KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: RASH OF POLICE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001594

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, DRL/PHD, AND DS
STATE FOR INL/LP, INR/I, INR/C, INR/AN/IAA, EB, AND CA
DOJ FOR NDIC/ORGANIZED CRIME AND VIOLENCE UNIT (LCASALE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PINR PGOV SNAR SOCI PHUM SMIG ASEC HO
SUBJECT: KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: RASH OF POLICE
KILLINGS AROUND HONDURAS - 39 MURDERED FROM JANUARY TO JULY

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 1488


1. According to the Honduran Government, 39 Honduran police
officers have been murdered this year, five in the last week
of July, some in spectacularly gruesome fashion. In some of
the murder cases, captured suspects have been linked to
gangs, and speculation is rampant that the vast majority of
the killings are related to gang violence. The killings have
also sparked responses from the presidential candidates and
may play into electoral politics in the coming months.


2. All around the country, but particularly in the cities of
San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, a wave of police killings has
been garnering headlines. Several of the murders have been
extraordinarily gruesome, and local papers report police
suspicions that the murders are an attempt by organized crime
to terrorize the country's police officers. Post previously
reported grenade attacks against police stations in
Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, crimes which may also have
been perpetrated by gangs (see reftel).


3. Comment: With the presidential campaign heating up, the
issue of security can be expected to play a prominent role.
National Party candidate Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo Sosa, currently
President of the National Congress, trumpets security as one
of his main themes. He supports instituting the death
penalty and has used the cop killings to highlight the
barbaric nature of crimes he believes merit capital
punishment. Lobo's opponent, Liberal Party candidate Jose
Manuel "Mel" Zelaya, opposes the death penalty and has
criticized Lobo, accusing him of wanting to kill every
criminal in the country rather than combat the causes of
crime. Local press coverage of the police killings has been
overwhelmingly sympathetic, portraying the victims as fallen
heroes and repeating allegations of gang involvement. If
that sympathy for the victims and concern over gang
involvement carries over into general public opinion, Lobo
(the "tough on crime" candidate) may experience an up-tick in
support as a result. It also appears to be translating into
strong congressional support for amending the penal code to
make murders of security officials a crime meriting a life
sentence, rather than the current 30-year maximum sentence
for murder. End comment.
Tuebner