres años el mismo Gobierno”.

Anoche, al dejar la Casa Presidencial, Zelaya aseguró que ya se había “conjurado” un golpe en su contra.

El Legislativo se declaró en sesión permanente ante la actitud desafiante de Zelaya quien con todo y activistas de la cuarta urna irrumpió ayer por la tarde en las instalaciones de la Fuerza Aérea para “rescatar” las cajas y papelería que serán usadas en la ilegal encuesta del domingo, pese a que los órganos judiciales y el Tribunal Supremo Electoral prohibieron su realización por estar al margen de la ley.

El material estaba en resguardo en la Fuerza Aérea a petición de la Fiscalía y el Tribunal Supremo Electoral, pero el Presidente, acompañado de una turba, lo “rescató”.

Esto motivó a que las bancadas del Congreso cabildearan una iniciativa para inhabilitar a Zelaya.

Mañana tensa

El diputado Rigoberto Chang Castillo dejó claro: “no tenemos intención de golpe de Estado, no tenemos armas ni capacidad bélica y las FFAA no están para eso. Quieren cambiar el sistema democrático. Yo sé que es aguantar hambre y dormir en el suelo, somos parte de este pueblo”.

Por su parte, Celin Discua indicó que se le advirtió al Presidente que no inmiscuyera a las FF AA, pero no hizo caso. Defenderemos la Constitución porque somos un ente contralor. Hoy se trabajó a medias y hay que buscar un hasta aquí”, sostuvo.

Luego, Doris Gutiérrez reconoció que la de ayer es una de las crisis más serias de los últimos años. “No sé si está será la salida o empeorará la crisis, aunque sé que esta es potestad del Congreso”, aseguró.

Enseguida, Antonio Rivera remató afirmando que la comisión es para investigar si el Presidente ha caído en desobediencia, “porque ni siquiera hay Presupuesto de la República”.

Entre tanto, Toribio Aguilera manifestó que no ha participado en negociaciones o diálogos. “Primero debería decretarse un estado de emergencia y si se agota el dialogo proceder a la suspensión”, señaló. Marvin Ponce , oposición dentro del Legislativo, recalcó que toda la actividad en el Congreso era “el inicio de un golpe de Estado técnico. Si eso pretende el Congreso que lo haga de un solo, quieren que Micheletti sea el Presidente y en vez de calmar al país habrá derramamiento de sangre”.

Aunque se declararon en sesión permanente, la sesión fue interrumpida para reiniciar las 7.00 pm pero esto ocurrió hasta las 11 de la noche.

La sesión al filo de la 1 de la madrugada de hoy no reiniciaba. El diputado Antonio Rivera Callejas afirmó que la sesión del Congreso continuaría pero hasta que la comisión terminara su investihación.

Sus integrantes Toribio Aguilera, Emilio Cabrera, Antonio Rivera y Rigoberto Chang Castillo, al parecer solicitaron más tiempo para estudiar otra documentación en la cual fundamentar sólidamente su decisión.

Aplauden a militares

Ayer, durante la mañana el Congreso aprobó un decreto mediante el cual imprueban la conducta del mandatario.

Zelaya fue cuestionado por continuar con su propósito de llevar a cabo la denominada encuesta popular que fue declarada ilegal por el Juzgado de Letras de lo Contencioso Administrativo y ratificado por la Corte de Apelaciones de la Corte Suprema de Justicia,CSJ.

La sesión inició a las once de la mañana con la entonación del Himno Nacional. Los diputados en medio de un júbilo prolongado aplaudieron la postura de la a la cúpula militar quien se negó a ser parte de la logística para la realización de la encuesta sobre la cuarta urna programada para el domingo.

¡Viva Honduras!, ¡Vivan las Fuerzas Armadas! ¡Que Viva la Democracia! eran los gritos que se escucharon en el salón de sesiones.

La contra en el Congreso fue el diputado Marvin Ponce, del partido Unificación Democrática. Él apoya abiertamente las propuestas de Zelaya Rosales, y dijo que la improbación de la conducta del mandatario es “una evidente muestra del interés del Congreso de dar un golpe técnico de Estado y derrocar al presidente Zelaya”.

“Si el Congreso Nacional quiere dar un golpe de Estado, que lo diga claramente. Me imagino que la comisión nombrada por la Junta Directiva, que investigará al Presidente dará un informe que lo declarará inhabilitado, para luego nombrar a Micheletti como Presidente de la República”.

Aseguró que “Micheletti no tiene la popularidad de su partido ni la del pueblo y en lugar de calmar la situación, estaríamos entrando a una serie de convulsiones que podrían causar derramamiento de sangre”.

La vicepresidenta del Congreso, Lizzy Flores, contestó a Marvin Ponce pidiéndole que se concentrara en la moción y no en conjeturas personales afirmándole que no es la idea del Legisltaivo dar un “golpe de Estado”.

El resto de los parlamentarios rechazó las acusaciones del diputado udeísta.

Tras el debate del pleno, la moción fue aprobada. La comisión que investigaba al Presidente está integrada por Ricardo Rodríguez, Rigoberto Chang Castillo, Toribio Aguilera, Enrique Rodríguez y Will Bustillo.

Sede de la ilegalidad

El presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales después de asaltar con una turba la Fuerza Aérea, convirtió la Casa Presidencial en un escenario para que discursaran quienes lo apoyan en su obstinación de realizar una encuesta ilegal.

Envalentonado por su acción de recuperar los materiales- para la encuesta- que estaban en una bodega de la base aérea militar, el mandatario continuó con su actitud retadora y ofensiva hacia los otros dos Poderes del país.

Desconociendo que la Constitución de la República le da poder al Legislativo para que pueda quitar a un Presidente si presenta incapacidad para gobernar, Zelaya dijo: “el Congreso Nacional no puede inhabilitarme. Ellos están más perdidos que Limbert”.

“Roberto: la estás fumando verde, hermano, ¿qué te pasa?”, dijo Mel al titular del Legislativo. “¿A mí me eligió el Congreso?”, preguntó. “A mí me eligió el pueblo. ¿Cómo me va a inhabilitar (el Congreso)?”, respondió. “Están silbando en la loma”, remató ante decenas de seguidores apostados desde tempranas horas en la sede de la Presidencia. Reiteró: “El Congreso Nacional no me puede inhabilitar, el único que me puede inhabilitar es el pueblo”, dijo asegurando que el presidente del Congreso Nacional Roberto Micheletti “mejor me diga qué hace con el dinero que le doy”. Reaccionó así al enterarse que se aprobó una moción y se nombró una comisión que le investigará sus actos ilegales cometidos en las últimas horas.

En Honduras, recalcó, se reeligen alcaldes, diputados, fiscales, jueces y comisionados de los Derechos Humanos. “El único que no se reelige es el Presidente, pero la reelección es tema de la próxima Asamblea Nacional Constituyente”.

Zelaya retó incluso a Micheletti invitándolo a instalar una “quinta urna”. “Don Roberto no se equivoque, usted es presidente del Congreso y aunque le duela el que maneja los destinos del país es su servidor”. Además recordó que Micheletti “viene de un pueblo donde nadie lo conocía y si es diputado es porque se embarcó en mi corriente”.

OEA tendrá

hoy sesión

extraordinaria

La Organización de Estados Americanos , OEA, convocó a petición del Gobierno de Honduras, a una sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente para evaluar la crisis política que se vive el país. El embajador ante la OEA, Carlos Sosa, informará al Consejo Permanente de la organización “sobre el riesgo del proceso político institucional democrático y el legítimo ejercicio del poder” según la convocatoria.

Según Sosa, Manuel Zelaya, le solicitó tramitar ante la OEA la convocatoria de una reunión urgente del Consejo Permanente.

Entretanto, el secretario general de OEA, José Miguel Insulza, afirmó hoy respecto al conflicto que vive Honduras que las Fuerzas Armadas deben obedecer a “la autoridad constituida”.

reunidos Roberto Micheletti se mantuvo al filo de las 10 pm en una reunión privada con diputados antes de dar una resolución sobre Zelaya.

Compativo Un perfil sobre Mel Zelaya elaborado por el diario español El País compara al hondureño con los rasgos del ex presidente Vicente Fox.

plan En cadena nacional, el presidente Mel dijo que movilizará 15 mil urnas con ayuda de la Policía Nacional el domingo. La distribución iniciaría hoy.

atraso Después de dos meses de inactividad el conflicto político obligó a suspender otra vez las clases en la Unah y centros regionales.

ajenos Presidentes afines a la Alba se entrometieron en política interior de Honduras. Hugo Chávez y Daniel Ortega opinaron.

las horas

08:00 AM

-El abogado Rodrigo Mazariegos interpuso un recurso de amparo con suspensión del acto reclamado para restituir en su cargo al jefe del Estado Mayor de las Fuerzas Armadas, general Romeo Vásquez Velásquez.

-Convocan a diputados a reunión y la Asociación de Reservistas de las Fuerzas Armadas llamó a miembros inactivos.

10:00 AM

Ante la situación política que vive el país, el TSE se declara en sesión permanente, mientras los diputados comenban sesiones en el Congreso Nacional.

-El Ministerio Público interpuso otro recurso de amparo ante la Sala de lo Constitucional para restituir a Romeo Vásquez mientras la Sala de lo Constitucional solicitó a los juzgados el expediente donde se declara ilegal encuesta promovida por el Poder Ejecutivo.

11:00 AM

El Tribunal Supremo Electoral ordena a las Fuerzas Armadas decomisar el material de la encuesta que promueve el Poder ejecutivo.

-El diputado Toribio Aguilera sostiene que una cuarta urna no es más que un pasaporte para instalar una dictadura en Honduras.

12:00 M

-El presidente del Congreso Nacional, Roberto Micheletti, propone decreto que declara improcedente la conducta del presidente Manuel Zelaya.

-Empresarios respaldan a FFAA y fiscales y magistrados del Tribunal Supremo Electoral se alistan para decomisar material de encuesta.

1.00 pm

-En Casa Presidencial, el presidente Zelaya invitó a seguidores a dirigirse a la base aéra Hernán Acosta Mejía para recuperar material de encuesta. El mandatario atacó al Congreso y a la Corte Suprema de Justicia.

3.00 pm

Mel y seguidores entran a la Fuerza Aérea a retirar material de cuarta urna, actividad que se prolongó hasta pasadas las 5.00 pm.

6.00 - 9.00 pm

Diputados mocionan para que se investiguen los actos administrativos del Presidente Manuel Zelaya ya que se resiste a obedecer los fallos establecidos por la Corte Suprema de Justicia, luego toman receso.

-Mel Zelaya convoca cadena nacional para reiterar que encuesta va y confronta a los diputados.

Los miles de manifestantes solicitan que el mandatario Manuel Zelaya se retire del poder

2009-06-26T13:13:00.001-07:00

Manifestación para defender la Constitución.
Los miles de manifestantes solicitan que el mandatario Manuel Zelaya se retire del poder.
La marcha es similar a la que se realizó esta semana en la capital industrial
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 11:44am - Redacción Web: redaccionweb@laprensa.hn

San Pedro Sula,

Honduras

En el parque central de Tegucigalpa, el Movimiento Paz y Democracia realizaron este viernes una masiva manifestación para respaldar la Constitución y la Democracia.

La marcha es similiar a la que se celebró el martes de esta seman en San Pedro Sula donde centenares de ciudadanos se han sumado hoy para defender la Democracia.

Los cientos de manifestantes en sus consignas manifestaban "urge que se vaya", aludiendo al presidente Zelaya, y pedían la renuncia del mandatario al mismo tiempo que rechazaban la intervención de otros países en la situación que atraviesa Honduras.

En este momento manifestantes han llegado a las instalaciones del Congreso Nacional donde harán un acto simbólico.

"La encuesta es ilegal, es un delito, no participes de ella el domingo próximo", expresó uno de los participantes.

Sectores de la sociedad civil, empresarios y políticos planean manifestaciones pacíficas en todo el territorio hondureño, también se espera que simpatizantes del gobierno realicen protestas apoyando la encuesta ilegal promovida por el Poder Ejecutivo.

Otra marcha que parte hacia el Congreso

Los reservistas, los veteranos de guerra y militares retirados de las FF AA se apostaron por varios minutos frente al Estado Mayor y en este momento salen del parque El Obelisco hacia el parque Central de Tegucigalpa, exactamente hacia los bajos del Congreso Nacional para hacer público que su lucha es defensa de la Constitución de la República y de la Democracia.

"Todo el mundo entero está defendiendo la Constitución de la República y está defendiendo nuestras gloriosas Fuerzas Armadas, por tanto nuestra lucha terminará cuando el presidente de la República, Manuel Zelaya, decista de sus posiciones de continuismo", indicó Antonio Sorto, presidente de los reservistas de las FF Aa.

Sorto añadió que en nuestro país se tiene que vivir en Paz y Democracia y que aquí no tiene que venir Hugo Chávez a dictar órdenes porque los hondureños somos patriotas.

Iglesia Católica aclara que no apoya consulta ilegal

2009-06-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Iglesia Católica aclara que no apoya consulta ilegal.

Para el líder católico, lo que el presidente Manuel Zelaya pretende es continuar en el poder
26.06.09 - Actualizado: 26.06.09 12:55pm - Redacción: redaccion@laprensa.hn

Tegucigalpa,

Honduras

El obispo auxiliar de Tegucigalpa, Darwin Andino, aclaró que la Iglesia Católica de Honduras no apoya la consulta ilegal promovida por el presidente Manuel Zelaya, luego que él lo afirmara anoche en cadena nacional.

"Decir que la Iglesia Católica (apoya la encuesta) es manipular la iglesia, y dentro de la iglesia soy obispo auxiliar de Tegucigalpa y no puedo verme yo que como obispo apoyo algo ilegal, el cristiano no apoya algo ilegal, debe apoyar lo legítimo", dijo.

"No quiero decir que estamos apoyando al presidente en esta consulta, sí vemos todo el proceso que no se ha apegado a la ley", señaló el líder católico al calificar como "algo ilegitimo", las acciones tomadas por el mandatario hondureño "dados los hechos que han dado hoy de violencia de parte del Gobierno".

Andino cuestionó al Gobierno de atacar por medio de turbas a los jóvenes que tienen derecho a manifestarse. "Todos tienen derecho a opinar como ciudadanos, a decir lo que pensamos sin tratar de herir y ofender a las personas."

Para el líder católico, lo que el presidente Manuel Zelaya pretende es continuar en el poder "por lo que se ve y como se le oye hablar y dado que faltan sólo cinco meses para elecciones" y aseguró que "ésta es una propaganda electoral, lo que hace el presidente es hacer publicidad electoral, aprovechándose del poder".

Manifestó que en los últimos acontecimientos y la crisis política creada en el país, "veo la mano de Hugo Chávez en todo, el país no se puede entregar al chavismo ni a nadie, queremos ser libres e independientes".

"La iglesia y el evangelio y todo cristiano no tiene que apoyar lo que es ilegítimo, el presidente no escucha a nadie y hemos llamado al diálogo", sostuvo. "Nosotros queremos mantenernos en la vía de la legalidad, la Constitución tenemos que defenderla todos los hondureños", subrayó.

Special Meeting of the OAS Permanent Council

2009-06-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Special Meeting of the OAS Permanent Council to receive information
from the Permanent Mission of Honduras regarding the risk to the
democratic institutional political process and/or the legitimate
exercise of power in the Republic of Honduras ( Español )
Time : 10:30 AM (Eastern Time)
Place : Simón Bolívar Room, OAS Main Building - Washington, DC

Honduran Supreme Court orders general returned to job

2009-06-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

The CNN Wire Latest updates on top stories
June 25th, 2009
Honduran Supreme Court orders general returned to job
Posted: 03:50 PM ET

(CNN) — The Honduran Supreme Court ordered Thursday that the military’s top commander be returned to his job immediately, a little more than 12 hours after President Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales fired the general for saying the armed forces would not support a constitutional referendum scheduled for Sunday.

Gen. Romeo Vasquez Velasquez had said the military was caught in a difficult position because the Supreme Court had ruled earlier that the referendum is illegal but Zelaya was going ahead with the vote and instructed the armed forces to provide security.

The heads of the army, navy and air force had resigned to show their support for Vasquez.

Zelaya held a rally immediately after the court decision but made no immediate comment on the ruling.

The court ruled 5-0 that Zelaya violated the general’s constitutional rights by firing him without cause, said magistrate Rosalina Cruz.

Earlier Thursday, the National Congress convened an emergency session at which many members lauded Vasquez and the military, calling them “heroes. The general’s firing was arbitrary, many members said.

The president of the Congress, Roberto Micheletti, said the assembly unconditionally supports the armed forces for respecting the constitution, news reports said.

In another blow for Zelaya, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said Thursday the referendum is illegal.

Zelaya said he would ask the Organization of American States to investigate the “crisis,” which he said was being perpetrated by people who want to hurt democracy in Honduras.

The referendum asks voters to place a measure on November’s ballot that would allow the formation of a constitutional assembly that could modify the nation’s charter to allow the president to run for another term.

Zelaya, whose four-year term ends in January 2010, cannot run for re-election.

The Congress passed a law Tuesday night that would prohibit a referendum 180 days before or after the planned November general election. Under that law, Sunday’s referendum could not be held.

Honduran armed forces boss sacked

2009-06-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

Honduran armed forces boss sacked
Gen Romeo Vazquez (centre)
Army chief Gen Romeo Vasquez said he could not break the law

The Honduran president has sacked the armed forces chief after he refused to give logistical support for a referendum on constitutional change.

President Manual Zelaya wants to hold a vote on a new constitution that could allow him to seek a second term.

A decision in Congress this week seemed to have halted the referendum, which the courts have also deemed unlawful.

But Mr Zelaya has indicated that the process of consultation will begin on Sunday as planned.

"I have decided to remove the head of the joint chiefs, General Romeo Vazquez Velasquez," President Zelaya said in a televised address on Wednesday.

He said he had also accepted the resignation of his defence minister, Edmundo Orellana.

Mr Zelaya said his decision stemmed from "a crisis caused by some sectors that have promoted destabilisation and chaos".

The president wants to hold a referendum this Sunday to ask Hondurans if they approve of holding a vote on constitutional change at the same time as the presidential election in November.

On Tuesday, the Honduran Congress passed a law that appeared to block these plans. The new bill prevents the holding of referendums or plebiscites 180 days before or after general elections.

Army chief Gen Romeo Vasquez said he could not help to organise the referendum, as he would be breaking the law.

The Spanish news agency, Efe, quoted him as saying that as a professional soldier he accepted the president's decision to replace him.

President Zelaya was elected in 2006 and under the current constitution is barred from standing for re-election.

Honduras Leader Refuses to Restore Military Chief

2009-06-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

June 25, 2009
Honduras Leader Refuses to Restore Military Chief
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:33 p.m. ET
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- The Honduran president vowed Thursday to
ignore a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to reinstate the military
chief he fired, escalating a showdown that has threatened the leftist
leader's hold on power.
President Manuel Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum Sunday on
changing the constitution has pitted him against the country's top
courts, the attorney general, military leaders and even his own party,
all of whom argue the vote is illegal.
But Zelaya has galvanized the support of labor leaders, farmers and
civic organizations who hope constitutional reforms will give them a
greater voice in a conservative country where 70 percent of the
population is poor.
The crisis quickly ballooned when Zelaya fired Gen. Romeo Vasquez as
head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff late Wednesday for refusing to
support the referendum, which is intended to measure popular support
for possible constitutional changes. Zelaya has not said what he
wants, but critics accuse him of trying to extend presidential terms
before his ends in January, like his ally Hugo Chavez did in
Venezuela.
The Supreme court ordered Vasquez reinstated Thursday and warned
Zelaya would face penal consequences if he does not respect the
ruling.
''We will not obey the Supreme Court,'' Zelaya told more than 2,000
cheering supporters gathered in front of the presidential offices.
''The court, which only imparts justice for the powerful, the rich and
the bankers, only causes problems for democracy.''
The top court, Congress and the attorney general say the vote is
illegal because it would violate constitutional clauses barring some
changes.
The president's dismissal of Vasquez prompted the chiefs of the army,
navy and air force to resign. The president himself announced
Wednesday night that Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana had resigned.
Vasquez said he could not support a referendum that the courts had
declared illegal, but he ruled out the possibility of a coup.
''We are prudent and we accept the decision of the president, whom we
respect and who has the right to dismiss whom he wants,'' Vasquez
said.
The Organization of American States called an emergency meeting Friday
to discuss the Honduras crisis.
The president's nonbinding referendum asks voters if they want a
further, formal election on whether to call an assembly to write a new
constitution.
Zelaya, who is close to Chavez and the Castro brothers in Cuba, has
argued that Honduras' social problems are rooted in the 27-year-old
constitution. Critics say Zelaya, like Chavez and other Latin American
leaders, wants to expand presidential powers and remove limits on
re-election.
Venezuela's socialist president offered Zelaya his full support.
''We're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the Honduran
people's will and sovereignty is respected,'' Chavez said during his
''Alo, Presidente!'' program.
Zelaya, a wealthy landowner grappling with rising food prices and a
sharp spike in drug violence, is currently barred from seeking
re-election when his four-year term ends in January.
''What you see is the growing delegitimizing of a president by a
larger and growing group of leading elites, including the military,''
said Manuel Orozco, a political analyst with the Inter-American
Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank.
But Zelaya has tapped into discontent among civil organization who see
their chance to have greater influence in Honduran politics, Orozco
said. And it will be hard to prevent the referendum from happening
unless the military steps in directly, he added.
''This fragmentation of the political circles of power have given an
opportunity to leverage the demands that civil society has, such as
more freedom of expression in a country where the media is owned by a
few families,'' Orozco said. ''I think he has the upper hand right
now. The army is uncertain as to whether they should prevent the
referendum.''
U.N. General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, a leftist
Nicaraguan priest and former foreign minister, ''clearly and strongly
condemns the attempted coup d'etat that is currently unfolding against
the democratically elected government of President Manuel Zelaya of
Honduras,'' his spokesman said.
Earlier Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered police to remove all
electoral material stored an air force base at the international
airport in the capital, Tegucigalpa. After his speech, Zelaya and his
supporters headed to the military base and took ballots and other
materials out in military trucks and headed to an undisclosed
location.
Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi, who was appointed by Congress, is
urging the legislator to remove Zelaya from office. It is unclear if
there is support in Congress for Zelaya's ouster, but the legislature
clearly opposes the referendum.
On Wednesday, the 128-seat unicameral chamber voted unanimously to ask
a group of international election observers to leave, arguing their
presence legitimized an illegal vote.
--------
Associated Press Writers Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Carlos Rodriguez in
Mexico City and Edith M. Lederer in New York contributed to this
report.

2009-01-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

Obama's Cabinet Profiles

Cabinet Profiles examine the backgrounds and views of the most senior officials advising the next U.S. presidential administration on foreign policy.

2008

December 3, 2008

James L. Jones, National Security Adviser Nominee

Author:	Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor

James L. Jones, a retired Marine commandant, brings extensive military and diplomatic experience to his new post as national security adviser for President-elect Barack Obama.

See more in United States, National Security and Defense, U.S. Election 2008

December 3, 2008

Eric H. Holder Jr., Attorney General Nominee

Author:	Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor

President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., has criticized some of the Bush administration's counter-terrorism moves, calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center and the outlawing of torture.

See more in Counterterrorism, U.S. Strategy and Politics

December 3, 2008

Robert M. Gates, Defense Secretary Nominee

Author:	Robert McMahon, Deputy Editor

Robert M. Gates, a Cold War veteran selected to remain as defense secretary, has won bipartisan praise for his pragmatism and handling of the Pentagon amid two wars.

See more in United States, Defense/Homeland Security

December 3, 2008

Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary Nominee

Author:	Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor

Janet Napolitano, experienced in federal law enforcement and immigration issues, has been selected for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

See more in United States, Immigration, U.S. Election 2008

December 1, 2008

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State Nominee

Author:	Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor

Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton, a senator and former First Lady, has offered a tough pragmatism on national security matters and called for reviving U.S. credibility in the world.

See more in International Peace and Security, Diplomacy

November 25, 2008

Timothy Geithner, U.S. Treasury Secretary Nominee

Author:	Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor

The nominee for treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, brings experience in global financial crisis management for the Fed, expertise on Asia, and perspective from work with the International Monetary Fund.

See more in United States, International Finance

note all this news are from the council of foreign relations, i just linking the news the council of foreign relations have all the credit for the news this is just the headlines ,if you want to read the full stories you need to go to the Main site , this is very small info only like a search engine.

and if is they desire this post o post relate to council of foreign relations can be remove anytime they ask for.

2009-01-05T22:24:00.001-08:00

A Smarter Intelligence Policy

Author:	Frank Procida, National Intelligence Fellow

January 5, 2009

Despite vivid reminders in the news of the threat still posed by extremists, most reporting on the President-elect's thinking regarding the role of the Intelligence Community (IC) and his Director of National Intelligence (DNI) has focused on the acceptability of potential nominees to the left wing of the Democratic Party. Save for one specific proposal on the Obama campaign's website--a promise to give the DNI a fixed term similar to that of the chairman of the Federal Reserve--the topic also did not enter the campaign dialogue in a meaningful way. Regardless of whether such a shift is politically feasible, it's most important that the President-elect recognize that he alone, by virtue of his position as the final reader and primary consumer of the IC's analysis, already has the ability to institute the process necessary to get the most out of his intelligence bureaucracy.

In fact, altering the intelligence architecture further is probably a political nonstarter, at least until the next intelligence failure comes along to raise the public's ire. The informed and popular consensus appears to be that the legislation passed in 2004 that incorporated much of the 9/11 commission's recommendations adequately addressed whatever problems existed by creating a more unified community.

But even if the President-elect shares in this complacency regarding the efficacy of the legislation, he would do well by simply setting aside time for regular intelligence briefings, maintaining a degree of skepticism regarding the community's ability to warn and to forecast, and encouraging assessments that challenge his administration's policies. Doing so would ensure he hears an objective voice on the most critical issues facing the country, which would do more good than any fundamental restructuring in guarding against another intelligence-related breakdown.

The President-elect's instincts, or at least those of his advisers, appear solid on this front--his website noted the importance of "getting politics out of intelligence" and naming a DNI who is not just a political ally, suggesting he would welcome inconvenient reports from his intelligence agencies. Unfortunately, adhering to such a policy is more difficult than it appears, especially in times of war. The natural tendency for any leader is to downplay assessments--inevitably based on uncertain and murky evidence--that appear to challenge the wisdom of a planned or ongoing policy. Evidence to date suggests President-elect Obama is intellectually curious, willing to consider alternatives, and anything but a closed thinker, but these traits will be tested as the consequences of his decision-making increase exponentially.

More importantly, it will not be enough for President-elect Obama to accept and give fair hearing to challenging reports. For the process to function optimally, he will need to actively encourage the IC to provide critical assessments and ensure that briefings that go poorly do not tarnish his relationship with the community. Without a green light, concerns about making a positive impression and maintaining access to the oval office could lead the next DNI to take a more cautious approach in presenting informed opinions on controversial subjects. This is not to criticize the integrity of the next Director, but rather an acknowledgment of the stress placed on any official whose influence and effectiveness depends entirely on a personal relationship with his or her superior.

The President-elect can be excused for questioning the importance of giving a prominent role to a community and an analytic corps whose spectacular failures still resonate. Columbia Professor Robert Jervis, a frequent commentator on intelligence, has noted somewhat sympathetically that intelligence failure has been a universal phenomenon, spanning space and time. Some things, most demonstrably the intentions and future behavior of human beings, may be unknowable.

The proper response to these limitations, however, is not to dismiss the value of the analytic process but to confront it with healthy skepticism. The IC is made up of a wide range of experts with access to information unavailable elsewhere, and shunning them would engender complete reliance on advisers who, while certainly knowledgeable, will lack objectivity on account of their positions in the administration and their vested interests in specific courses of action. More beneficial would be augmenting the intelligence product with occasional meetings with outside authors and experts.

Intelligence alone rarely can provide the answer to a policy dilemma. But a well-oiled intelligence community can be expected to help policymakers make better informed decisions on vital issues of national security. Washington spends upwards of $50 billion on intelligence; if nothing else it would be an awful waste if the ultimate decider is not willing to take full advantage of this expenditure.

2009-01-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

SUMMIT IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW GROUP (SIRG) OEA/Ser.E
GRIC/DC-V/doc.1/08
21 July 2008
Original: English
Fifth Summit of the Americas
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
April 19, 2009
Draft Declaration of Commitment
‘Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security
and Environmental Sustainability’
1. Guided by a renewed spirit of regional cooperation, integration and solidarity, we, the Heads of State and Government of the democratic countries of the Americas, have gathered in Port of Spain, at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, with a firm commitment to improve the well-being of all our people by advancing collective solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our Hemisphere. We reiterate our will to strengthen national and hemispheric efforts to create conditions for greater peace, security and prosperity for all the peoples of the Americas.
2. In accordance with the principles and values of the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, we are determined to continue our fight against poverty, hunger, social exclusion, discrimination and inequality which afflict the lives and erode the hopes of so many in our Hemisphere.
3. We, therefore, renew our commitment, to all the peoples of the Americas, to improve the quality of their lives by adopting and implementing an Inter-American strategy of collaboration, with the support of the institutions of the United Nations and the Inter-American System, to complement all our nations’ efforts to foster greater opportunities for decent employment, to improve health, wellness and nutrition, to increase access to quality education, to ensure adequate and sustainable energy, and to manage our environment responsibly.
4. We affirm that these issues are closely inter-dependent with our efforts to build stronger democratic institutions, promote good governance and social inclusion, uphold the rule of law, increase access to justice, protect human rights, combat violence, crime and terrorism, and achieve broader civic participation of all citizens of the Inter-American Community.
Promoting Human Prosperity
5. Deep and persistent inequalities continue to exist, especially in education, income levels, health and nutritional status, exposure to violence and crime, and access to basic services. In response, we will continue to develop and implement social protection programmes that are specifically targeted to the poor and vulnerable groups in our societies, in order to ensure equal access for all men and women to basic social services such as water, housing, healthcare, food and sanitation.
2
6. We commit to exchange information on policies, experiences and good practices in order to support our national efforts to reduce social disparities and inequality, and halve poverty by the year 2015. We request the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to coordinate the process of reviewing and consolidating all existing social protection and poverty eradication programmes by the end of 2010, in collaboration with the Ministers responsible for Finance, Planning and Development, as well as other regional and sub-regional financial and development institutions, in order to increase efficiency, reduce duplication, identify gaps and optimise the use of resources.
7. We recognize that to eliminate poverty and hunger, create jobs, and raise the standard of living of all our people, we must achieve higher levels of continuous economic growth with equity. We also recognize the positive contribution of open trade policies in the promotion of growth, employment and development. We, therefore, commit to continue implementing sound macro-economic policies that are characterized by appropriate and transparent fiscal and monetary measures, prudent public expenditures, higher domestic savings and high growth rates. We will also continue to promote private sector development, diversify economic activity, improve competitiveness and strengthen economic integration. We are committed to boosting investment in energy, transport and communications infrastructure to attract additional private investment and promote business development.
8. In accordance with the Decent Work in the Americas: An Agenda for the Hemisphere (2006-2015), we will continue to facilitate and encourage the creation of more decent and productive employment opportunities in the formal sector. We instruct the Ministers of Labour, within the context of the OAS Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour, in collaboration with the unions and the employers’ organizations and with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to develop a coordinated plan to continue to address the objectives of the Agenda by the end of 2010.
9. With the support of the ILO and in accordance with the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, we will adopt the necessary policies and regulations to facilitate and promote the movement of enterprises and workers from the informal to the formal sector. We also reaffirm that all migrants regardless of their immigration status, should be accorded the full protection of human rights and the full observance of labour laws applicable to them.
10. We reiterate our commitment to protect women and children from economic exploitation and we call on the Ministers responsible for Education, Labour and Social Development to adopt coordinated national strategies to prevent and eradicate child labour by 2020 according to the Decent Work Agenda, and develop innovative strategies to bring children back into healthy learning environments. We also reiterate our commitment to eliminate forced labour before 2010.
11. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are fundamental to economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction. We call on the World Bank, IDB and other regional banks to accelerate their efforts to promote private sector expansion and development by doubling lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and tripling the numbers of enterprises accessing credit by 2012.
3
12. We will work towards eliminating administrative and bureaucratic barriers to the creation of new enterprises. We will, therefore, adopt the necessary reforms to simplify the processes involved in starting and closing business ventures, and commit to reducing business start-up time to a maximum of 30 days by 2012. We call on the IDB and the World Bank to support national efforts to improve the legislative frameworks and administrative procedures for achieving this target.
13. In order to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, we commit to increasing investment in research and development to a minimum of 1% of GDP by 2015 and to strengthening the linkages among universities, science institutions, the private sector, multilateral agencies and workers. We will also develop, harmonise and enforce intellectual property laws and regulations in order to safeguard works of innovation and creativity.
14. Feeding our people is now the most immediate challenge confronting our Hemisphere and, indeed, the world. We, therefore, commit to taking an active role, working in partnership with the international community, to develop and implement comprehensive policies and programmes to resolve this challenge. We reaffirm our commitment to the 2008 Rome Declaration on World Food Security, to the objectives of the World Food Summit and to the Millennium Development Goal to halve the number of undernourished people by 2015.
15. We commit to developing new national and regional approaches under AGRO Plan 2015 and instruct Ministers of Agriculture to adopt strategic actions to facilitate the implementation of this Plan based on the consensus of their 2007 Hemispheric Meeting in Guatemala.
16. We recognize that the problems of inequality of access and exclusion from basic health services persist, especially among the most vulnerable, including women, children, indigenous peoples and the poor. We, therefore, commit to providing essential social protection and universal access to quality healthcare, taking into account labour, environment, gender and social security policies, and will increase public spending on health to at least 5% of GDP by 2015 in order to address the health challenges faced by our people.
17. While the region has made strides in reducing mortality in infants and children under 5 years, neonatal mortality has not decreased at the same rate. We call on the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to continue to assist countries in addressing this problem through the implementation of the Regional Strategic Plan of Action based on the Interagency Strategic Consensus on Reducing Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity in Latin America and the Caribbean.
18. We are convinced that the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can be reduced by comprehensive and integrated preventive and control strategies at the individual, family, community, national and regional levels and through collaborative programmes, partnerships and policies supported by governments, the private sector, the media, NGOs and relevant regional and international partners. We, therefore, reiterate our support for the PAHO/WHO Regional Strategy on an Integrated Approach to the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases Including Diet, Physical Activity, and Health.
19. We instruct our Ministers of Health, with the support of PAHO/WHO, to establish surveillance systems by 2015 for NCDs and their risk factors, as part of our national public health
4
surveillance systems. We encourage the establishment of National Commissions on non-communicable diseases to plan and coordinate comprehensive prevention and control strategies.
20. We commit to improving reproductive health, mental health services, community-based health care; the introduction of cost effective prevention approaches; broader screening to permit early detection of disease; and the provision of essential medicines especially to the most needy.
21. In addition, we commit to taking the necessary actions to improve the nutritional levels of all the people in the Americas by 2015 and to the full implementation of the Regional Strategy on Nutrition and Health Development 2006-2015, coordinated by PAHO.
22. In order to address the spread of vector borne diseases, especially dengue, we commit to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) and call on PAHO to prepare a regional contingency plan that contains the new guidelines as set forth in the IHR by the end of 2009.
23. We are committed to the goal of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) by 2015 by providing universal access for men and women to prevention, care, treatment and support. We will implement a regional strategy to provide such access under the coordination of the WHO and PAHO. We also commit to reducing the incidence of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to less than 5% by 2015. We reiterate our commitment to strengthening and providing adequate financing to the Global Fund to Combat AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
24. We affirm that equal access to quality education, adapted to local and global realities, is a human right, a public good and a political priority. Improving early childhood care and education, primary education and teacher training are essential approaches to achieving universal primary education by 2010.
25. We reaffirm our commitment to achieving a secondary education enrollment rate of at least 75% by the year 2010 and we now call on the Ministers of Education and the OAS, with the support of the specialised regional institutions and UNESCO, to develop a gender-sensitive hemispheric strategy to reform secondary education and make it accessible to all our children, especially those from marginalised groups, by 2015. This strategy must include reform of curricula based on the principles of equity, quality, relevance and efficiency in education, take into account cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity, and encourage innovation and creativity.
26. Recognising that education is a lifelong process that promotes social inclusion and allows people to contribute more fully to their societies, we give high priority to improving the quality of, and access to, tertiary, vocational and adult education, especially for women, rural inhabitants, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples. We, therefore, commit to increasing the tertiary participation rate to a minimum of 40 per cent by 2020, and urge countries which have already made considerable advances in this area, to exchange good practices that will support the efforts of other countries to achieve this target. We also commit to support the ongoing professional development of teachers.
27. We will continue to invest in our young people and adopt policies and programmes that will expand their economic opportunities, increase their social engagement, open avenues for
5
leadership, allow for meaningful participation in decision-making activities, and increase the quality and coverage of social services aimed at improving their lives and promoting healthy lifestyles. We, therefore, reaffirm our commitment to the 2008 Declaration of Medellín on Youth and Democratic Values.
28. It is essential that the technological gap, both among and within the nations of the Americas, be reduced. We, therefore, renew our commitment to collaborate with regional, sub-regional and multinational agencies to advance progress in the implementation of initiatives under the Agenda for Connectivity in the Americas and the Plan of Action of Quito. We instruct our Ministers and High Level Authorities with responsibility for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to promote the use of ICTs in our education systems and our public and business sectors, and to widen access for households and communities.
29. We recognise that inter-cultural dialogue and respect for cultural diversity promote mutual understanding and convergence, which help reduce conflict, discrimination and the barriers to economic opportunity and social participation. We commit to nurturing creativity and promoting cultural industries as part of our policies for the promotion of social development, sustainable economic growth, job creation and income generation, especially for young adults.
Promoting Energy Security
30. We will develop clean, affordable and sustainable energy systems by reducing the energy and carbon-intensity of our economies, promoting energy efficiency in all sectors, diversifying our energy by developing low-carbon and renewable sources, and encouraging the cleaner, more efficient use of fossil fuels. We commit to increase the contribution of renewable and low-carbon energy sources to meet a minimum of 50 per cent of our national primary energy demands by 2050 at the latest and will introduce, as necessary, new financing and policy frameworks in order to facilitate and accelerate this process.
31. We also commit to enhancing energy efficiency and conservation, especially in our transport systems and industrial sectors, among small and medium-sized enterprises and at the household level in order to promote more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. We encourage the introduction of minimum efficiency requirements and harmonised ratings systems for both domestic and industrial appliances. We will review building codes and raise the standards for energy efficiency, and develop urban planning guidelines to encourage more energy-efficient cities.
32. We will further promote diversification of energy technologies, infrastructure, supplies and routes, and facilitate non-discriminatory third-party access to transit infrastructure to encourage the development of transparent, efficient and orderly energy markets. We commit to making all relevant planning and regulatory requirements simpler, more coherent, transparent and effective by the end of 2012.
33. Recognising the potential of new and emerging technologies for diversifying the energy matrix, we will encourage the development, manufacture and use of both current and next-generation biofuels including sugar-based, cellulosic, algal and bacterial biofuels, an d will develop a set of compatible specifications by the end of 2015 in order to facilitate their trade and increased use,
6
taking into account existing and planned standards. We will develop strategies for sustainable biomass cultivation and production, with particular regard to the need to ensure food security and, by the end of 2012 at the latest, develop a strategy for second-generation and more advanced biofuels that will ensure that they do not compete directly with other agricultural crops for land, water or fertilizer. We will also support the development and use of on and off-shore wind turbines, conventional and polymer photovoltaics, solar towers, geothermal and hydropower, hydrogen fuel cells and other new energy technologies.
34. Many renewable sources of energy are intermittent or only available in particular locations. We will, therefore, develop and invest in new energy infrastructures, support the development of cross-border, efficient low-carbon energy generation and distribution grids and other energy-trading and cooperation networks. We will cooperate to improve the security, safety and stability of our critical energy infrastructure and supply networks and to ensure that all links in the energy supply chain operate to the highest standards of human health and safety, environmental protection and physical security.
35. We commit to the promotion of clean energy through research and development, the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, and the commercialization of new, cleaner energy solutions. Priority will be given to increasing international cooperation and sharing information in the search for solutions that can benefit all our nations.
36. We will increase public awareness on energy and environmental issues and commit to ensuring, by 2012, that the people of the Americas have universal access to accurate, reliable and impartial information on energy, environmental and climate change issues.
37. Recognizing that the issues of the availability, cost and security of our energy supplies, our economic competitiveness and the sustainability of our environment are closely intertwined, we commit to the development of a coherent policy framework that takes into consideration our diverse situations, circumstances and opportunities and allows for the simultaneous strengthening and diversification of all our economies.
38. We, therefore, instruct all Ministers with responsibility for Energy, Planning, Regulation and Finance, within the framework of the OAS and the Sustainable Energy Partnership of the Americas (SEPA), with the support and guidance of the IDB and the World Bank, taking into account the diverse conditions, opportunities, legislative and regulatory frameworks in our countries, and building on existing energy cooperation and integration initiatives, to develop a strategy of cooperation among our nations, international organizations and the private sector that will increase energy efficiency, diversify energy sources, minimise environmental impact, strengthen energy independence, and secure access to safe, affordable energy supplies for all, especially the poorest. We further instruct our Ministers to develop this strategy by the end of 2011 at the latest.
Promoting Environmental Sustainability
39. All social and economic development depends on the conservation and protection of the environment. We, therefore, reaffirm our strong commitment to sustainable development, as set out in the World Summits on Sustainable Development in Rio in 1992 and Johannesburg in
7
2002, the Declaration of Santa Cruz de la Sierra of 1996, the Declaration of Santa Cruz +10 of 2006, and the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.
40. We commit to take the necessary steps to ensure the eventual stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will not incur a risk of serious changes in the Earth’s climate and weather systems.
41. We will strengthen our mechanisms for the sharing of early warning information on natural disasters, for disaster planning and preparedness, and for managing and coordinating response and relief programmes following a disaster.
42. We instruct Ministers and High Level Authorities responsible for Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the specialised national and regional disaster organizations, to develop, by 2011, a cooperation system within the Americas through which they can collaborate, share information, develop models of good practice, and ascertain which areas of human settlement and sections of essential industrial and transport infrastructure are at risk, and to then ensure that they are either protected or relocated.
43. We will introduce stronger planning and zoning measures to ensure that any future residential, commercial or industrial developments are not located in vulnerable areas, and we will facilitate better access to education, training, land, credit, and housing to ensure that poor people are not trapped in vulnerable areas by the fear of losing their livelihoods.
44. We will also work towards promoting sound environmental governance by strengthening national environmental laws and building institutional capacity to manage environmental resources in accordance with our sustainable development priorities.
45. We also support further dialogue and cooperation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the commitments on long-term cooperative action established in Montreal in 2005 and in the Bali Road Map of 2008, and commit to work towards a global agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Copenhagen in 2009.
46. We renew our support for the Inter-American Programme for Sustainable Development (IAPSD) and instruct the Ministers and all other authorities responsible for sustainable development to gather in 2010, under the auspices of the OAS, in collaboration with the PAHO and the international financial and development institutions concerned with sustainable development, and with the participation of the academic community and civil society, to assess the achievements of the Programme to date, and to propose, where appropriate, new goals for a renewed IAPSD, with a particular focus on the integrated management of both domestic and shared water resources, prevention and mitigation of disasters, forest and fisheries management, sustainable agricultural management and rural development, ecosystem and biodiversity protection, natural resources management, urban environmental management and the treatment of hazardous wastes. We will give special attention to the most vulnerable areas, including low-lying coastal regions and small island developing states.
47. We also direct the Ministers and all other authorities responsible for sustainable development, in conjunction with the World Bank and the IDB, working under the auspices of the OAS, to undertake a comprehensive review of the potential impacts of climate change for all the nations
8
of the Americas by 2011, and to formulate national Plans of Action for the management and mitigation of these impacts, with special attention to the needs of people likely to be displaced or to lose their livelihoods. We further instruct that each of these national reviews be used to inform the development of a Regional Strategy for the Management of Climate Change Impacts, to be formulated jointly by the World Bank and the IDB by 2013.
Strengthening Public Security
48. We are determined to persevere in our efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and organised crime, in full compliance with our obligations under international law, including human rights, refugee and international humanitarian law. We, therefore, instruct all Ministers with responsibility for security, policing, intelligence and armed forces, within the framework of the OAS, to continue to cooperate and utilize our collective resources to prevent terrorists and criminal organizations from trespassing across borders and acquiring weapons, and to prevent and combat terrorism and organized crime.
49. We will deny any resources to terrorists and criminals and will combine our efforts to identify, track, seize or freeze assets associated with terrorism and organised crime, in accordance with national legislation and consistent with international law.
50. We direct the OAS, through the Secretariat for Multi-Dimensional Security, to continue in the preparation of a high level meeting of experts and authorities to develop a common approach to matters related to crime and violence and also to prepare a regional strategy to promote Inter-American cooperation in dealing with criminal gangs, giving special attention to young people.
Strengthening Democratic Governance
51. All of our aspirations and goals for the Americas depend on strong democracies, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We, therefore, renew our commitment to strengthen our democratic institutions and uphold and apply the principles and values of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
52. Committed to increasing the transparency, integrity, accountability and efficiency in the public and private sectors, we will strengthen our fight against all forms of corruption and unethical behavior. We renew our commitment to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and will develop and implement policies that foster a culture of integrity and transparency among citizens and public officers, and within public offices and institutions.
53. We reaffirm our commitment to the defense, protection and promotion of human rights and to the independence and strengthening of the Inter-American System of Human Rights.
54. The Social Charter of the Americas and its Plan of Action will offer our citizens more opportunities to benefit from sustainable development with equity and social inclusion. We, therefore, commit to conclude and adopt these documents before the end of 2009.
9
55. We also reaffirm that discrimination of any kind inhibits the full participation of all persons in society and will continue and conclude negotiations on the Inter-American Convention Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance. We will also continue to develop the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
56. We commit to continue mainstreaming gender into our public policies and to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for the advancement of girls and women. We will advance women’s full and equal participation in political life and decision-making at all levels in their countries, and enforce laws that promote respect for their human rights, and gender equity and equality.
57. We recognise the important role of the OAS in the peaceful resolution of our differences and in support of the objectives of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. We commit to improve the capacity of the OAS in its efforts to assist in enhancing peace and the democratic, social and economic stability of our region.
Strengthening the Summit of the Americas, Follow-Up and Implementation Effectiveness
58. We recognise that the issues of human prosperity, energy security and environmental security are closely intertwined and that an integrated, coherent policy framework is essential to the achievement of the commitments we have made here to the people of our Hemisphere.
59. In order to strengthen Ministerial participation in the Summit Process, to improve the implementation of our decisions at this Fifth Summit, and to increase accountability to the people of the Americas, we instruct the technical secretariats of all Ministerial Meetings to inform their Ministers and High Level Authorities of the mandates of this Summit and initiate strategic actions, by the end of 2009, to facilitate the implementation of our commitments. We further commit to convening the Summit of the Americas on a regular basis and no later than every three years.
60. We instruct the General Secretariat of the OAS, in accordance with its central role in the implementation of Summit mandates, to provide a comprehensive report to the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), annually, on the actions and progress made at all Ministerial Meetings and by the institutions of the United Nations and the Inter-American System, towards achieving the specific targets set at this Summit.
61. We direct the Ministers of Finance in collaboration with the multilateral financial institutions to convene a meeting, in the first quarter of 2010, to ensure that technical cooperation resources are available to finance the different elements of the Inter-American initiatives agreed in this document.
62. We reiterate the call, made at the Third Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, for Ministers of Finance to increase their involvement in the Summit of the Americas process and instruct them to explore ways to strengthen the strategic alliances, at the national level, among all Ministries, including those responsible for education, health, labour, social development, youth, information and communication, agriculture, energy, the environment, and crime and security.
10
63. We also call upon the institutions of the Joint Summit Working Group to further strengthen their commitment and to develop coordinated programmes of action to deliver the goals for the Americas set out in this Declaration.
64. We commit to encouraging the participation of civil society in the design and execution of development policies and programmes by providing technical and financial assistance to strengthen and build their capacity to participate more fully in the Inter-American System.
65. We also commit to continue exploring ways in which our governments can build, strengthen and maintain alliances with the business sector and to harness the expertise and resources which exist within this sector, in order to develop and implement effective, practical and sustainable interventions to achieve our national and hemispheric development goals.
66. We, the Heads of State and Government of the Americas, agree that this document shall be known as the ‘Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain’, and we hereby approve it on this the 19th day of April, in the year 2009.

2009-01-05T21:03:00.001-08:00

Honduras to Host OAS General Assembly in 2009

Preparations are well underway for the hemisphere’s foreign ministers to meet in Honduras in early June next year for the thirty-ninth regular session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly, for which the topic of non-violence will be the main theme.

Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, the OAS Assistant Secretary General, on a visit to Honduras met last week with President Manuel Zelaya Rosales and Foreign Affairs Minister Ángel Edmundo Orellana Mercado to continue discussions on logistics for the annual conference that will be held in San Pedro Sula.

The discussions with President Zelaya centered on the concept paper and the topic, which was proposed by the Honduran government.

A press conference was held afterwards to announce preliminary details and report on the status of preparations for the foreign ministers’ gathering, which is the OAS’ highest decision-making body.

The Assistant Secretary General held another meeting with the Foreign Minister, the National Coordinator and the Foreign Ministry’s Coordinating Team, describing the consultation as “very positive.” He said that besides the additional information exchanged, the meeting at the Honduran Foreign Ministry set “some clear target dates for progress” in the lead-up to the General Assembly.

Ambassador Ramdin extended an invitation to President Zelaya to visit the OAS early next year to address the member state representatives and provide more details about the General Assembly topic. Prior to the presidential visit to the OAS’ headquarters, Foreign Minister Orellana is expected to visit Washington, DC to sign the agreement under which the government of Honduras will host the OAS General Assembly.

2008-11-14T14:24:00.001-08:00

Honduran primary elections postponed to November 30

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 11:50

On November 4, the day of the US presidential elections, the Honduran national congress decided to postpone the upcoming primary elections by two weeks, due to the state of emergency caused by Tropical Depression 16.

President Manuel Zelaya’s four-year term ends in January 2010, and in the primary elections Hondurans will chose from nine competing candidates of the two main political parties for president and vice president as well as candidates for congress for the 18 department, mayors of all communities of the country.

The primaries, which had originally been scheduled for Sunday, November 16, are now to be held on Sunday, November 30 and cannot be postponed any further.

In order to postpone the date of the elections, the senate had to pass a temporary reform of article 113 of the electoral law, which obliged the political parties to hold the internal elections on November 16.

The session in which the decision was taken was held in the midst of demonstrations by supporters of presidential candidate and acting vice president Elvin Santos of the Liberal Party (Partido Liberal).

Elvin Santos’ movement Movimiento Elvincista of the Liberal Party (Partido Liberal) is the most successful movement in preliminary polls. It is followed by the movement Cambio Ya! (Change now!) of the National Party (Partido Nacional), whose presidential candidate is Porfirio Lobo Sosa. Sosa, an agricultural landowner, had already stood for the last presidential elections in 2005, but lost against current president Manuel Zelaya.

According to Iliana Morales, member of the Honduran Social Forum on External Debt and Development (Fosdeh), the reform of the electoral process will cost between 75 to 100 million lempiras (between 4 and 5.3 million dollars approximately). The additional costs stem from various factors, ranging from the cancelation of flights of international observers to the continuation of the election campaigns, which Morales criticized as void of content and electoral promises. Instead, remarked Morales, the campaigns focus on aspects like the physical appearance of candidates.

2008-11-14T14:20:00.000-08:00

TPS Registration Reminder to Eligible Hondurans, by US government

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 11:12

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminded early this week to all Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Salvadorans, who are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), to file a re-registration application for TPS before the end of the re-registration period, (Dec. 1, 2008 for Hondurans and Nicaraguans, and Dec. 30, 2008 for Salvadorans).

The 18-month extension of TPS for nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua will remain in effect until July 5, 2010, and until Sept. 9, 2010 for nationals of El Salvador. Hondurans, Nicaraguans, and Salvadorans who have received TPS previously must re-register for the 18-month extension during the re-registration period. Failure to file a TPS re-registration application during the re-registration period without good cause will result in withdrawal of TPS benefits, including employment authorization and protection from removal from the U.S.

Additional Filing Tips:
To apply for TPS re-registration you must submit both Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Both forms are available online at: [ http://www.uscis.gov/forms ]www.uscis.gov/forms, or by calling the USCIS forms line at 1-800-870-3676.

You must file Form I-765 regardless of whether you wish to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). If you are not requesting an EAD, you do not need to submit a fee for Form I-765. Also, leave the boxes under the question, “I am applying for…” blank. The filing address is listed in the Federal Register notice for each country, and in the USCIS Questions and Answers for each country’s extension.

Submit the appropriate versions of the forms (use Form I-821 dated Oct. 17, 2007 or later and Form I-765 dated May 27, 2008 or later). USCIS will reject applications submitted using earlier editions of the forms.

Completely fill out the forms and mark all appropriate boxes. In Part 1, of Form I-821, re-registrants should mark the box for re-registration or renewal of temporary benefits.

Submit the appropriate fee(s) with the applications. Make the check or money order payable to the Department of Homeland Security. To request a fee waiver, you must submit a properly documented request demonstrating your inability to pay. Guidance about fee waivers is online at www.uscis.gov/feewaiver.

If your address changes after you file your application for re-registration, you must complete and submit a change of address form (AR-11) by mail or electronically. File the Form AR-11 electronically by following the directions at www.uscis.gov/ar-11.

You may also mail your Form AR-11 to this address:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134

To facilitate processing your address change on your TPS application, you may call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) to request USCIS update your address on your application. However, you must still file a completed Form AR-11 with USCIS.

More information is available from the National Customer Service Center by calling 800-375-5283

2008-11-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

Obama Changes History Hope in Honduras

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 12:06

Barack Obama

Honduran politicians coincide with the Honduran people in welcoming the outcome of the US elections, which showed a sweeping victory for the Democrats and their presidential candidate Barack Obama.

At an event organized by the US embassy in Honduras on the evening of the elections at the Marriott hotel in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, attendees not only closely followed the election results, but also participated in a symbolic election, confirming the results of the real elections in the US.

Once the results of the official elections were known, the US ambassador to Honduras Hugo Llorens gave a speech to the diplomats, businessmen and journalists present at the event, stressing the importance of the democratic process lived in his country. He also reaffirmed the friendship between the people and the governments of the US and Honduras.

During a press conference with foreign journalists on the day after the elections, the Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya commented on the fact that an Afro-American has been elected and on the speech of Barack Obama, saying that there was a “ray of hope for mankind”. Zelaya went on to say that he would personally congratulate the president-elect, and work together to further strengthen the collaboration of the two governments.

The acting President George W. Bush was one of the first political leaders to speak to the winner of the elections, and on the day after the elections, the White House issued the following statement:

“Good morning. Last night, I had a warm conversation with President-elect Barack Obama. I congratulated him and Senator Biden on their impressive victory. I told the President-elect he can count on complete cooperation from my administration as he makes the transition to the White House.

I also spoke to Senator John McCain. I congratulated him on a determined campaign that he and Governor Palin ran. The American people will always be grateful for the lifetime of service John McCain has devoted to this nation. And I know he’ll continue to make tremendous contributions to our country.

No matter how they cast their ballots, all Americans can be proud of the history that was made yesterday. Across the country, citizens voted in large numbers. They showed a watching world the vitality of America’s democracy, and the strides we have made toward a more perfect union. They chose a President whose journey represents a triumph of the American story - a testament to hard work, optimism, and faith in the enduring promise of our nation.

Many of our citizens thought they would never live to see that day.

This moment is especially uplifting for a generation of Americans who witnessed the struggle for civil rights with their own eyes - and four decades later see dream fulfilled.

A long campaign has now ended, and we move forward as one nation. We’re embarking on a period of change in Washington, yet there are some things that will not change. The United States government will stay vigilant in meeting its most important responsibility - protecting the American people. And the world can be certain this commitment will remain steadfast under our next Commander-in-Chief.

There’s important work to do in the months ahead, and I will continue to conduct the people’s business as long as this office remains in my trust. During this time of transition, I will keep the President-elect fully informed on important decisions. And when the time comes on January the 20th, Laura and I will return home to Texas with treasured memories of our time here - and with profound gratitude for the honor of serving this amazing country.

It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House. I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have awaited so long. I know Senator Obama’s beloved mother and grandparents would have been thrilled to watch the child they raised ascend the steps of the Capitol - and take his oath to uphold the Constitution of the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

Last night I extended an invitation to the President-elect and Mrs. Obama to come to the White House. And Laura and I are looking forward to welcoming them as soon as possible.

Thank you very much.”

George W. Bush. President of the United States of America

2008-11-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama overcame a great rival

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 12:12

Barack Obama

Within the right-left classification of American politics, the Democrat Party is considered as leftist leaning by the Republican Party, in economic as well as in its social policies. Nevertheless, within the Democrat Party there exists all kinds of positions and leanings on all the wide range of issues. Starting from the middle of the XX century, the Democrats have been identified as liberals, reformists and for defending civil rights, social security and an expansive fiscal policy.

The letter of presentation of the Democrats in this recent campaign was based on economic and social guarantees. Obama pleaded for a greater protectionism of American production and a universal social security and insurance system. This has resulted very attractive for the middle class, especially now when the neo-liberal and conservative policies of the Republicans are seen to blame for the rise in unemployment and the actual financial crisis.

In The Economist, North Americans indicated the following in relation to Barack Obama’s political stance: “We are nervous and worried about his unattractive policy of aggressively increasing taxes to the upper classes and the costs this will imply in his initiatives, but we do recognize that many of his positions have evolved throughout his campaign for presidency”.

Barack Obama, for example, proposes to eliminate the temporary cut of taxes by Bush for families that earned more than $250,000 a year and add a 2% extra for social security. Obama also proposes to eradicate the rent tax for Senators that earn less than $50,000.00 and increase the maximum tax to more than 39%”.

The financial and foreign relations situation that Bush is leaving behind, is not attractive. Americans do not approve and are against the change that Bush gave to foreign Republican policy.

John McCain turned out to be an adversary with charisma given his character, trajectory and experience as a politician, and also because of his experiences as a war veteran and POW in Vietnam. He demonstrated the ability to oppose the most orthodox positions of his own party, knowing how to differentiate inside the Republican ideology. McCain has maintained a strong commitment with free commerce, low taxes, slight regulation and fiscal responsibility. He stands out from the rest of the Republicans for his position in global warming, prohibition of abortion and for supporting the initiative that would have guaranteed the way to citizenship to illegal immigrants.

The presidential elections in USA were the result of an excellent exercise of democracy: Barack Obama is the new president of this great nation. The words of president George Bush are seem to us worthy of analysis when congratulating Obama: he expressed the necessity for a smooth transition. We think that this is a good advice since prudence and capacity go hand to hand.

Enormous challenges will confront Obama. USA has huge domestic problems and its foreign policy urges of precise reframing. Their compatriots voted for changes and he without a doubt will try to bring changes.

Our best wishes for the American people.

2008-11-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Massive sowing necessary in order to avoid shortage of Beans in 2009

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 12:04

One of the negative consequences of this season’s tropical storm #16, which is considered by many to have been almost as catastrophic as Hurricane Mitch, is the forecasted shortage of one of Honduras’s basic foodstuffs- the red bean. The Honduran Minister of Agriculture, Héctor Hernández, has ordered the initiation of a massive red bean sowing program of some 55 thousand acres of land, to be established in four departments of the country.

The Government of Honduras through the Ministry of Agriculture (SAG), prepares a Massive Emergency Plan of sowing of this basic grain as a necessary precaution before a possible shortage crisis for this upcoming year.

According to Hernández, he has given precise instructions to all his technical personnel, to begin the execution of this plan as soon as possible. According to plan, the Honduran Government has the intention to supply improved seeds and fertilizers to some 55 thousand small producers during sowing time.

The distributions will be done in established regions of red bean cultivation, mainly in the departments of El Paraiso, Yoro, Copán and Olancho. Hernández recently explained in a press conference that until now , the amount of lost production land in acres ascends to 68,754 acres that were flooded, equivalent to 140 million pounds of beans. This amounts to 812 million Lempiras in losses. Hernandez explained that the president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, turned instructions so that at as soon as possible he initiates the sowings of red bean.

Otherwise we will have a food crisis due to the lack of the red beans beginning on the month of March of the next year, where they might have few or little stocks of red beans.

The goal of the government initially was to promote, during sowing, the plantation of some 135 thousand acres of Red Bean, looking for a goal production total of 200 million pounds in order to cover the national demand total and to destine an additional 15 percent for export.

Hernández assured that what worries the most to authorities is that for the proposed sowings of the second seasonal phase, the production goals for the necessary amounts will not be met. This secondary sowing stage is the most important because it is done during the dryer months of January and February.

By the end of September during the second sowing season, they could seed some 25 thousand acres in all the national territory, of which approximately 18 thousand acres were destroyed after the storm, and only being 7 thousands were left intact.

As far as the first phase sowing went, 50 thousand acres fwere planted rom August to September, yielding some 60,000 thousand pounds of red beans, which caused that the price in the market to lower from 90 to 50 lempiras per each five pounds of produce.

Hernández asked local media representatives for their support in the promotion of red bean sowing, to prevent the forecasted shortage of beans.

2008-11-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

EU to donate more than two million Euros to Honduras and Guatemala

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 11:35

The European Commission will grant 2.17 million Euros (2.81 million dollars) to Guatemala and Honduras in order to help victims of the strong rains that devastated the region last month, the European Union’s office in Honduras announced this week.

According to an official statement, “The European Commission responds to requests for international aid by Guatemala and Honduras by providing 2.17 million Euros”. This contribution, which will be channeled to the two countries through the European Community Humanitarian aid Office (ECHO), “will enable relief efforts implemented by non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross and specialized agencies of the United Nations”.

The donation will benefit more than 35 thousand people affected by the floods and the mudslides caused by the rains in both countries.“With this contribution the European Commission helps to respond to the needs of both countries for food, drinking water, healthcare, restoration as well as distribution of seeds, tools, fertilizer and cattle”, the statement points out.

The vice-president of Guatemala, Rafael Sword, this week asked for support of the international community to take care of the emergency caused by the strong rains that brought about destructions in the north and the northeast of the country.

Sword met with representatives of various European embassies in Guatemala and with delegates of international financial institutions, asking for support amounting to 500 million quetzals (about 50 million Euros).

The vice-president assured that the government has already spent a similar amount for the first stage of reconstructions in the departments of Petén, Alta Verapaz, Quiché (north), and Izabal (northeast), the areas which were worst hit by the rains.

The funds that are required, he explained, “will serve to resolve the crisis and to develop plans for the response to future natural disasters”. Part of the aid granted by the EU, equivalent to one million Euros (1.29 million dollars), will be used for providing food for the more than 35 thousand Honduran victims of the malnutrition crisis affecting the south of the country, which will provided for a duration of six months through the world-wide Food Program of the United Nations.

In Honduras, according to official sources the intense rains and cold front in recent weeks have hit 600,000 people and left more than 30 dead and several missing.

Floods in 17 of Honduras’ 18 departments have destroyed numerous roads and nearly 8,500 homes, prompting President Manuel Zelaya to declare a state of emergency. Authorities estimate total damages at 154 million dollars.

2008-11-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

HISTORIAL DE NOTICIAS
FUERZA NAVAL
POR MES
AÑO 2008

Enero	Julio
Febrero	Agosto
Marzo	Septiembre
Abril	Octubre
Mayo	Noviembre
Junio	Diciembre

Base Naval de Puerto Castilla colabora con el desarrollo de Trujillo

Personal de la Base Naval de Puerto Castilla colabora con el traslado de computadoras, víveres y otros materiales para construcción de instalaciones educativas y servicios públicos en apoyo a las comunidades cercanas a Trujillo.

Estos proyectos son auspiciados por organismos nacionales e internacionales que pretenden contribuir con el desarrollo de las comunidades más lejanas del país.

2008-11-14T14:02:00.001-08:00

http://www.ffaah.mil.hn/naval/2008/febrero/nota11.htm

Base Naval de Puerto Castilla recibe donación médica

Con el propósito de mejorar el servicio médico de la Base Naval de Puerto Castilla principalmente en las actividades de evacuaciones médicas, el Comandante de esta unidad Capitán de Fragata DEMN Don José Saúl Reyes Soto, recibió una camilla moderna de metal, de manos del Ministro de Ayuda Humanitaria de Honduras en Estados Unidos, señor Guillermo Verde y voluntarios del Club Rotario Internacional de EEUU.

2008-11-14T13:56:00.001-08:00

Future Army engineers intern in Honduras


	SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras--United States Military Academy Cadet 2nd Class Walter Arevalo observers a U.S. soldier and a Honduran soldier working at a school renovation site in Honduras during his visit here as part of Academy's Academic Individual Advanced Development program, a program similar to summer internships in which engineering cadets gain valuable, real-world experience. (U.S. Army photo by Cadet 2nd Class Ryan Kim)
	Download HiRes


	Story Tools
	Printable story	E-mail story

by Tech Sgt. William Farrow
Joint Task Force-Bravo public affairs

6/4/2008 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Cadets from the U.S. Military Academy's engineering department are here learning first-hand how Army engineering capabilities support national interests abroad.

The cadets are participating in the Academy's Academic Individual Advanced Development, a program similar to summer internships. The cadets gain valuable, real-world experience through the program by working with military and civilian systems engineers, operations research analysts, and scientists.

The 22 cadets visited several sites around the Comayagua and La Paz areas observing U.S. Army engineers working on the various projects associated with the joint nation, joint service exercise Beyond the Horizon 2008. Projects include destruction of old facilities and construction of new schools and medical clinics.

While in Honduras, the cadets get a real-world peek into how Army engineers operate in a deployed environment at an overseas location. The cadets are also gaining an understanding of the wide breadth of projects Army engineers take on around the world, and they are able to connect the applications they've learned in the classroom with operations the field.

"We spend so much time in academics that we sometimes forget there are differences between what the books teach us and what actually goes into a successful job site," said Cadet 2nd Class Walter Arevalo, a third year system engineer student. "Down here we're getting a broader picture and seeing engineering applications put into use in a very basic environment."

However, it's the opportunity to get their boots muddy with the troops in the field that has been an enlightening experience.

"We got to work with the 471st Engineer Company, a Reserve unit from Puerto Rico, and got to know the troops and what they are about and find out about their background, which helped us discover that citizen soldiers are very diverse," Cadet Arevelo said.

"We thought that because they are Army Reserve engineers they would all be in the civilian construction or manufacturing industry, but they're not-- they are accountants, IT professionals, policemen, retail managers--Reservists represent a broad cross section of society," he said.

Cadets have a variety of choices for the AIAD, but Cadet 2nd Class Ryan Kim, a third year engineering management student, said he was pleased that he selected the Honduran visit.

He said it was down to a position working with an Australian engineering firm, or coming here to see what BTH was all about.

"One reason I ended up choosing Honduras was because it's a humanitarian mission here and seeing the work Army engineers are doing to help others makes it all worthwhile," he said.

Although BTH ended June 3, the cadets are staying on here for another week to receive practical instruction in surveying and operating an Automated Route Reconnaissance Kit, an airborne reconnaissance system used by military civil engineers to provide damage assessment during disasters.

2008-11-14T13:55:00.001-08:00

La Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo tiene nuevo comandante

Coronel Richard Juergens toma la bandera del Almirante James Stavridis, Comandante del Comando Sur de los Estados Unidos, durante el traspaso de mando celebrado el día 27 de Junio en La Base Aérea Soto Cano, Honduras. (Foto por el sargento John Asselin)

Download HiRes


	Story Tools
	Printable story	E-mail story

by Sargento John Asselin
Oficina de Relaciones Públicas Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo

6/27/2008 - BASE AÉREA SOTO CANO, Honduras -- El Coronel del Ejército Richard Juergens asumió el mando de La Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo de parte del Coronel del Ejército Marcus De Oliveira durante ceremonia celebrada el día 27 de junio en La Base Aérea Soto Cano, Honduras.

"Me siento muy orgulloso de poder comandar este gran equipo," dijo el Coronel Juergens. "El comando y nuestros compañeros hondureños tienen una gran trayectoria de trabajar en equipo y responder a desastres naturales, emergencias médicas y ayudar a la población."

El coronel Juergens es egresado del Curso Básico para Oficiales de Aviación y esta calificado para pilotar varios helicópteros, incluso el helicóptero CH-47, algunos de ellos asignados a la Base Aérea Soto Cano. Él ha completado dos viajes de combate en Afganistán y uno en Iraq.

El comandante saliente, Coronel De Oliveira, se va para su nueva asignación en Vicenza, Italia, después de haber comandado por un año a La Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo.

"Fue un gran honor para mi haber trabajado en conjunto con ustedes durante este año," dijo el Coronel De Oliveira a las tropas durante la ceremonia. "Ustedes siempre estaban listos para lo inesperado. Esto siempre formo parte de un esfuerzo en equipo."

La Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo es subordinada del Comando Sur de los Estados Unidos. Han mantenido lazos de amistad por mucho tiempo con Honduras y otros países Centro Americanos y ofrece seguridad y experiencia. Entre los cinco comandos existentes hay aproximadamente 1200 militares, civiles y contratistas. La Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo realiza operaciones conjuntas combinadas, operaciones de interagencia y operaciones de contingencia en apoyo a Centro America con el fin de realzar seguridad operacional y reforzar cooperación regional.

2008-11-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

Doctores del Centro Medico de Wilford Hall realiza brigada médica en Honduras

Capitán de La Fuerza Aérea Matt Williams, audiologo del Centro Médico de Wilford, San Antonio, Texas, trata a un paciente en el Hospital Escuela en Tegucigalpa, Honduras. El equipo de audiologia realizó más de 160 pruebas de audición y colocaron más de 50 prótesis auditivas a pacientes del hospital. (Foto por el sargento de La Fuerza Aérea estadounidense John Asselin)

Download HiRes


	Story Tools
	Printable story	E-mail story

by Sargento John Asselin
Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Bravo/Oficina de Relaciones Publicas

6/23/2008 - TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Equipo médico conformado por 14 personas del Centro Médico de Wilford Hall en San Antonio, Texas, completaron dos semanas de tratamientos médicos gratuitos de otorrinolaringología.

El equipo quirúrgico evalúo a más de 240 pacientes y realizo más de 40 cirugías, además dos audiologos realizaron más de 160 pruebas de audición y colocaron más de 50 prótesis auditivas a pacientes del Hospital Escuela en Tegucigalpa, dijo el Teniente de La Fuerza Aérea Coronel Marque Boston, cirujano Otorrino y jefe del equipo medico. "Principalmente realizamos cirugías de oído, pero hicimos algunos procedimientos nasales y por primera vez cirugías endoscópicas." explico.

"Trabajamos estrechamente con los residentes hondureños y personal del hospital a quienes les enseñamos las técnicas que realizamos en nuestro país," continuo explicando el doctor Boston. "

En Honduras, nuestro equipo medico encontró nuevos desafíos que generalmente no encontramos en Texas.

"Vimos las mismas condiciones que vemos en casa, y usamos las mismas técnicas aquí la complejidad y el grado de las cirugías son mucho mayores que en los Estados Unidos," dijo el doctor Boston. "Esto fue una gran oportunidad de formación medica para nuestros médicos, pero mucho mas grande la oportunidad de poder trabajar en conjunto con nuestros homólogos hondureños."

"La barrera de los idiomas es un desafío, pero hemos sido capaces de conseguir puntos básicos," dijo el Capitán de La Fuerza Aérea Malisha Martukovich, audiologo de Texas.

El Dr. Boston explico que este es el cuarto año que el Centro Medico de Wilford Hall proporciona cuidados médicos en el Hospital Escuela. "Nos gustaría dar continuidad a pacientes que recibieron cuidado médicos en años anteriores."

2008-11-14T13:50:00.001-08:00

Wilford Hall team treats ENT patients in Honduras

A surgical team from Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, performs ear surgery on a patient June 17 at Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The 14-person team spent two weeks at the hospital performing ear, nose and throat procedures, as well as providing hearing tests and hearing aid fittings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Asselin)

Download HiRes


	Story Tools
	Printable story	E-mail story

by By Tech. Sgt. John Asselin
Joint Task Force-Bravo public affairs

6/20/2008 - TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- A 14-person medical team from Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, completed a two-week readiness training mission in Honduras June 19 after performing numerous ear, nose and throat procedures.

The surgical team accomplished 240 patient evaluations and more than 40 surgeries, and the team of two audiologists performed more than 160 audiograms (hearing tests) and fitted more than 50 hearing aids at Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, said Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Mark Boston, an ENT surgeon and chief of the WHMC team.

"We performed primarily ear surgeries, but did some nasal procedures and, for the first time here, some airway endoscopic surgery," he said.

"We worked closely with the Honduran residents and staff here at the hospital helping show them the techniques we use back home," Dr. Boston said. "Our goal was to teach safe and effective nasal and ear surgery."

In Honduras, the WHMC team also learned from the unique challenges they do not usually encounter back in Texas.

"We saw the same conditions we see back home, and we used the same techniques and equipment we would use at home, but here the complexity and extent of the surgeries are far greater than in the United States," Dr. Boston said. "It became an excellent training opportunity for our people, plus it was great for us to work side-by-side with our Honduran counterparts."

The audiology staff also encountered a more obvious change from home - communicating in a different language.

"The language barrier is a challenge, but we've been able to get basic points across," said Air Force Capt. Malisha Martukovich, an audiologist from WHMC. "During hearing aid fittings we relied quite a bit on translators. In the long run, we've learned quite a bit of Spanish in just two weeks."

This is the fourth year in a row a team from Wilford Hall has provided care at the hospital, Dr. Boston said.

"We like to follow up with patients who received care from the team in the past," he said. "The successes rate on par with what we see back home."

The visits have also evolved over the years.

"It started as an ear mission and has grown over the years to include nose and airway," Dr. Boston added. "We're taking cues from the Hondurans as to what they need most. We hope to offer reconstructive airway surgeries on return visits."

2008-11-14T13:49:00.001-08:00

Army doctors, nurses get an experience of a lifetime


	Lt. Col. Steven Romiti, a doctor with the 399th Combat Support Hospital from Pittsburgh, Pa. discusses an x-ray with Honduran medical student Mariana Flores. (Courtesy photo)
	Download HiRes


	Story Tools
	Printable story	E-mail story

by Spc. Francis Horton
363rd Public Affairs Detachment

6/5/2008 - COMAYAGUA, Honduras -- U.S. Army doctors and nurses give all the help they can to local hospital patients in Comayagua, Honduras

A U.S. Army rotational medical team, supporting Beyond the Horizon, worked in the Comayagua hospital of Santa Theresa since arrival, said Lt. Col. Steven Romiti, a doctor with the 399th Combat Support Hospital from Pittsburgh.

The members of the rotational medical team met with doctors working in the local hospital, helped in the hospital emergency room and observed operating room procedures. Most of the afflictions seen in the ER aren't life threatening issues, Colonel Romiti said. In the few days they have helped out, the doctors have treated mostly dehydration, rashes and the common cold.

"I've been examining the patients as they come in and treating them," Colonel Romiti said. He was even given clearance to write prescriptions for patients to fill in the hospital pharmacy.

There have been more serious cases though. A few Hondurans came in with pneumonia, possible tuberculosis and one serious case of Dengue Fever, a viral infection passed by mosquitoes, Colonel Romiti said. The patients with serious afflictions are either admitted to the hospital for further tests or transferred to the main hospital in Tegucigalpa, the capital of the country.

But the ER isn't the only part of the hospital the American medical team is helping with. Capt. Alicia Waters, a mental health nurse with the 399th CSH, worked as an observer in the OR, watching the Honduran surgical team and helping them in whatever capacity she could.

"I've been helping with simple things, but the language barrier makes it difficult," Captain Waters said. To help ease the language barrier, the Honduran doctors have been taught her the Spanish words for many of the surgical tools.

"(Patients in the OR are) mostly cesarean sections and lacerations from machete injuries," Captain Waters said. The OR is also able to perform orthopedic surgeries and appendectomies. The humanitarian mission doesn't stop at a few observations and a helping hand in the ER.

"After we're finished, we are donating the rest of our medical supplies to the hospital," said Capt. Scott Davenport, an anesthetist nurse with the 399th CSH. The differences in medical procedures between the U.S. and Honduras are vast, Colonel Romiti said. There are few diagnostic tools in the hospital, and sterile gloves are a luxury rarely seen.

"I have a real appreciation for the doctors here," Colonel Romiti said. "They are working with almost nothing."

Every six months the children of Honduras are treated for worms, and there are medications for colds, flu and rashes here never used in the U.S.

The hospital is a government run medical facility, said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Paez of the 944th Medical Detachment (Veterinarian) from Round Rock, Texas, an interpreter assigned to the rotational medical detachment. "But many of the patients travel 30 minutes to three hours to get here," Sergeant Paez said.

2008-11-14T13:38:00.001-08:00

So it goes in Honduras

3/8/2008 Just thought you would be interested in the trials and tribulations of the last few days in Honduras....
Pam's group had no snafus until they boarded the plane in La Ceiba....mechanical problems. They eventually got the airline to drive them to San Pedro....missing three pieces of their luggage....but they are home now.

That afternoon, farmers near the Rodriguez project blockaded the road out of Trujillo.....to last three days.....and Interact needed to go out the next day. I got caught in it returning from taking Pam to the airport and ended up finding someone to lead me around the blockade....one and a half hours to go less than the ten miles it would have been....done a muddy, one lane dirt road. Lincoln got caught up in it a little later and went to find the town leader...he eventually did....and convinced him to let us through the next morning with the Interact group. It was still in question whether or not we would get through...but we did....as we passed people sleeping under their trucks and in their cars.

Carol and I are now in Roatan for a few days....the entire plane did not get their luggage....so Roatan is not the island of lost luggage...it is the island where luggage gets lost. It arrived the next evening. Now a windstorm is going strong.

I shall return home on March 15!!! Thanks everyone for making the trip so successful. I will report on progress when I return to Trujillo next week.

I will also be sending out an evaluation form....please fill it out as soon as possible!

Thanks!

Tom

3/17/2008 Yes, I am home at last....and Lincoln has also arrived back in the states. Sorry if I overloaded your computer with photos....I kind of confused my computer with it all and had to give it a rest....so I will be sending more : )

Lincoln, Tesla, and I continue to strive to make your experience rewarding...both to you and to the people of Honduras. Consequently, we would love to have you respond to the following questions as soon as possible.

1. On a scale of 1 to 10 how was your overall experience?
2. What did you like most?
3. What did you like least?
4. What would you improve?
5. How did you like the hotel?
6. Were your project sites satisfactory?
7. If you were to organize the trip, how would you do it differently?
8. Would you consider going again next year?
9. Is Lincoln really a chico sexy???
10. Testimonials.......comments.....etc.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! ASAP......

3/22/2008 Unfortunately, I have only received 32 evaluations....and would love input from everyone else. Only about 18 to go.....PLEASE!!!!!!

3/27/2008 Article appearing in La Prensa, http://www.laprensahn.com/index.php/ediciones/2008/03/13/espaldarazo_a_la_educacion.

Tom Submitted by Tom Plumb.

2008-11-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

Tom Plumb speaks from Honduras

Dear All, January 22

Greetings from Honduras! Lincoln Oviedo and I arrived here on January 15 and Lincoln brought along Guillermo Verde, the minister for humanitarian aid. We stayed in Tela the first night and arranged free quarters for the Interact group for their first night in Honduras, picked up two vehicles, got new phone numbers for the cell phones, and visited with Sherwood....and had pizza at Bambinos.

We headed out for Trujillo on the 16th and have been given free room and board at the Naval Base at Puerto Castilla....a bunch of DEA and Intelligence folks from the USA are sharing the VIP quarters with us---the food is mostly egg, beans, rice, tortillas and stuff that looks like meat....and sugar coffee. I am dying for my fruit plate and real coffee.

We were joined by the Minister for Disabilities, Angel Lainez, for several days as well...and we will be going to his home in Olancho for a couple of days starting tomorrow...and later we will meet with the Honduran President to get the waiver of taxes approved.

The computers have arrived....although there were problems at the port...it is always nice to have government ministers along for the ride....but politicians come and go, bureaucrats live forever....so they still insisted on following procedures.

We off loaded 61 computers for Trujillo and the others are being stored for us in a warehouse in La Ceiba. The military and fire department helped off load them. We also have picked up 9 lap tops for schools....those without electricity.

We have visited all the schools but one (will meet with the teachers and parents there tonight). The drive to Cunda is not long in distance but tedious with potholes and mud. That will be the first school we will work at (along with one other). Since Lynn, Casey and Andria are used to ordeals...they will be there with Dennis. Deanna, Caren, Stephen and John will be at the Silin school (with the Pech school as a back up). Frank and Jim will be wiring Rodriguez with Jesus.

Yesterday we visited Aero Sosa´s main office to finalize the charter flight...only the price had more than doubled...despite my presenting emails to the contrary. So we walked out and made reservations on regular flights to and from La Ceiba.

We have visited the Pech village several times (once with Minister Lainez). They have already cleared the land for the kindergarten. The Minister met with them because a powerful political figure purchased a large hunk of their land along the road with strong arm tactics in the 80s....he has now started a residential housing project....upscale....and it is the land the Pech need to expand. The government will consider buying the land back for the Indians.

We have met with the Cristales Water Board and they are getting an updated material cost list and will get the project underway once I approve it.

We have visited Rodriguez twice and they are eagerly awaiting their electricity. Also saw Darwin.
We met with the Patronato at June the 13th and he is organizing the site preparation with the villagers.
The exchange rate at the airport is 18.8...the official bank exchange rate is 18.8951. Still get $100 worth done at the airport.

The teacher has been away at Silin school so we have not yet met with her.

We have ordered the plaques for the schools.

Tonight is the Rotary meeting.

So all is well....more news later!!

Tom

Hola, January 28

It has been raining here A LOT!!! When we first got here we were able to get to the Cunda school in the compact car (barely). Tesla had to drive us out the last time in her two wheel drive truck...it at least had higher clearance. We got most of the way and then had to walk....red clay and water make for a messy and slippery ride. So, on Wednesday we are exchanging the compact car for an SUV...or we won't be able to get to the Cunda school or water project.

Now for progress:

We met with 12 representatives of the Buenos Aires school and told them what our expectations are.....they have started clearing the site.

We walked up to the dam and there were 8 men digging out the silt that had accumulated over the years. As Joan Cocozza and the Interact chaperones can attest, that can be a muddy mess and crossing the river was a chore as well. I slipped on rocks twice and Lincoln was flexible when we decided to walk up there just not prepared...he was wearing Bruno Mali shoes (like OJs) and I think he wanted to murder me after we got back down. So that project is underway. We will attempt to provide funding for a filtration system for Cristales next year.

The Pech have received their materials and have started the foundation. We have also contracted with them to provide the wood for all the rafters...giving them some income. A possible project for next year...via a matching grant....is to give them power......and we would also try to do the same for Cunda.
The villagers in Cunda have torn down the old school (oops, was that the community we wanted to build a new school in?....sorry). Their materials are being delivered today...if the truck can get there in the rain.

June the 13th have dug their trench for their kindergarten and materials are being delivered today as well.

Silin has dug their trenches and the materials have arrived there...but no work is going on in the rain.
The Rodriguez power project has only just started the permit process....Lincoln is trying to push that along.

Those that have not exchanged Rotary flags....remember to bring one. Dont forget to send your support fee if you have not.....or if you want to bring $100 in cash or travelers checks that will be fine....just let me know.

We spent 3 days visiting the Disabilities minister in Catacamas--a 480 mile drive each way. He tried to convince me to do projects there...even though I told him I wouldn't. We applied for our tax exempt credentials and hope to visit with the president in Teguz later this week to get the credentials.

More later!!!

Tom

Hola, January 30

For today´s update, I will relate two stories:

On the 480 mile road trip to Catacamas, we had the base captain and his son join us. His turn at driving was up and down the mountains between Siguatepeque and Tegucigalpa. He is very, very religious......so during his drive he took control of the CD player and played his Christian CDs at very high volume and was raising his arms and praising the Lord....which is fine....however, he was driving through the mountains at 70 to 80 miles an hour facing down oncoming traffic as he passed cars helter skelter.....I was in the suicide seat holding on the the strap above my window and Lincoln was in the back seat with his eyes closed calmly listening to his iPod grinning as he occasionally looked over at me...meanwhile the 5 year old son is standing between the two front seats. On the way back we gave him a straight away area to drive....flat and straight....so he jacked his speed up to 85 and passed everything going through small towns. I thought our judgment day had arrived.

The second story. The Hispanic Adam and Eve had two sons.....Senor Rosales (Lincoln´s mothers name) and Senor Ordonez (Tesla´s last name) procreated and it was good (?)....and now everyone in Trujillo is a cousin of Tesla and everyone in Tela is a cousin of Lincoln and La Ceiba which is in between has a mix of each. We went to La Ceiba today to get the permit for the power project at Rodriguez and as we opened the doors to the electric company, Tesla and Lincoln yelled out for their primas (cousins) and they appeared....and the permit was issued immediately...actually they called ahead with their cell phones and their cousins that work for the power company showed up to facilitate.
So we got the permit, the bad news is we then went to the electric supply company for a new material cost estimate and it was $2,500.00 higher than we originally thought.....so keep on fundraising!!!!

We´re hoping to cut the water project budget some to make up for it....the cuts will not impact the quality of the project....it had been prepared by an engineer and was ridiculously high faluting.
The Pech have done their foundation and are now going to start on their latrines. The hardware store can not get to Cunda so that is at a standstill....but since it already has a foundation, we are not worried. The hole for the water tank for Cristales has been started. We swapped the compact car for an SUV today.

Mas tarde!

Tom Submitted by Tom Plumb.

2008-11-14T13:15:00.001-08:00

Learning & Growing in Honduras, an example of Social Responsibility

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 11:25

Courtesy Marjorie Mayr

As many companies and industries should do and are doing in other regions of the globe, the Program Learning & Growing (Aprender & Crecer) is a new program focused on supporting public education in Central America. Aprender & Crecer is a program of Price Charities, a private nonprofit foundation based in San Diego, California. This organization was founded by Sol Price, who along with his son Robert Price, began the operation of PriceSmart membership warehouse clubs in Central America in 1994. The Price family firmly believes that supporting education and investing in our youth are fundamental for economic and social development. The main focus of Price Charities is community development and education.

The mission of Aprender & Crecer is to improve educational and life opportunities for students by establishing partnerships with public elementary schools which are provided with school supplies and materials so that principals, teachers, parents and students can focus on quality teaching and learning.

This initiative entails a partnership between the participating schools and Aprender & Crecer. The schools commit to make the most of the donated supplies as a mean to achieve five important goals: (1) Improve student engagement, confidence and enthusiasm; (2) Increase participation by parents in their children’s education at home and at school; (3) Improve teaching methods by encouraging collaboration and sharing best practices; (4) Maintain a clean and safe school environment and (5) Increase the principals’ ability to lead their schools by focusing their stakeholders and collaborating with colleague principals.

In June 2008, Aprender & Crecer, started their support to 9 schools in Honduras, 6 in Tegucigalpa and 3 in San Pedro Sula, donating a packet of basic school supplies to every student. Every teacher also receives a package of supplies for his or her classroom and each school receives an assortment of cleaning and paper products.

As of 2000 Aprender & Crecer is expected to benefit a student population of 4022 children, and 148 school teachers.

Feedback from the principals, parents and teachers confirm that Aprender & Crecer has provided meaningful benefits far beyond the initial goals, such as improved self-esteem and enthusiasm among students; expanded variety and richness of learning activities in the classroom; better communication between parents and teachers, leading to increased parent participation; improved relations and involvement with the local community; other fundraising activities focusing on equipment and facility improvements instead of basic supplies; improved students’ fine motor skills through use of tools like scissors, paint brushes, and writing instruments.

For 2009 and with the support of the Ministries of Education, partner organizations and businesses, Aprender & Crecer hopes to make a change in the lives of more than 20,000 children in the Central American region and continue growing to more schools and more countries in the region.

2008-11-14T13:13:00.001-08:00

Manitos, Little Hands: Underdevelopment is a State of Mind

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 11:52

Photo by: Manfredo Martinez. Goethe Family members display their production.

The Goethes family, founders of “Manitos”, or “Little Hands” micro-enterprise, use all kinds of recycled materials to manufacture exclusive handcrafted goods, especially artistic products, gift articles and other curiosities made of wood and plastic.

They obtain their raw materials mostly from packagings of consumer goods and other post-consumer “waste”, as well from other biodegradable materials. Their contact with nature and their dedication to its preservation, is a testimony to the fact that it is possible to earn a decent standard of living and at the same time contribute to the national economy and our environment’s well-being.

Little Hands embraces the ideal that progress necessitates the integration of experience and youth as prerequisites for national well-being, as well as the integration of disability and full capacity, independence and familiar creativity, etc, all which is constituted by a social vision of turning this family business into a foundation that will provide work to persons with handicaps.

“In the end, what matters most is not the years of life, but the life in the years” said the United States President, Abraham Lincoln, a phrase that inspired the Goethes to sell in various commercial markets in Tegucigalpa, where they offer their decorative albums to hotels, offices, schools and private homes. After their local success, they have thought of the possibility of expanding their business to the rest of Central America.

The Little Hands company is the result of the work of 4 couples of the Goethe family. They use as company logo the National Flag of Honduras in the background with a sunflower in front. The partnership was is born on October, 2007, but was inaugurated on December of the same year, at the legendary La Leona Park, downtown Tegucigalpa.

Back in June 2006, Derimasa, the largest central-american furniture producing and exporting company, went bankrupt, and my husband Freddy, a german national, became unemployed after working there for more than 28 years. He also did not receive his legal layoff benefits. From this crisis, the idea and the opportunity arose for creating “Little Hands”. .
Verónica de Goethe, wife of Freddy, and main brainstormer in the Goethe Family.

Verónica, a special education professional, worked for the Ministry of Education, but was later dismissed for political reasons. Michael Goethe, son of Verónica, decided to leave the university because he was severely discriminated against because of his physical disabilities. He only needs to finish 10 more classes for his graphical design degree, but has joined the family effort with “Little Hands” to contribute to the family’s income.

“Our children are persons who must shine with their own light, as the rest of human beings in the planet must do, they must be respected and valued.”
Freddy, who is recovering from an accident and has to use a prostheses.

In Honduras there is the “Law for Equality and Integral Development of People with Handicaps”, created by National Congress Decree #160-2005, and approved on October 25, 2005, which establishes the dispositions, rights and privileges of the handicapped population, and the organizations instituted for the matter.

On June 2008, the Ministry of Government and Social Justice established the National Disabled Persons Office that started working under the coordination Ada Isabel Burgos and Luis Pinoc, who represent people with visual impairments, but still this population has not enjoyed any benefits or discounts in the diverse public services of supply, as the law dictates.

“You do not have the face of a poor person” said the National Coordinator of the Units of Community Development (UDECO, a Presidential dependency), Lino Tomás Mendoza, to Verónica, when she asked him on the possibility of financing for her micro-entrepreneurial project, suggesting that physical appearance denotes economic solvency.

“To live not only consists of breathing, but of acting “, said the philosopher Mao Tse-Tung, a phrase that turns into the primary reception logo into the entry to the house visitors, while the freshness and the peace of the place they are constituted in the strategy of business that the Gothes use to do their business and housekeep

2008-11-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

Has the Privatization of National Security Gone Too Far? - Event at New America Foundation
Posted by Michael Cohen

For those of you interested in the issue of private contractor issue, I will be hosting an event tomorrow at New America Foundation to unveil our new report, Changing the Culture of Military Contracting. Hope to see some of you there!

RSVP here

Has the Privatization of National Security Gone Too Far?

While the U.S. military has long relied on private contractors, the outsourcing of key national security functions has increased dramatically in recent years. From intelligence gathering and logistical support to personal security services, training, and operational support tasks, the efforts of contractors are now integral to the success of America's security and stabilization missions around the world. Since the beginning of the Iraq War, one dollar out of every five has been spent on private contractors and by most estimates, there are more private contractors in Iraq than uniformed military.

Yet, this increased dependence has not been matched by a commensurate effort in the Pentagon or Congress to regulate this growing virtual army of contractors. Indeed, there has been a virtual abdication of responsibilities when it comes to the management and oversight of military contracting. With a new Administration preparing to take the reins of power there is a unique opportunity to put in place a new strategy for determining the role these private actors will play in helping fight America’s wars.

The Privatization of Foreign Policy Initiative in New America Foundation's American Strategy Program has produced a report, "Changing the Culture of Pentagon Contracting" that offers policymakers in Congress, the Executive branch and uniformed military concrete recommendations for dealing with the growing challenge of integrating contractors more effectively into U.S. national security operations. Join us on November 14th for the release of this report and a discussion about the role and responsibilities of private military contractors going forward.

Light breakfast will be provided.

Start: 11/14/2008 - 9:30am

End: 11/14/2008 - 11:00am

New America Foundation

1630 Connecticut Ave, NW 7th Floor

Washington, DC, 20009

Participants

Featured Speakers
David Isenberg
Adjunct Scholar, CATO Institute
Columnist, "Dogs of War"
Author of the forthcoming, Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq

Tara Lee
Partner, DLA Piper
Former JAG Corp counsel
Expert on War Crimes and National Security Law

Michael A. Cohen
Co-Author, "Changing the Culture of Pentagon Contracting"
Senior Research Fellow, Privitization of Foreign Policy Initiative, New America Foundation

Kevin Lanigan
Director, Law and Security Program
Human Rights First

Moderator
Patrick C. Doherty
Deputy Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation

Changing the Culture of Pentagon Contracting

By Maria Figueroa Küpçü, Michael A. Cohen, New America Foundation
Roger D. Carstens, Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security

November 5, 2008

While the U.S. military has long relied on private contractors, the outsourcing of key national security functions has increased dramatically over the past five and a half years. From intelligence gathering and logistical support to personal security services, training, and operational support tasks, the efforts of contractors are now integral to the success of America's security and stabilization missions around the world. Since the beginning of the Iraq War, one dollar out of every five has been spent on private contractors. By most estimates, there are more private contractors in Iraq than uniformed military.

Numerous observers have raised questions about the legal accountability of contractors and the efficacy of utilizing private actors in an active battle space, but few studies have examined the culture of contracting and the larger failure of the military to effectively account for and integrate contractors into U.S. military planning, training, and operations. This report in intended to help policymakers, both in the executive and legislative branches as well as the uniformed military, develop solutions to the growing challenge of integrating contractors more effectively into U.S. national security operations.

A failure to accept the inevitability of contractors as a key element of the military force structure has contributed to inertia and an abdication of responsibility for managing the interaction between government departments and private contractors. While it is important to acknowledge that in recent years there have been significant improvements in oversight of private contractors, particularly by the Department of Defense, serious systemic and institutional problems persist.

A cultural shift is required in which civilian and military leaders take steps to fully integrate private contractors not only into the force structure but also into mission requirements. Without this sort of institutional change, the problems we have experienced in connection with contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan will continue, significantly retarding the military's ability to adjust to the evolving security challenges of the 21st century.

The U.S. government should:

Transition away from the use of private security contractors in the battle space and build up the capabilities of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the military police to take on security responsibilities. As this transition takes place, the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act should be expanded to govern the actions of private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan not currently covered by the Uniform Code of Military Justice; improved training of security contractors, vetting of third-country nationals, and third-party accreditation of contractors should be instituted; and interagency coordination between the military and other government agencies should be strengthened.

Move away from reliance on the flawed and widely misunderstood term "inherently governmental" in deciding how and when to use private contractors, and instead focus on the question of core competencies and mission success. Congress should permit government agencies to use broad discretionary leeway in determining where and how contractors should be used. Congress should establish red-lined activities that must not be outsourced and require the military to maintain a "resident capacity" for any function it outsources, particularly as it relates to the ability to conduct proper contractual oversight.

Designate a high-ranking official in each branch of the military to conduct a top-to-bottom review of how that branch interacts with contractors and where there are areas for greater or lesser reliance on contractors.

Strengthen the contractor and acquisition workforce so that it is better equipped to make contracting decisions and to conduct robust oversight and management of contractors. In addition, the Army should develop and support its newly created contracting career field for enlisted personnel and officers.

Create a clear chain of command from Secretary of Defense through the Joint Chiefs of Staff and service departments that lays out the responsibilities for contracting and holds commanders accountable for the integration of contractors into the Total Force.

Integrate contractor oversight into officer training in all branches of the military.

Include contingency contracting as an "area of emphasis" in the 2010 QDR.

Create and sustain an enforcement arm of the FBI to conduct overseas investigations of private contractors as well as an extraterritorial U.S. attorney to prosecute criminal behavior.

2008-11-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

CIA Director Hayden: U.S. Counterterrorism Doesn't Pass Muster
Posted by Patrick Barry

Michael Hayden has some dispiriting news about our worldwide counterterrorism efforts. In short, they're not going so well:

[CIA] director, Michael V. Hayden, identified North Africa and Somalia as places where Qaeda leaders were using partnerships to establish new bases. Elsewhere, Mr. Hayden said, Al Qaeda was “strengthening” in Yemen, and he added that veterans of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan had moved there, possibly to stage attacks against the government of Saudi Arabia.

He said the “bleed out” from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also extended to North Africa, raising concern that the countries there could be used to stage attacks into Europe. Mr. Hayden delivered his report in a speech to the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, and it offered a mixed assessment of Al Qaeda’s ability to wage a global jihad.

He drew a contrast between what he described as growing Islamic radicalism in places like Somalia and what he said had been the “strategic defeat” of Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia — the network’s affiliate group in Iraq.

Compare this sobering assessment to the remarks by President Bush before the FBI a few weeks ago, in which he pointed to the absence of a terrorist attack on the homeland as a sign that U.S. counterterrorism efforts were succeeding, and it's hard not to leave with the impression that the President is living in a shuddered unreality. The fact that no major attack has occurred on U.S. soil since 9-11 is nothing to scoff at, but should it be the primary criteria for evaluating our worldwide counterterrorism strategy? Not when there is a rising tide of "Islamic radicalism, when former insurgents from Iraq are bringing newly acquired talents to bear in Afghanistan, and when al-Qaeda is strengthening franchises in Yemen and Somalia. While there thankfully has not been an attack on the homeland, the likelihood that such an incident will occur appears to be rising.

That Hayden should describe the diminishing significance of al-Qaeda in Iraq as a "strategic defeat" is also interesting. As a matter of internal Iraqi security, AQI's reduced significance does amount to a defeat for terrorists, but externally, that defeat looks less strategic than it does tactical. Elsewhere, al-Qaeda and other terrorist movements appear to be just as strong, if not stronger than they were before 9-11. The broader take-away from Hayden's assessment, and really every assessment from the intel community, is that U.S. counterterrorism policy has been, at best, like squeezing a water balloon - we're produced displacement, but nothing more.

2008-11-14T12:33:00.001-08:00

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State?

One source close to Hillary Clinton tells CNN that as of early yesterday, Senator Clinton had not been contacted by the transition team about a possible cabinet appointment. This same source tells CNN that Senator Clinton would not necessarily dismiss such an offer.

Obama would probably do well to repair what close Clinton associates describe as relationship that's "not friendly," seemingly unaware of the fact that it doesn't take a close associate to see that. He reportedly invited her to Chicago this week for a talk about possible cabinet positions.

In the Loop

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State?

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) looks up during a Veterans Day event at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

By Al Kamen and Philip Rucker
There's increasing chatter in political circles that the Obama camp is not overly happy with the usual suspects for secretary of state these days and that the field might be expanding somewhat beyond Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and maybe former Democratic senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.

There's talk, indeed, that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) may now be under consideration for the post. Her office referred any questions to the Obama transition; Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment.

The pick of the former presidential contender and Senate Armed Services Committee member would go a long way toward healing any remaining divisions within the Democratic Party after the divisive primaries. Also, Clinton has long been known for her work on international women's issues and human rights. The former first lady could also enhance Obama's efforts to restore U.S. standing amongst allies worldwide.

And Obama could put her in his speed-dial for a 3 a.m. phone call every morning.

Hillary Clinton For Secretary Of State ?

2008-11-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

14 Nov 2008 12:09 pm

Hillary Clinton For Secretary Of State

That's the buzz. Marc reports that Clinton and Obama met yesterday in Chicago. For my part, I think making her secretary of state is an inspired idea.

Obama has to offer something to Clinton. She's his main threat now and rightly regards part of his victory her doing. The primaries helped him. Left to fester in the Senate, Clinton will plot against the president if he doesn't actively seek her support and engagement and "spread the political wealth" of his mandate.

It is a senior enough position not to be fobbed off; it really does take advantage of the Clinton name abroad; it could even put Bill to good use and keep him out of mischief; and Obama has kept telling us that his cabinet model is "Team Of Rivals." Giving Hillary that kind of position is straight out of Lincoln.

Unlike the vice-presidency, a secretary of state has real constitutionally-designated things to do. From Clinton's point of view, it would be a natural position from which to run to succeed Obama in 2016 (or to make an inside push to oust him in 2012). The emergence of Max Baucus as the front senator for healthcare seems to me a sign that Obama might have already been signaling this maneuver. If Clinton isn't the lead player on healthcare, what is she going to do?

So here's hoping he offers and she accepts. It's an elegant and shrewd move; both public spirited and yet coldly calculating at the same time. Pure Obama.

(Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty.)

2008-11-13T13:19:00.001-08:00

World’s most influential women honoured by Glamour
Renata Espinosa

NEW YORK—For women, the night was bigger than the Oscars, the Emmys and the Grammys combined. If you combined all those awards with the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, then you might have a sense of what it felt like to attend the 19th Annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards, held Monday night, Nov. 10, at Carnegie Hall, one of New York’s architectural splendors.
The women honoured represented not only a global cross-section of impressive achievements, but they were the preeminent examples of the world’s most influential and accomplished people, man or woman: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Jane Goodall, Nicole Kidman, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Tyra Banks, CEO Chanel Maureen Chiquet, Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, artist Kara Walker, children’s human rights advocates Nujood Ali and Shada Nasser of Yemen and the six female Nobel laureates who make up the Nobel Women’s Initiative.
Opening with a piano-accompanied performance by multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winner Fergie, the whirlwind night revelled in a spirit of post-election optimism. “Tonight is the most electric night of the year,” said Glamour Editor-In-Chief Cindi Leive as she kicked off the night’s proceedings. “Okay, last Tuesday was a pretty close second.”
Actress Natalie Portman introduced the award for the Nobel Women’s Initiative, the group of six of the seven living female Nobel Peace laureates: Kenyan environmental leader Wangari Maathai, Iranian human rights advocate Shinrin Ebadi, American anti-landmine activist Jody Williams; Irish peace activists Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Betty Williams and Guatemalan indigenous-rights worker Rigoberta Menchu Tum. The seventh laureate, Burma’s Aug San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest. Together the women are working to fight violence and inequality, this year calling for an international ban on cluster bombs and meeting with female refugees in Darfur to plan for peace.
“It’s not about the work we do individually, but about the work we do with other people,” said Jody Williams as she accepted the award with Menchu Tum and Ebadi on stage. “It’s not the rainbow, it’s not the dove” - she continued, citing the stereotypical feel-good peace signs - “It’s hard work everyday. Feeling sad about an issue is not enough. Feeling bad about global warming is not enough. Getting up and doing something is what matters.”
Kate Bosworth introduced the woman from St. Louis who fell in love with France at 16 and knew that’s where she belonged - Maureen Chiquet, the first female CEO of Chanel, who previously electrified Old Navy and Banana Republic. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg humorously introduced the evening’s “Media Mogul,” Tyra Banks, joking that like Banks, who said she wouldn’t be able to get into politics because she had too many swimsuit photos floating around, he too had been worried about the same thing. “She’s 6-foot-2 in heels - something else we have in common!” quipped Bloomberg.

2008-11-13T13:17:00.001-08:00

NAACP to honor two Nobel Laureates

Al Gore, Wangari Muta Maathai earn Chairman's Award

By Gregg Kilday

Nov 12, 2008, 11:39 PM ET

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Al Gore and Wangari Muta Maathai will be awarded the NAACP Chairman's Award during the 40th NAACP Image Awards, which Fox will broadcast live Feb. 12 from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The Chairman's Award, chosen by NAACP board chairman Julian Bond, is bestowed in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.

Vicangelo Bulluck is exec producing the broadcast, which coincides with the NAACP's 100th anniversary.

"I am very proud to recognize former Vice President Gore and Dr. Maathai for their substantial efforts in environmental awareness, sustainable development and peace," Bond said. "Their courageous and historic accomplishments have benefited not only current but future generations, and they clearly reflect the values that we have so valiantly fought for over the past century."

Nominations for the show that recognizes the artistic achievements of people of color and honors projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts will be announced Jan. 7 in Los Angeles.

U.S. SENATOR CALLS FOR LATIN AMERICA SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRUST

2008-11-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

Organization of
American States

Structure

Language

About OAS

Member States

News

Multimedia

Publications

Documents

Outreach

Resources

AT OAS ROUNDTABLE, U.S. SENATOR CALLS FOR LATIN AMERICA SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRUST
September 17, 2008

United States Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), participating at an Organization of American States (OAS) forum, today called for a Latin America trust for social and economic development, which would complement existing U.S. assistance to the countries of the region and would be an important mechanism to bring regional solutions to regional problems.

Senator Menendez put forward the proposal as he spoke alongside another U.S. Senator, Mel Martinez (R-FL), during the 10th OAS Policy Roundtable, held at the Organization’s headquarters under the title, “Opportunities and Challenges in the Western Hemisphere: Perspectives from the United States Congress.”

Secretary General José Miguel Insulza thanked the U.S. senators and welcomed their particular emphasis on the important issues of democracy, immigration, trade, crime and drugs. “The whole point here is our common agenda. What we have to do is to promote good dialogue to cooperate on our common agenda,” said Insulza, noting this would continue at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, to be held in Trinidad and Tobago, in April 2009.

Senator Menendez further stated that the proposed trust could be linked to a Social Investment and Economic Development of the Americas Act, now before Congress, that would provide $2.5 billion over ten years, through both the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Focusing his presentation on strategies for increased cooperation in immigration, citizen security and economic development, Menendez highlighted ongoing work to pass comprehensive immigration reform, making the case for “smart borders, not closed borders.” He went on to argue that building fences harms US interests, alienates people with symbols of exclusion, and makes it less feasible to collaborate on other migration control and counter terrorism priorities.

“Rather than building fences, we need to refocus on building friendships and shared alliances, so that we can build trust and work together on immigration,” he declared, noting as well an “opportunity deficit” that must be addressed as it “fuels mass migration in the first place.”

Martinez, the Senator from Florida, meanwhile asserted that the United States has maintained an important supporting role and has always been “prepared to assist where we are welcome.” He said he takes seriously the mandate of the OAS charter to promote and defend democracy, which continues and should remain the primary goal of the region.

Security in the hemisphere being “one of our highest priorities,” Senator Martinez said “the peace and security of the people of the region must exist before other efforts to improve lives can really take root.” He underscored his pledge to “continue to support our efforts to keep the region secure, working towards the success of initiatives like Mérida and Plan Colombia,” efforts that he identified as allowing the US to demonstrate its commitment to the region.

Senator Martinez stressed that “with every challenge we face in the region, we also have opportunities to promote and consolidate democracies, to promote prosperity, and to invest in people. In all of these areas we can and will continue to demonstrate our commitment to the Western Hemisphere.” He cited the Mérida Initiative as a demonstration of the United States’ commitment to partner with governments in Mexico and Central America to confront criminal organizations whose actions plague the region.

Martinez also referenced the Social Investment and Economic Development of the Americas Act on which he collaborates, saying it represents “an innovative approach to addressing our commitment to the region into the next decade.” The proposed legislation addresses basic development issues such as housing, education and health care and concentrates on economic development such as creating strong investment climate, he explained.

Lauding the OAS as the principal multilateral institution in the hemisphere, he said the hemispheric body “also has leadership responsibilities and opportunities.” He went on to state that “there is no time like the present for the OAS to lead in this region.”

U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS Ambassador Hector Morales introduced the Senators, while Irene Klinger, Director of the Department of International Affairs, moderated the 10th OAS Policy Roundtable that also involved an interactive session with Member State ambassadors and other members of the audience asking questions and offering commentaries on a range of topics.

GS/OAS is the source of the originating material,

Reference: E-350/08


	Print this page Email this page Report Errors

Press Releases
Latest News
Speeches
OAS's website

© Copyright 2007. Organization of American States. All Rights Reserved
17th Street & Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, USA
Tel: (202) 458-6824 Fax: (202) 458-6421 Website: www.oas.org E-mail: OASWeb@oas.org