Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TEGUCIGALPA433
2006-03-06 21:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

RECENT SECURITY INCIDENTS MAY INDICATE A TREND OF

Tags:  ASEC KSAC PGOV PINR HO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0027
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTG #0433/01 0652132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 062132Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1309
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
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

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