HONDURAS: May2009 INL Monthly Report

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000461

FOR INL/LP MAYRA AHERN
FOR WHA POSTS - PASS to NAOs and Merida Coordinators
USAID for Donnie Harrington

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS EAID PREL HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAS: May2009 INL Monthly Report


1. The following summarizes Post's INL-supported activities in May

2009.

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Police/Prosecutor Training
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2. Post sent seven police officers and three customs agents from the
Honduran Internal Revenue Office (DEI) to the ILEA course: Border
Enforcement Training (BET).

- POL/NAS has begun initial planning to support ICE Special
Investigative Unit (SIU) to attend the International Task Force
Training (ITAT) located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center in Glynn County, Georgia (FLETC). This training is critical
in order for ICE SIU team members to build morale, learn
investigative methodologies, and increase the productivity of the
group.

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Prison Reforms
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3. Regional Corrections Advisor (RCA),Michael Arellano arrived
Honduras on May 28. During his first two days in country he toured
the female facility located Tamara prison and reviewed the plans for
the new administrative segregation unit. The RCA is based in
Honduras, with significant responsibility for training in Guatemala
and consultation in other countries of the region; his office is
located within a staff facility of the Honduran corrections system.

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Gang Program
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4. POL/NAS and the HNP launched the "Eradicate Violence from Sports"
campaign with a national press conference and presentation by the
Minister of Security, National Soccer League, HNP, State and
MilGroup representatives. The campaign will continue at least
through 2009 with mass media, school kits, and a nonviolence
campaign in stadiums. We will also donate operational security
equipment and provide training to HNP officers and agents assigned
to stadiums.

- POL/NAS was a special guest at a meeting of the largest Honduran
soccer fan club, Ultra Fiel, where a series of INL-sponsored youth
workshops was planned covering nonviolence, conflict resolution and
self esteem.

- POL/NAS organized and secured approval for a June TDY by the ICE
National Gang Unit to assess cell phone dumping needs and capacities
at the national prison and at the National Joint Information Center
CEINCO, and for a capacity assessment of the HNP Anti-Gang Unit.

- POL/NAS lead a mission of the USAID/Honduras Deputy Director and
USAID staff to barrio Chamelecon in San Pedro Sula, the new Model
Precinct of INL, to further collaboration between INL, USAID, the
HNP and local NGOs.

- POL/NAS developed a Mission Anti-Kidnapping Strategy to support
the GOH (HNP, Attorney General and Supreme Court) in combating the
recent dramatic increase in kidnappings, including AMCITS. The
Strategy was approved by the Ambassador and involves INL, RSO, FBI
and other agencies at Post.

- POL/NAS presented the Mission's new Anti-Kidnapping Strategy to
the HNP National Director for Special Investigations and the
Honduran Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and developed a joint plan for
collaboration through 2009.
- POL/NAS supported the HNP Anti-Gang Unit in developing their draft
Strategic Plan to expand the unit to six cities, improve their
training and triple assigned agents.

- POL/NAS will fund TDYs for an FBI Threat Assessment on gangs in
Honduras and a Threat Assessment on kidnapping, to be funded by
POL/NAS. This visit will be the first step in implementing the
strategic planning of both INL's Anti-Gang and Anti-Kidnapping
programs in Honduras. INL is supporting HNP in researching
statistics and cases in preparation for both Threat Assessments.

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Other Activities
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5. POL/NAS supported the organization of the second meeting of the
Bilateral USG/GOH Merida Initiative Task Force, presided by
President Zelaya and the Ambassador. The task force discussed
advances made by the different Ministries and institutions and
established thematic working groups. During the meeting, President
Zelaya identified additional priorities, which the group is now
working on. RSO presented our Anti-Kidnapping Strategy proposal,
which is a Presidential priority.

- POL/NAS staff met with the Attorney General to brief him on the
Merida Initiative. The AG urgently requested assistance in
providing an assessment of the Administrative Office of Seized
Assets (OABI). On a subsequent visit, Jim Parrot, from the
Department of Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance (OTA),
informed the AG that this assessment has already been included in
the OTA's proposed work plan for Honduras.

With the leadership of ECON, post is drafting a plan on seized
assets, which includes the creation of a working group.

- POL/NAS, in coordination with ICE, has initiated arrangements to
support the Inter-institutional Commission on Criminal Justice with
technical assistance on a draft law on the Regulation of Special
Investigative Techniques (Undercover Agents),which needs to be
reviewed and put into its final version.

- Regional Demand Reduction Program grantee CADCA hosted a second
conference and training event in Valle de Angeles, outside
Tegucigalpa.

- NAS Admin Assistant traveled to Charleston for a two week
accounting and budgeting training program.


LLORENS