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. -------------- Police/Prosecutor Training -------------- ¶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. -------------- Prison Reforms -------------- ¶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. -------------- Gang Program -------------- ¶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. -------------- Other Activities -------------- ¶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