RECENT SECURITY INCIDENTS MAY INDICATE A TREND OF

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000433 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR DS/DSS, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/SPC/MSG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KSAC PGOV PINR HO SUBJECT: RECENT SECURITY INCIDENTS MAY INDICATE A TREND OF INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN HONDURAS REF: TEGUCIGALPA 00427 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Since the transition into power one month ago of the elected Liberal Party government of President Jose Manuel "Mel" Zelaya, RSO has seen a slow but steady increase in the reported cases of armed robberies, muggings, murders, and other violent crime throughout Honduras. These events occur during both daytime and nighttime hours, and they occur in all areas of Tegucigalpa -- including near the U.S. Embassy and in/around Mission residential neighborhoods. A high percentage of these criminal acts involve the use of firearm(s). There have been five such incidents reported to RSO within the last several days, one of which involving a Marine Security Guard, one involving an Amcit Mission employee, and one involving a visiting U.S. Army MEDRETE doctor. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Over the past several weeks, RSO has received an increasing number of reports of violent criminal activity in Tegucigalpa. Although crime has historically been high throughout Honduras, (and statistics are never very reliable),recent trends seem to indicate that violent crime is on the rise since the appointment of the new Minister of Public Security, Alvaro Romero, one month ago. Thus far, Romero, a former Army General, has been presented in at least some press coverage as having a rather "soft hand" on security matters, mainly due to his desire for open dialogue with gang leaders. RSO has also found it difficult to establish an open channel of communications with Romero as he has been somewhat difficult to contact. RSO realizes that he has only been in office for a brief period, and will continue to attempt to foster a solid, professional working relationship with the Ministry of Public Security so that mutual security concerns may be addressed, benefiting both the USG and the GOH. ¶3. (SBU) Some of the recent security incidents include: a. On 2/20/2006 at 1330 hours, a male Honduran was walking to a shopping center located 1/2 block from the Embassy when he passed a male/female couple. After passing them, the male suspect ran behind him and placed a pistol to his throat and demanded his cellphone. The victim surrendered his cellphone immediately and the thieves departed the area on foot. (RSO note: the robbery of cellphones is a common occurrence here, and the assailants have murdered their victims during such assaults -- even if there is no resistance and for nothing more than their cellphones. End Note.) b. On 2/22/2006 at 2000 hours, an Amcit employee of the U.S. Embassy got out of her vehicle to drop an item off at a residence -- leaving her teenage son in the front seat of the vehicle. Two Honduran males, who were standing on the sidewalk two houses away, noticed the driver exit the vehicle. One of the men walked by the car and noticed a purse in the front seat with the door unlocked. Acting immediately, he opened the vehicle door and attempted to take the purse. The teenager and the employee began to struggle with the thief, which prompted his partner to enter into the scene. His partner, who was armed with a pistol, told the teenager to let go of the purse or he would shoot his mother. The teenager released the purse and the two assailants fled on foot down the road. This incident took place in the Lomas del Guijarro neighborhood where numerous Embassy residences are located. c. On 2/25/2006 at 1000 hours, two men in a stolen taxi assaulted two other men riding in a Toyota Tercel two blocks east of the Embassy. The victims, who work at an unidentified company, apparently had just left a nearby bank branch with an undisclosed amount of money purportedly for the company's payroll. According to eyewitnesses, two assailants started firing at the two victims while the taxi had pulled alongside the Tercel. The perpetrators then got out, grabbed the money and fled east in the same taxi. The passenger died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds and the driver was taken to a local hospital with three gunshot wounds (condition unknown). d. On 03/01/2006 at approximately 1840 hours in the vicinity of the Marriott Hotel, the team leader of a visiting U.S. Army MEDRETE-Urology team, who was accompanied by a Honduran physician, had his vehicle approached while stopped at a red light by an individual brandishing a small caliber handgun. The gunman demanded access to the vehicle, and upon gaining entry, pointed the gun at them and demanded that they drive. The Army physician attempted to wrestle the gun from the assailant, but was unsuccessful and fled the scene during the altercation. He ran the two blocks back to the Marriott Hotel and received first aid for his hand which he lacerated during the attempt to seize the perpetrator's weapon. The Honduran physician later returned to the hotel and stated that he was uninjured and had let the gunman out at a local hospital. e. On 03/05/2006 at 0150 hours, RSO received a duty call from Post 1 stating that two Marines were fired upon while leaving a local nightclub. No one was injured but the unarmored Marine van was impacted by five to six 9 millimeter rounds. RSO contacted local authorities and interviewed both Marines and the Marine driver. It appears that the shooting started over the Marines talking with a local Honduran female outside of a nightclub that the Marines frequent. At this stage of the investigation, local authorities believe that the shooter may be a Honduran police officer (reftel). ¶4. (SBU) RSO has distributed security notices to Mission personnel warning them of the apparent rise in crime, and to remain vigilant when traveling about town. As the violence is seen not only in the poorer sections of the city, but also in the more upscale areas, employees have been advised that there are no safe areas where one can let down their guard. RSO will continue to update Mission personnel and family members on the crime situation and offer guidance on safe personal protective measures. Ford