The nation of Honduras: The denial of a U.S. visa to an official

for his ties to corruption has prompted soul-searching there.

El Heraldo, Honduras

Hondurans 'Shamed'

By U.S. Visa Denial

to Corrupt Ex-Official

"This decision by the United States shames us, because we are the ones that should have acted against this impunity and complacency toward corruption. … the Executive has been robbed, Justice has been robbed and the legislature has been robbed, because we have created a country that embarrasses us before the entire world."

-- Juan Ferrera, Coordinator of the Honduran Anticorruption Advisory Council

Translated By Barbara Howe

January 26, 2008

Honduras - El Heraldo - Original Article (Spanish)

Tegucigalpa: According to Juan Ferrera, coordinator of the National Anticorruption Advisory Council, the U.S. decision to deny entry to the former chairman of HONDUTEL [the Honduras. Telecommunications Company] is a message to the government of Honduras.  [Washington has refused to allow former HONDUTEL chairman Marcelo Chimirri to step foot on U.S. territory]. "The decision by the United States to deny former government officials entry only goes to demonstrates how we are seen from the outside.”

[Editor's Note: HONDUTEL - the Honduras Telecommunications Business - was created in 1976 to oversee and streamline the nation's telephone system. It is an autonomous government-run body].

The former functionary was denied entry to that nation for his connections to “serious cases of public corruption.”

“This decision by the United States shames us, because we are the ones that should have acted against such impunity and complacency toward corruption," explained Ferrara, the Anti-Corruption Coordinator.

And that is why, Ferrara continued, no one believes anyone in authority will take corrective action in these kinds of situations. “By this, what they [the U.S.] are saying to us - to the government of Honduras - is that since you don’t reform your public administration, we're telling you, 'you have someone corrupt' or however many we have.”

“Double standards kill us,” Ferrera says, lamenting the years of institutional decline and a decline in the application of justice.  “I’ve heard many rhetorically-good phrases, but the actual deeds that have been committed have cost the country dearly … this discourages the democratic participation of the public, and that isn't healthy,” he added. 

According to him, people ended up thinking that anyone who "rose to power" must be good, because even without principles, he can manage things. “The issue of double standards has done tremendous damage to this country … the Executive has been robbed, Justice has been robbed and the legislature has been robbed, because we have created a country that embarrasses us before the entire world. We must figure out how to get to a better place," he advised.

In view of the Anti-Corruption Coordinator, the country remains in turmoil and rife with impunity, as there are many cases of public officials and people who have left public service who denounce corruption but who have taken very little action.

“All of the unpunished white collar sharks and unresolved public complaints mean that we will always be indebted to the people … There are islands of efforts to combat corruption, but not nearly what one should have under the  rule of law."

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WANTS THE U.S. LIST

Congressman Abraham Ardon opined that, “when the North Americans put you on file somewhere in a bad way, you’re fried … we have to consider that those in the United States don't forgive acts of corruption, and he [former HONDUTEL chairman Marcelo Chimirri] was cited in several cases, especially in regard to “grey traffic."  For this Congressman, it’s important that Hondurans discourage the culture of public corruption.

[Editor's Note: 'Grey traffic' is illegal telephone traffic in which international calls are reported as local, reducing the payment as well as the related income and sales tax for the call. Remember - HONDUTEL is responsible for cracking down on this. The bulk of corruption charges against Chimirri are related to this. But there are other charges, such as tolerating illegal phone businesses in exchange for kickbacks, threatening rival businesses, apparent electronic erasures ordered by Chimirri to eliminate evidence of corruption, and the use of HONDUTEL personnel and equipment to provide special treatment to high-level government officials, including Chimirri and President Mel Zelaya .]

“That why for many years, I have felt it extremely important that the [U.S.] Embassy publish the names of individuals who have had their [U.S.] visa canceled, so that one can know who's on the black list,” Ardon said. Marcelo Chimirri joins the list of former officials denied entry by the U.S.  Previously, the U.S. suspended the privileges of former President Rafael Leonardo Callejas [1990-1994 ] and the former Minister of the Treasury, Rogelio Clara.

CHIMIRRI PARTY CAUTIONS CHIMIRRI

Belinda Martínez, Secretary of the Central Executive of the Liberal Party, said Marcelo Chimirri should clear up the case before he continues his political aspirations within the party.

Chimirri intends to be the Liberal Party's candidate governing from City Hall, in the Central District [Mayor of Tegucigalpa], although he hasn't identified what positions he would take. Martinez declared that the people of the capitol are the ones who will determine whether he should be the party's candidate for mayor, although he stressed that if the people make a better choice, Chimirri will have to make clarifications.

FOR SPANISH VERSION CLICK HERE

[WM Jan. 28, 2008]