HONDURAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE FEELS POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002874

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR INL/LP, S/CT, INR/IAA, AND CA/OCS/ACS/WHA
STATE FOR DS/ITA (KHALL) AND DS/IP/WHA (MFLYNN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2014
TAGS: KCRM PGOV SNAR KJUS PHUM ASEC CASC KSAC HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE FEELS POLICE
RUSHING IN PINNING BUS MASSACRE BLAME ON MARA SALVATRUCHA
GANG

REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 2841

B. USDAO TEGUCIGALPA 241424Z DEC 04

Classified By: Ambassador Larry Palmer;
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Honduran military intelligence chief COL Efrain Ochoa
met at his request December 30 with AMB and DCM to discuss
his concerns about public statements made by President
Ricardo Maduro, Minister of Public Security Oscar Alvarez,
and top police officials about the massacre of 28 people in a
bus in San Pedro Sula December 23. Specifically, COL Ochoa
said military intelligence believed that statements that the
Mara Salvatrucha gang was responsible for the attack were
premature and not yet supported by available evidence. He
said it was far from conclusive that the nine suspects
currently being held, including principal suspect and Mara
Salvatrucha gang leader, Darwin Alexis Ramirez Hernandez,
were involved in the attack. COL Ochoa claimed that one
survivor of the massacre stated that the attackers in their
actions, demeanor, and appearance, did not appear to be gang
members. COL Ochoa said that they appeared to be people who
had received military training, and not just criminals. COL
Ochoa said military intelligence did not know who was
responsible for the attack.


2. (C) COL Ochoa said the rush to judgment was convenient, in
keeping with the GOH's anti-gang focus, but may be wrong and
in any event gave a false sense of security to the populace.
COL Ochoa reiterated public statements made by Honduran Army
Commanding General Orlando Velasquez that accusations that a
military officer had supplied weapons to the attacker were
wrong. The name of the alleged culprit (Angel Humberto
Urquia) was not of a military officer but rather an ex-police
deputy inspector. COL Ochoa also said damning statements
about the alleged involvement of Judge Mirian Barahona may be
premature. Such statements stained the image of GOH
institutions and the country's image, he said.


3. (C) COL Ochoa said military intelligence had received
information about possible future attacks on police and/or
military targets in San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque, and on
the Presidential Palace in Tegucigalpa. The military has not
been able to corroborate these alleged planned attacks.


4. (C) Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime
Doris Aguilar has informally requested technical assistance
on this case. Post may soon receive a formal request for
assistance from her boss, Attorney General Ovidio Navarro, or
Minister of Public Security Alvarez.


5. (C) Begin Comment: Aguilar's request suggests that the
case against the suspects arrested so far may not be as
strong as GOH officials have stated publicly, a view
corroborated by COL Ochoa. Post will monitor closely
developments in this case. End Comment.
Palmer