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To: Right to Water <right-to-water@lists.iatp.org>
From: jeaton@ca.inter.net
Date: 2003-09-01 22:10:36
Subject: Thousands Protest IMF inspired reforms in Honduras [including water privatization]

Honduras' Congress last week passed a law allowing private companies
to buy concessions in the state water sector and is planning a law to
regulate the salaries of some 100,000 public sector employees in the
poor Central American nation

fyi-janet
jeaton@ca.inter.net

===============

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26360654.htm

Reuters Foundation Alert

26 Aug 2003 18:36:55 GMT

Thousands protest IMF-inspired reforms in Honduras

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Thousands of Hondurans
burned tires and blocked highways leading to the country's capital on
Tuesday, protesting economic reforms the government hopes will
impress the International Monetary Fund.

Some 12,000 protesters from a group calling itself the Popular
Resistance Movement blocked entrances to Tegucigalpa and waved
banners proclaiming "No to the IMF."

Honduras' Congress last week passed a law allowing private companies
to buy concessions in the state water sector and is planning a law to
regulate the salaries of some 100,000 public sector employees in the
poor Central American nation.

"This is a protest against President Ricardo Maduro's economic
policy, aimed only at pleasing international credit organizations,"
protest leader Carlos Reyes told Reuters.

Maduro hopes the measures will persuade the IMF to go ahead with a
new credit line for Honduras that has been on hold since November.

Eighty percent of Honduras' 6.5 million people lives in poverty.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26360654.htm