Migrants From Honduras Say Opposition Members Denied Aid
2021-05-24
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1The ruling party of Honduras is giving aid to its supporters.
2But many supporters of opposing political parties say they have not received assistance during the coronavirus health crisis.
3Many have left Honduras as a result.
4Cesar López and his family are from San Pedro Sula.
5This year, the Honduran government gave out rice and beans to poor residents.
6However, López and his family got nothing.
7He said the food only went to supporters of the ruling National Party, which he opposes.
8He said it is much the same for government jobs and other aid.
9López left for the United States earlier this year.
10He said his decision was partly the result of unfair aid policies during the pandemic and after two hurricanes last year.
11He told Reuters, "the government only gives to its supporters."
12López was on his way to Texas and had stopped in a Guatemalan village.
13The ruling party denies that it only helps its favorites.
14Officials said these claims are from opponents of President Orlando Hernández who want to make him look bad.
15The conservative National Party forcibly took power in 2009 after a military coup.
16It has since built a powerful political organization that has great influence over the lives of 10 million Hondurans.
17The National Party uses a system that experts call "clientelism."
18The term describes when a political party provides goods, services, money, jobs or aid in exchange for political support.
19Andrew Seele is the president of the Migration Policy Institute, an immigration policy group in Washington, D.C.
20He said, "Sometimes the balance between staying and leaving is hope things could get better, and clientelism destroys that hope."
21Political experts and those living in Honduras said supporting the ruling party does not guarantee money or food.
22Additionally, opposing it does not mean a permanent loss of public aid.
23The Latin American Public Opinion Project at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee reported on clientelism in 2019.
24It found Honduras had the second-highest level in Latin America after the Dominican Republic.
25The study found that more than 18 percent of the Honduran voters they spoke to in 2014 had experienced clientelism.
26They said they were offered a gift, favor or aid in exchange for their vote in the 2013 presidential election.
27The study did not state which political parties reportedly made the offers.
28For many Honduran migrants, the practice of clientelism offers them little hope and has become a part of their decision to leave.
29Reuters spoke to more than 20 former and current Honduran government officials and experts.
30They said the National Party uses control of the government and money to help supporters, punish opponents and influence elections.
31For years, Honduras has had problems with politicians misusing government money for personal gain and being involved in drug-trafficking.
32The administration of President Joe Biden has made targeting corruption central to a $4 billion plan.
33The administration said the plan will deal with the "root causes" of migration from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
34I'm Jill Robbins.
1The ruling party of Honduras is giving aid to its supporters. But many supporters of opposing political parties say they have not received assistance during the coronavirus health crisis. Many have left Honduras as a result. 2Cesar López and his family are from San Pedro Sula. This year, the Honduran government gave out rice and beans to poor residents. 3However, López and his family got nothing. He said the food only went to supporters of the ruling National Party, which he opposes. He said it is much the same for government jobs and other aid. 4López left for the United States earlier this year. He said his decision was partly the result of unfair aid policies during the pandemic and after two hurricanes last year. 5He told Reuters, "the government only gives to its supporters." López was on his way to Texas and had stopped in a Guatemalan village. 6The ruling party denies that it only helps its favorites. Officials said these claims are from opponents of President Orlando Hernández who want to make him look bad. 7The conservative National Party forcibly took power in 2009 after a military coup. It has since built a powerful political organization that has great influence over the lives of 10 million Hondurans. 8The National Party uses a system that experts call "clientelism." The term describes when a political party provides goods, services, money, jobs or aid in exchange for political support. 9Andrew Seele is the president of the Migration Policy Institute, an immigration policy group in Washington, D.C. He said, "Sometimes the balance between staying and leaving is hope things could get better, and clientelism destroys that hope." 10Political experts and those living in Honduras said supporting the ruling party does not guarantee money or food. Additionally, opposing it does not mean a permanent loss of public aid. 11The Latin American Public Opinion Project at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee reported on clientelism in 2019. It found Honduras had the second-highest level in Latin America after the Dominican Republic. 12The study found that more than 18 percent of the Honduran voters they spoke to in 2014 had experienced clientelism. They said they were offered a gift, favor or aid in exchange for their vote in the 2013 presidential election. The study did not state which political parties reportedly made the offers. 13For many Honduran migrants, the practice of clientelism offers them little hope and has become a part of their decision to leave. 14Reuters spoke to more than 20 former and current Honduran government officials and experts. They said the National Party uses control of the government and money to help supporters, punish opponents and influence elections. 15For years, Honduras has had problems with politicians misusing government money for personal gain and being involved in drug-trafficking. 16The administration of President Joe Biden has made targeting corruption central to a $4 billion plan. The administration said the plan will deal with the "root causes" of migration from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. 17I'm Jill Robbins. 18Laura Gottesdiener and Drazen Jorgic reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 19___________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21coup - n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence