HONDURAS-CORRUPTION/MARCH Thousands of Hondurans take to weekly protests ahead of OAS visit

Record ID: 144657

  • Title: HONDURAS-CORRUPTION/MARCH Thousands of Hondurans take to weekly protests ahead of OAS visit
  • Date: 8th August 2015
  • Summary: TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS (AUGUST 7, 2015) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING LONG HONDURAN FLAG AMID PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT OF JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ OVER GRAFT SCANDAL PROTESTER WITH GAS MASK HOLDING SIGN THAT READS, "IT'S SIMPLE, LET'S CHANGE THE TORCHES FOR GUNS" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING WITH TORCHES AND HOLDING HONDURAN FLAG PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN THAT READS, "CICIH (I
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Honduras
  • Country: Honduras
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1DB89162L4LKSF64813I1OAJU
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thousands of protesters continued protests in Tegucigalpa against Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez Friday (August 7) over a graft case.
    The demonstration follows weeks of similar activism in the Central American country. The protesters have been passing through the streets of Tegucigalpa with torches with many wearing skeleton masks. The protesters are calling for the resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernandez over a $200 million corruption scandal at the Honduran Institute of Social Security (IHSS).
    Hernandez has admitted that companies linked to the graft case helped fund his 2013 presidential campaign, but has added that he and his right-leaning National Party were not aware of the source of the money. The scandal has already triggered the house arrest of Hernandez's vice president, Lena Gutierrez.
    The protesters have reserved Fridays for their demonstrations. The most recent demonstration came on the heels of a visit by the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, scheduled for Saturday (August 8).
    Officially, Almagro will be visiting the country to help start a "national dialogue against impunity," according to Voice of America. Hernandez, popularly known as "JOH," is backing the visit in the hope of trying to find a mediator between the government and leading civil groups.
    The visit comes as many in Honduras appear to be reaching a breaking point. The messages at their Friday protests are increasingly militant, with posters being held for instance, that note, "it's simple, let's change the torches for guns."
    "(We're marching) because we're tired of all the corruption in the country. Today, our families don't have anything to eat, everyone is going through this difficult, tough situation. You just get to a point where things have to change in the country. The only way is through protesting because if we keep quiet it means that everything is all right and that is not okay," said one protester, Mario Ucles.
    The demonstrators regard the graft as pervasive through the Honduran establishment.
    "We don't want any more lying. Hondurans are tired. They looted the INE (Honduran National Statistics Institute) they looted the IHSS (Honduran Institute of Social Security) HONDUTEL (Honduras telecommunications company) went bankrupt, COPECO (Permanent Commission for emergencies) funds were robbed. What else are we waiting for people? Let's rise up. They don't want dialogue so on to revolution. Long live Honduras!" said protester, Ana Mairena.
    The opposition groups want an independent prosecutor staffed by foreigners, similar to a United Nations-backed commission that has led corruption probes in neighbouring Guatemala. They have floated the the CICIH (International Commission against Impunity in Honduras) and the ICJ (International Court of Justice) as potential mediators.
    Youth groups have been raising their profile in the protest movement as well.
    U.S. President Barack Obama's fiscal 2016 budget includes $1 billion in new aid for Central America to address its emigration epidemic that saw more than 60,000 unaccompanied children travel to the United States last year from the region.
    While in the country, Almagro is scheduled to meet with both Hernandez, his ministers and leading civil opposition groups.
    A conservative, Hernandez took office at the start of 2014 in what is one of the poorest nations in the Americas. The Central American country of around 8.5 million has had the world's highest murder rate for several years.
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