Honduras. El Salvador and Guatemala will hold joint military maneuvers in May and June near Cucuyagua. 28 miles from the Salvadoran border. The Honduran National Commission on Refugees has denied any political motives for the relocation and said it is designed to move the refugees to an area where they can grow their own food. Del Rio said UNHCR policy was to resettle refugees away from the borderto protect them as well as to keep them from helping the Salvadoran guerrillas. Del Rio also said the refugees had a "valid criticism" of the relocation plan because of their experience in Mesa Grande. established in early 1982 after Hondurans shut down the refugee camps in La Virtud and La Guarita. about three miles from the Salvadoran border. Refugee spokesmen said Honduran government officials had promised that Mesa Grande would be a lasting settlement. where the Salvadorans would farm surrounding lands and become selfsufficient in food. The camp is now fencedin and guarded by Honduran soldiers. Refugees need special passes to leave. and have been unable to farm anything more than small vegetable patches. Del Rio said that because of the problems in Mesa Grande. UNHCR wanted the Honduran government to write down its promises for the Olanchito settlement and legitimize it by cabling the document to all foreign embassies in Tegucigalapa and all Honduran embassies abroad.
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