Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TEGUCIGALPA354
2009-05-15 00:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
TWENTY-TWO HONDURAN POLICE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN
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UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000354
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV EAID HO
SUBJECT: TWENTY-TWO HONDURAN POLICE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN
2009
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000354
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV EAID HO
SUBJECT: TWENTY-TWO HONDURAN POLICE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN
2009
1. In just over the first four months of 2009 (through May 11),22
Honduran police officers have been killed in the line of duty, most
in Northern Honduras where there is a higher incidence of
narcotrafficking and organized crime. This number far exceeds the
number of fallen officers in neighboring Central American countries.
A main cause of this sharp increase of targeted police killings is
the abundance of illegal, inexpensive and readily available firearms
that are very loosely controlled. To their credit, the police
force's increased effectiveness may have caused them to become the
target of many criminal organizations.
2. Comment: President Zelaya and the Government of Honduras have
shown repeatedly in the past few months that they are serious about
participating in the Merida Initiative bilateral task force and
addressing some of the issues at the core of Honduras' security
problems. Honduras's Ministry of Security has made serious efforts
to fight crime and narcotrafficking, most directly by doubling the
Honduran National Police (HNP) force from 7,000 to 14,000, providing
them more of the equipment they need, and putting its officers on
the frontlines of this crucial fight. Unfortunately, the current
police leadership has not carried out any tactical or training
analyses to address the problem of murdered police, which is
increasingly affecting rank and file morale. We will address this
issue with the Minister of Security, as we want to maintain the
GOH's full commitment in the fight against our common threats. We
may want to offer a consultant who can analyze the patterns of these
murders in order to suggest possible ways to address this problem.
End Comment.
LLORENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV EAID HO
SUBJECT: TWENTY-TWO HONDURAN POLICE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN
2009
1. In just over the first four months of 2009 (through May 11),22
Honduran police officers have been killed in the line of duty, most
in Northern Honduras where there is a higher incidence of
narcotrafficking and organized crime. This number far exceeds the
number of fallen officers in neighboring Central American countries.
A main cause of this sharp increase of targeted police killings is
the abundance of illegal, inexpensive and readily available firearms
that are very loosely controlled. To their credit, the police
force's increased effectiveness may have caused them to become the
target of many criminal organizations.
2. Comment: President Zelaya and the Government of Honduras have
shown repeatedly in the past few months that they are serious about
participating in the Merida Initiative bilateral task force and
addressing some of the issues at the core of Honduras' security
problems. Honduras's Ministry of Security has made serious efforts
to fight crime and narcotrafficking, most directly by doubling the
Honduran National Police (HNP) force from 7,000 to 14,000, providing
them more of the equipment they need, and putting its officers on
the frontlines of this crucial fight. Unfortunately, the current
police leadership has not carried out any tactical or training
analyses to address the problem of murdered police, which is
increasingly affecting rank and file morale. We will address this
issue with the Minister of Security, as we want to maintain the
GOH's full commitment in the fight against our common threats. We
may want to offer a consultant who can analyze the patterns of these
murders in order to suggest possible ways to address this problem.
End Comment.
LLORENS