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C.A.F.T.A. OPPOSITION PEAKS AS THE END DRAWS NEAR.

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With the opening of the final scheduled round of Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) negotiations in Washington (see NotiCen, 2003-10-23), critics stepped up efforts to be heard and to scuttle what they see as a bad deal all the way around.

In Honduras, the Catholic Church marked the opening of the talks with a recommendation that signing the finished accord be postponed. The recommendation was contained in a position statement by Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez. The statement was read by Fr. German Caliz, director of Pastoral Caritas. The text argued that most Hondurans know little or nothing about the negotiations and are now faced with a situation "plagued with uncertainties, that manifest a clear tendency to deepen the unjust inequalities of our society."

Speaking directly to the US-imposed secrecy under which the negotiations have taken place, the church demanded that the state put in practice "mechanisms to inform the population in general, and in particular the sectors directly affected, the contents of the negotiations." The church also wants the government to engage those affected sectors on the best strategies for Honduras to enter liberalized markets. Until that is done, and until conditions are in place for the country to "comply with all the responsibilities and implications" of joining the free market, the government must, said the statement, postpone signing on.

Along with the statement, Pastoral...

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