Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04TEGUCIGALPA1200
2004-05-24 22:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY FUND

Tags:  PHUM EAID KDEM KCRM KJUS PGOV HO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001200 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/PHD (KCUMBERLAND),WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM KCRM KJUS PGOV HO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY FUND
PROPOSAL: INVESTIGATING/PROSECUTING EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS

REF: A) State 88764

B) State 65803

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001200

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/PHD (KCUMBERLAND),WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM KCRM KJUS PGOV HO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY FUND
PROPOSAL: INVESTIGATING/PROSECUTING EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS

REF: A) State 88764

B) State 65803


1. Post believes that the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights
and Labor initiative to address programs that promote human
rights and democracy can greatly aid Mission efforts to
strengthen the human rights practices in Honduras,
particularly in the area of investigating and prosecuting
extrajudicial killings.


2. Our proposal seeks to improve the Government of Honduras'
ability to investigate and prosecute suspected extrajudicial,
summary, and arbitrary executions, particularly of youth.
This issue is one of the most serious human rights problems in
Honduras right now. Post's project is designed to produce
immediate tangible results and builds on existing POL/INL and
USAID criminal justice sector strengthening and training
programs.


3. At Post, POL/INL and USAID provide training to Honduran
prosecutors and law enforcement personnel on issues of
internal affairs investigations that focus on suspected
extrajudicial killings. In 2003, Post provided technical
assistance to the Ministry of Public Security (police
investigators) and Public Ministry (prosecutors) on a specific
case that allegedly may have involved human rights violations.
Historically, POL/INL has directed training efforts toward
prosecutors, investigators, and police at all levels in
Honduras in the area of law enforcement investigations. USAID
has been responsible for training of prosecutors and judges.


4. USAID has worked closely with the Honduran Attorney
General's office providing significant technical assistance in
the development of a new oral, adversarial criminal justice
system under the new Criminal Procedure Code. USAID has
developed an excellent working relationship with the Public
Ministry in the process. USAID can utilize this current
relationship and would be responsible for training prosecutors
and judges on human rights issues such as extrajudicial
killings.


5. Post is convinced that a country-based and well-coordinated
approach on the investigations and prosecutions of

extrajudicial killings is the key to helping Honduras develop
a more effective, indigenous human rights law enforcement and
prevention strategy. In other words, we believe this project
will yield ancillary benefits in other human rights efforts.


6. Goal: Post will provide two courses to include training
and technical assistance that will facilitate strengthened
institutionalization of the Ministry of Public Security
Internal Affairs Unit working in cooperation with prosecutors
and judges focused on human rights-related crimes.


7. Objectives: This project will provide for one objective
that will positively impact three separate government offices:
the internal affairs investigators, prosecutors for human
rights violations, and judges in human rights cases. The
strengthening of investigative and prosecutorial abilities to
address these crimes as well as the abilities of judges to
properly convict human rights crimes is an important objective
that will work toward a more clear initiative against human
rights violations such as extrajudicial killings.


8. Activities: The Ministry of Public Security (MoPS -
police) and the Public Ministry (prosecutors) as well as the
mission have acknowledged a need to focus specific attention
on alleged extrajudicial killings. In furtherance of this
acknowledgement, Post, through its INL program, proposes to
provide training and technical assistance to the Ministry of
Public Security to strengthen the Special Investigative Unit
that will also work closely with POL/INL and other U.S. law
enforcement agencies in the investigation of suspected
extrajudicial killings. Training and technical assistance
will be provided by USAID to prosecutors and judges to form a
countrywide group of prosecutors and judges that will work
closely with investigators to prosecute these crimes.


9. Timeline: The project as a whole should be completed
within one year. Using Post resources, POL/INL and USAID can
begin the program within 90 days of receiving funds.


10. Sustainability: At the completion of this plan to
strengthen the capabilities of the (GOH),the GOH will be
expected to fund the infrastructure and necessary budget to
ensure continued success in the investigation and prosecution
of suspected extra judicial killings. The Ministry of Public
Security has already demonstrated a commitment to resolving
these types of crimes by providing for the Special
Investigative Unit and Internal Affairs Unit in the proposed
five-year budget. The Public Ministry continues to support
its Special Prosecutor for Human Rights, as well as it Special
Prosecutor for Children's Issues, which is made up of
prosecutors that have worked closely with POL/INL and other
U.S. agencies on suspected crimes involving human rights
violations.


11. Performance Indicators: This three-pronged project will
produce strengthened capabilities of the Special Investigative
Unit and prosecutors as well as the increased prosecution of
human rights violations and extrajudicial killings.


12. Evaluation Plan/Process: The three portions of this
project will be discussed on a monthly basis at Post's
Democracy Working Group. In addition, on a quarterly basis
Embassy officials will meet with Honduran counterparts to
discuss and review statistics gathered on arrests,
prosecutions, and reports of suspected extra judicial
killings.

13. Cost: The cost estimate for the first year of this
proposed project is $50,000.00 as follows:

Investigative support (POL/INL)
a. Training $10,000.00
b. Technical assistance and operational support $10,000

Prosecutorial and Judicial Support (USAID)
a. Training $20,000
b. Technical Assistance $10,000


14. Points of contact are Law Enforcement Advisor Sharon Parks-
Banda, phone: (504) 236-9320, x4787, IVG: 539-4787, fax: (504)
236-9462, e-mail: parksbs(at)state.gov, and Human Rights
Officer Derrick M. Olsen, phone: (504) 236-9320, x4394, IVG:
539-4394, fax: (504) 238-4446, e-mail: olsendm(at)state.gov.


15. Per para. 7 in reftel B, post's Public Affairs Officer
Melissa Cooper has grant signing authority for only $10,000.

Palmer