HONDURAS: 13 PRISONERS KILLED BY OTHER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000033

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, DRL/PHD, AND INL/LP
STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA
STATE FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/DSS/CC, AND DS/IP/WHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM KJUS CASC ASEC HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAS: 13 PRISONERS KILLED BY OTHER
PRISONERS IN APPARENT DRUG DEALING DISPUTE IN TAMARA



1. Summary: On January 5, at approximately 3pm local time, A
violent conflict occurred in which 13 prisoners were killed
and up to 38 prisoners injured within Tamara National
Penitentiary outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This was
reported by both the press and by Embassy sources. It was
reported that members of the Wilmer-Hernandez gang,
incarcerated within the maximum-security section of the
prison, clashed with other prisoners over drug territory
within the prison. Two pistols allegedly used in the
conflict have been discovered, one of which has been traced
to the Honduran National Police. Two prison officials have
been suspended and Honduran authorities are continuing to
investigate. Consul General spoke with the General Director
of Detention Centers at approximately 6pm on January 5
concerning U.S. citizen (AmCit) prisoners in Tamara. RSO
sources provided info concerning the conflict, and PolOff
and ConOff visited the prison the morning of January 6 to
gather information and determine the status of the three
AmCits incarcerated in the same prison. End Summary.


2. The National Penitentiary in Tamara, located
approximately 15 miles from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, houses
some 3,368 prisoners, though its capacity is only 1,800.
The Casa Blanca section, where the massacre took place
yesterday, houses approximately 400 prisoners. This area
houses felons convicted of assault, bank robbery, drug
trafficking, rape, kidnapping, and car theft. This
particular wing is considered one of the most dangerous
areas in the prison. In addition, due to their length of
internment, prisoners in Casa Blanca reportedly have
acquired the most privileges and abilities of procurement.


3. Though Tamara houses a large population of the two major
street gangs in Honduras, Mara Salvatrucha-13 (MS-13) and
Calle 18 (18),they are not believed to have been involved
in the attacks. These gangs control many parts of the
prison and remain a powerful force. Reports indicate that
the Wilmer-Hernandez gang was responsible for the clash over
probable drug dealing territory within the prison. (Note:
Information about the direct cause of the attacks is still
preliminary and could change as the GOH investigation
progresses. RSO is currently investigating the Wilmer-
Hernandez gang. End Note.)


4. On January 5, Embassy officials were informed of a
violent conflict at the National Penitentiary located at
Tamara. Reports indicate that during the 3pm confrontation,
prisoners used homemade knives and firearms, including two
semi-automatic pistols to attack other prisoners. It has
been reported that 13 prisoners were killed and a varying
number were wounded, anywhere from 1 to 38. Unsubstantiated
reports have stated that two hand grenades were found as
well. By approximately 4pm, Honduran authorities had
regained control and started investigating the conflict.
All other convicts were evacuated for their own safety.
Reports indicate police did not shoot any of the inmates,
but rather, all the murders were committed by other inmates.
No perpetrators have been named yet. Extra police were
brought in to support those already at the prison.
President Ricardo Maduro is calling for a full investigation
of this incident, as is President-elect Jose Manuel "Mel"
Zelaya.


5. The prison director, Marvin Rajo, was suspended from his
position until further notice. At least one other prison
official has also been suspended. So far, one of the
confiscated pistols is of police issue, but according to
prison officials not from the prison police. (Note: There
are multiple divisions of the police, all of which fall
under the Ministry of Public Security. End Note.)
According to prison officials, other firearms were involved
in the conflict, at least one small caliber weapon, and a
.38 revolver.


6. There were no AmCits in that section of the prison.
Andrew Stephen Gole, Rafael Enrique Guardia, and David Paul
Castriota, AKA Fini, are housed in different sections of the
prison that were not affected by the shooting. PolOff and
ConOff visited Castriotta, Gole, and Guardia the morning of
January 6. All three AmCits were in good health and
professed no knowledge of the conflict. However, all seemed
certain that the weapons used were obtained from prison
police or police visitors. The AmCits also seemed
supportive of the prison director.


7. Comment: Problems within the police and prison system
have again had catastrophic consequences. Negligence, or
possibly complicit corruption of prison police and prison
officials, apparently provided a volatile population with
the means to permanently settle conflicts and disputes.
Overcrowding, poor security, poor supervision and
incompetence, possibly combined with police corruption and
an inadequately trained prison staff, appear to have led to
a killing spree that will have far-reaching consequences for
the prison system and probable jail time for some officials.
Honduran prisons are a violent place: according to press
reports, 28 prisoners were killed in 2005. As with the last
two major prison disasters in 2003 and 2004, these deaths
illuminate many of the problems within Honduras' criminal
justice system that have and will continue to plague and
hamper the government's efforts to provide security for its
population. Post will seek to work with the new Honduran
Government to urge them to work to correct these problems of
crime and corruption. End Comment.


8. RSO POC for this case is A/RSO Bill Stowell. Questions
concerning the AmCit prisoners at Tamara can be directed to
ConOff Kathleen Corey. Human rights questions can be
directed to PolOff Ben Brown.

Ford