Jorge Granados, 54, and Manuel Caceres, 64 — the former chief executive officer and the vice president of business development, respectively, for LatiNode Inc. — face 19 counts of foreign bribery and international money laundering for allegedly paying off government officials affiliated with the state-owned telecommunications authority in Honduras.

Granados and Caceres were arrested in Miami on Monday and made initial appearances in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the Justice Department said. They could not immediately be reached for comment.

In December 2005, LatiNode won an “interconnection agreement” with the Empresa Hondureña de Telecomunicaciones, known as Hondutel, to build a long-distance network between Honduras and the U.S. Under the contract, LatiNode paid Hondutel a set rate per minute for calls to Honduras, according to the indictment.

From 2006 to 2007, Granados and Caceres allegedly schemed to pay bribes to a well-connected manager at Hondutel who was considering rescinding the agreement, as well as an attorney for the state-owned authority and a minister of the Honduran government who joined Hondutel’s board of directors.

In return, the contract remained in place and LatiNode received better rates and other economic benefits, the Justice Department said.

Granados and Caceres are also accused of laundering the payments through LatiNode subsidiaries in Guatemala and to accounts in Honduras controlled by the Honduran government officials, according to the indictment.

Coral Gables, Fla.-based eLandia International Inc. acquired Latinode in 2007 and soon after launched an internal investigation into possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bars U.S. and U.S. listed companies from paying bribes to foreign officials to keep or obtain business.

The company shared the results with the Justice Department and terminated senior company officials who were aware of the bribes. The investigation culminated in 2009 guilty plea by LatiNode and a $2 million fine.

Granados and Caceres are each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, 12 counts of violating the FCPA, five counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

“Anyone who believes paying bribes in foreign countries is just the cost of doing business should think about the repercussions — whether it is worth going to prison,” said Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s corruption investigations Group in Miami, in a statement.

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The medal which honours people who fight for democracy or against dictatorship, discrimination and racism was awarded to Ms Bigombe in Vlaardingen in the Netherlands at the weekend.

“The fact that this year’s Geuzen Medal is being awarded to Betty Bigombe makes it even more special for me because I lived in Uganda for several years,” said Ms Yoka Brandt, director-General for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Her work is a shining example of what can be achieved if you seize every opportunity to negotiate, even if it means working against all odds.”

Last year, the medal went to the Palestinian human rights group Al-Hag and Israeli organisation B’Tselem.

Ms Bigombe, also a former Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister is one of the few individuals that have negotiated with the LRA leadership personally.

This was between 1993 and 1994. She again met the LRA leaders in 2004 to try to persuade them to return to the negotiation table.

However, since 2008, Kony has refused to talk with the government.

The war lasted for two decades, killed thousands of people, saw over 80,000 children abducted and turned into child soldiers, and displaced about 1.7 million people.

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El presidente electo de Honduras, Porfirio Lobo, consideró el lunes que las elecciones que le dieron el triunfo legitiman a las instituciones políticas de su país y afirmó que el caso del depuesto mandatario Manuel Zelaya “ya es historia”.

“Es difícil para un país en democracia no reconocer un proceso electoral que legitima un gobierno. Así [con elecciones] se termina la crisis, así se legitima el gobierno”, dijo Lobo el lunes en declaraciones a la prensa extranjera en su casa en las afueras de Tegucigalpa.

Lobo, que el domingo obtuvo una clara victoria en las urnas, consideró que el caso de Zelaya, destituido y expulsado del país en junio pasado, “ya es historia, ya es parte del pasado, ya estuvo”.

En sus primeras declaraciones como presidente electo, Lobo aclaró que su mandato no está supeditado a la crisis provocada por la destitución de Zelaya y que los reclamos para reinstalarlo en el poder no le conciernen.

“Es un asunto que el Congreso tiene que decidir, y yo no tengo nada que hacer allí”, dijo Lobo durante una conferencia de prensa.

La victoria del candidato por el Partido Nacional allanó sin duda el camino a la superación de la crisis política. Pero a medida que pasa el fragor de las celebraciones se hace obvio que necesitará no sólo el respaldo de sus compatriotas sino un sólido reconocimiento externo para devolver a Honduras a un período de paz, atraer inversiones y generar empleos masivos, las prioridades de su programa de gobierno.

Según Michael Shifter, vicepresidente de Diálogo Interamericano, un centro de estudios y análisis con sede en Washington, D.C., Lobo “va a necesitar del apoyo de todos los sectores y de la comunidad internacional”.

El último reporte del Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE), con el 68 por ciento de las mesas escrutadas, indicó que Lobo obtuvo el 52 por ciento de los votos, contra 36 por ciento a favor de su contendiente más cercano, Elvin Santos. El nivel de participación fue estimado en 62 por ciento.

A su vez, Zelaya dijo The Miami Herald desde la embajada de Brasil que las elecciones fueron ‘‘ilegales”, porque “fueron realizadas bajo una dictadura militar”.

El subsecretario de asuntos hemisféricos del Departamento de Estado, Arturo Valenzuela, consideró que “las elecciones son un paso necesario, pero no suficiente”.

Valenzuela precisó que la administración del presidente Barack Obama reconoce los resultados de unos comicios realizados “bajo los estándares internacionales”, pero agregó que todavía falta cumplir con otros aspectos del acuerdo Tegucigalpa-San José, entre ellos la integración de un gobierno de unidad nacional, el establecimiento de una comisión de la verdad para clarificar los hechos que desembocaron en la salida de Zelaya y la votación del Congreso, que tendrá lugar mañana.

Para Honduras, la relación con Estados Unidos “es vital”, reconoció Lobo. Más del 70 por ciento de los ingresos del país dependen de las remesas que alrededor de 1 millón de hondureños envían desde territorio norteamericano, y del 40 por ciento de las exportaciones hondureñas que van a mercados estadounidenses, destacó.

De hecho la crisis política ha tenido un notable impacto económico. Desde junio, Honduras ha dejado de tener acceso a alrededor de $400 millones. Unos $200 millones en ayuda internacional se encuentran congelados y otra cantidad similar en inversiones extranjeras se halla paralizada.

A pesar de que la mayoría de los países latinoamericanos no ha reconocido oficialmente las elecciones hondureñas, la tendencia será a reconocerlos antes de que el nuevo mandatario asuma el poder el 27 de enero.

Lobo dijo que el domingo recibió llamadas de felicitaciones de los presidentes Oscar Arias, de Costa Rica; Mauricio Funes, de El Salvador; Alvaro Colón, de Guatemala; Ricardo Martinelli, de Panamá, y el presidente de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), José Miguel Insulza.

También aseguró que un importante grupo de países, además de Estados Unidos, han expresado que han aceptado o van a aceptar el proceso electoral, entre ellos Alemania, Colombia, Costa Rica, México, Panamá, Japón, Italia, Suiza, Indonesia, Emiratos Arabes Unidos y Francia.

“Para muchos gobiernos, el reconocimiento de las elecciones es una necesidad”, dijo el analista Robert Carmona-Borjas, presidente de la Fundación Arcadia, que monitorea las democracias en América Latina, con sede en Washington, D.C.

Varios países y organizaciones internacionales aprobaron los comicios.

La Comisión Europea declaró su complacencia por la “forma pacífica y en calma” en que se llevaron a cabo las elecciones.

Lobo aseguró que los hondureños no están dispuestos a subordinarse a ningún gobierno extranjero, ni aceptar que vengan a insultarlos, cuando El Nuevo Herald le preguntó si consideraba a Chávez como una amenaza para su gobierno.

Sin embargo, destacó su disposición a establecer “relaciones cordiales” con todos los gobiernos.

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Arcadia Foundation Founder Betty Bigombe to take part in panel discussions as part of the Eckerd College-Africa Initiative in 2010:

“The Plight and Promise of Africa: An Eckerd College Initiative” is a Tampa Bay communitywide effort that will promote dialogue about Africa both in and out of the classroom.

St. Petersburg, FL (PRWEB) December 1, 2009 — In January 2010, Eckerd College will launch “The Plight and Promise of Africa: An Eckerd College Initiative,” a yearlong effort that will raise Africa’s profile through academic study, activism and community consciousness.

“‘The Eckerd-Africa Initiative is a unique opportunity for a liberal arts college to demonstrate its capacity for creative collaboration,” said Dr. Donald R. Eastman III, President of Eckerd College. “Eckerd faculty, students and staff have teamed up to develop a program that surpasses the routine lecture series. With Africa as our focus, we have created an educational forum that intentionally promotes open dialogue at Eckerd College and across the Tampa Bay community.”

Through panel discussions, films, lectures, readings, and the visual and performing arts, these speakers, ensembles and exhibits are scheduled to be part of the Eckerd-Africa Initiative in 2010:

- “Congo/Women Portraits of War: The Democratic Republic of Congo” photo exhibit (Jan. 11 to Feb. 20) – Anita Shreve, author of “A Change in Altitude” and “The Pilot’s Wife” (Jan. 16) – Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet performance ensemble (Feb. 10) – John Prendergast, co-founder of the anti-genocide Enough Project (Mar. 1 to 13) – Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Grammy Award-winning a cappella group from South Africa (Mar. 2) – Betty Bigombe, Ugandan peace negotiator (Mar. 18) – Jerald Walker, author of “Street Shadows: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion and Redemption” (Mar. 22) – “Darfur/Darfur” multimedia photo exhibit (Apr. 2 to 30)* – Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition (Apr. 3)* – Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times (Apr. 6)* – Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale (Apr. 8) – Immaculee Ilibagiza, author of “Left to Tell” and survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide (Apr. 14)* – Valentino Achak Deng, a former Lost Boy from Sudan (Sept. 9) – Dave Eggers, author of “Zeitoun” and “What is the What: An Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng” (Sept. 9)

Presentations will also be given by Eckerd College faculty, students and alumni; guest faculty and researchers from the UK’s Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, Rutgers University, University of Florida, University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, and University of South Florida. Organizers will continue to add events as the Initiative develops.

Most events are free and open to the public, or include a nominal cost for admission. Speakers and topics are subject to change. Items noted with an asterisk (*) indicate events that have been made possible by the Florida Holocaust Museum as part of its commemoration of Genocide and Human Rights Awareness Month in April 2010.

Click here to read the complete news story

Click here to browse the Eckerd-Africa Initiative Calendar of Events

Click here to explore “The Plight and Promise of Africa” Web site

Student Involvement is Critical: Eckerd College Organization of Students (ECOS) student government and Eckerd’s African Interest Group have been at the helm of student-coordinated activities for the Initiative. “We have already hosted awareness events, fundraisers and film screenings to boost momentum for 2010,” said Eckerd junior and ECOS President Lauren DeLalla. “Our focus on Africa highlights the fact that Eckerd students have been interested in social justice issues, here and abroad, since the College was founded fifty years ago.”

The Study of Africa is Cross-Disciplinary For William F. Felice, Professor of Political Science and Co-chair of the Eckerd-Africa Initiative, raising Africa’s profile occurs across academic disciplines. “In addition to celebrating and honoring the diversity of African history and cultural heritage, we will explore issues related to war crimes and human rights, environment and human health, foreign policy and humanitarian aid, rebuilding and economic development, women and healthcare, and alternative energy sources for sustainable communities,” said Professor Felice. “Eckerd’s distinctive areas – the sciences, the arts, service-learning, and social justice – remain prevalent in our planning efforts.”

John Prendergast, human rights activist and co-author of “Not On Our Watch,” will anchor the Spring 2010 semester as a Visiting Scholar-in-Residence at Eckerd for two weeks in March. He will focus on the genocide in Darfur and southern Sudan; conflict minerals in eastern Congo; and child soldiers in northern Uganda. Author Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng, a former Lost Boy from Sudan and subject of Eggers’ book, “What Is the What,” will anchor the Fall 2010 semester. “What Is the What” will be a required summer 2010 reading for the incoming freshman class.

With more than 60% of Eckerd’s students traveling abroad during their Eckerd career, three student groups will travel to Africa during the January 2010 Winter Term – one group will study consumerism in Morocco, while the other two will do service-learning in Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Thinking Globally and Acting Locally: Community Partnerships: “While Eckerd will serve as the primary site for the majority of events, the generous support of our Community Partners have helped to transform the Initiative into a communitywide project,” said Alizza Punzalan-Hall, Eckerd’s Director of Community and Media Relations and Co-chair of the Eckerd-Africa Initiative. “Our strategy is to bring attention to global issues while highlighting the vital work of our local educational institutions, arts organizations and social services agencies.”

Two photo installations curated by Chicago-based Art Works Projects will be on display at The Poynter Institute (“Congo/Women Portraits of War”) and the Florida Holocaust Museum (“Darfur/Darfur”). The Studio@620 will display “Images from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda” by emerging photographer Bradley Ennis and freelance photojournalist Kristin Harrison from March 12 to 28. Ennis is a visual arts senior at Eckerd College; Harrison is a 2001 Eckerd graduate and former editor-in-chief for Women’s Running Magazine.

Additional Community Partners include: USF St. Petersburg, Creative Clay, Community Tampa Bay, Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA), and the YWCA of Tampa Bay. Potential Community Partners should contact Ms. Punzalan-Hall (727-864-7978) for more information. Media Partners include WUSF Public Broadcasting and the St. Petersburg Times Fund.

About Eckerd College Located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Eckerd College was founded in 1958 as a private, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Eckerd’s 1,840 residential students from 45 states and 28 countries choose among thirty-eight majors leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Eckerd is one of only 40 schools listed in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives.”

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Con mucho fervor patriótico hondureños residentes en varias ciudades de Estados Unidos, se agruparon a los centros de votación, autorizados por el Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE), donde pudieron elegir el Presidente del país, ya que solo pueden optar por esa nominación.

La ciudad de New York fue testigo de cientos de hondureños que se aglomeraron frente a la iglesia “Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe”, que está ubicada en la 14 calle en Manhattan.

Uno de los obstáculos que encontraron los catrachos es que hicieron cambio de domicilio, pero no aparecieron en el padrón electoral.

El TSE habilitó urnas electorales en seis ciudades de Estados Unidos, entre las que están New York, Miami, Houston, Los Ángeles, Washington y New Orleans, para que los simpatizantes de los Partidos Liberal y Nacional, acudieran masivamente a este proceso tan apetecido, en busca de una salida a la crisis política.

RESPONDEN HONDUREÑOS

El representante del Foro Permanente para la Sociedad Civil, observador venezolano Elio Aponte, dijo que “estoy muy contento de que el pueblo hondureño realmente ha respondido al llamado, a los valores y principios que ha hecho que este país, que aunque sea pequeño y sea pobre, pero realmente es un país grande en honor en dignidad es la mayor riqueza, el mayor aval que tiene el pueblo hondureño”.

Además señaló que se siente muy contento, porque esto le está dando mucha fuerza espiritual, a quienes estamos luchando contra la dictadura, porque si se puede salir de un gobernante que ha violado la constitución y las leyes, por mas chantaje, por más dinero, por más compra que quieran hacerle a la conciencia, Honduras demostró que la dignidad y el honor no tiene precio.

Robert Carmona Borjas

Mientras tanto el vicepresidente de la fundación Arcadia, Robert Carmona Borjas, manifestó que la democracia latinoamericana se siente extremadamente contenta del civismo, patriotismo, amor y el respeto, que tienen los catrachos hacia el proceso el cual se realizó en Estados Unidos.

Además señaló que “este proceso por el cual se ha luchando, no se ha doblegado ante ningún gobierno, presión, chantaje, ni ante ninguna chequera que han querido imponer de ningún tipo y ni siquiera de ideología”.

“La lección que Honduras le está enseñando al mundo de que quiere vivir en democracia y que es un pueblo digno, que se hace respetar e incluso de sus leyes, ante cualquier presión internacional que se quiere imponer”.

“Al mismo tiempo aprovecho para felicitar a Honduras por el proceso electoral y que siguen en la lucha apoyándolos a cada uno de ustedes”.

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