Information on the involvement of the government in drug trafficking and on the protection available for someone divulging information on drug trafficking to authorities [HND15341.E]

Please find attached several media reports found in Central America NewsPak which provide information on military involvement in drug trafficking and drug-related violence. An InterPress article of 21 June 1993 reports that the Honduran state Human Rights Commission denounced the judiciary's "incapacity" and "lack of will" in investigating testimonies of human rights violations committed in the last six months by military forces. The article reports that the commissioner criticized "the judiciary's slugginesh" in investigating denunciations made in February 1993 by a former police officer who has accused members of the armed forces of participating in drug trafficking (Ibid.). The former officer also made other accusations (Ibid.) The article states that the human rights commissioner offers protection to three former military personnel who denounced irregularities committed by members of the armed forces (Ibid.). According to the commissioner the judiciary's sluggishness could be part of a "plot devised to bring prejudice against the former military who have made these denunciations, because there is no doubt that these persons are under some form of harassment" (Ibid.).

For further information on the above subject, please refer to the attached documents. In addition please find two articles from Central America Report of 16 April 1993 and 12 March 1993 on drug trafficking in the Central America.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to
be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

InterPress Service. 21 June 1993. Thelma Mejía. "Judiciary Incapable of Resolving Rights Denunciations." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 14-27 June 1993, Vol. 8, No. 10, pp. 7-8)

Attachments

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 16 April 1993. Vol. 20, No. 13. "Military Retreat."

. 12 March 1993. Vol. 20, No. 9. "First Regional Drug Summit."

Central America Update. 26 February 1993. "Honduras: Update on Testimony of Secret Police (DNI) Defector." (NEXIS)

Excelsior [Mexico City]. 14 March 1993. "Army Blocking Investigation of Their Participation in Crimes and Drug Traffic." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 8-21 March 1993, Vol. 8, No. 3, p. 8)

InterPress Service. 25 June 1993. "Secret Police Begin Purge." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 28 June-11 July 1993, Vol. 8, No. 11, p. 8)

. 21 June 1993. Thelma Mejía. "Judiciary Incapable of Resolving Rights Denunciations." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 14-27 June 1993, Vol. 8, No. 10, pp. 7-8)

. 25 February 1993. Juan Ramon Duran. "Former Agent Tells of Police and Army Corruption." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 22 Feb.-7 Mar. 1993, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 7-8)

Miami Herald. 23 February 1993. Tim Johnson. "Honduras' 2nd Biggest City Jolted by Wave of Violence." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 22 Feb.-7 Mar. 1993, Vol. 8, No. 2, p. 6)

. 25 February 1993. Tim Johnson. "Honduras General Getting Far Ahead of Military Pack." (Central America NewsPak [Austin], 22 Feb.-7 Mar. 1993, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 6-7)

Reuters. 28 February 1993. BC Cycle. Gustavo Palencia. "Honduran Troops Take to Streets in Capital and Second City." (NEXIS)