Information about the above-mentioned subject was scarce among the documentary sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, in a 26 August 2004 telephone interview, the military attaché with the Embassy of Honduras in Washington, DC, provided the following information. The Military Code (Codigo Militar) of Honduras stipulates that a soldier in the armed forces is considered deserter when he has left his post without permission for more than five days. However, there are instances when a soldier may return after five days with a valid explanation, such as a family problem.

In any case, a deserter, if caught, faces three types of penalties: the first being a minimum sentence of 61 days to one year in prison, the second or intermediate sentence of one to two years in prison, and the third or maximum sentence of two to three years in prison. While the personnel office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff keeps a list of those who have deserted the armed forces, the military attaché noted that, in reality, it is very difficult to catch deserters due to a lack of technology and resources.

The military attaché also explained that while there have been efforts to reform military service regulations in Honduras, they have been stalled in the national congress for over ten years. This information was partially corroborated by a Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers June 2001 report, which noted that the 1985 Military Service Act had still not been redrafted (12 June 2001).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. 12 June 2001. "Honduras." http://www.child-soldiers.org/cs/childsoldiers.nsf/3f922f75125fc21980256b20003951fc/c618735d590d4ab180256b1e003a8cfb?OpenDocument [Accessed 26 Aug. 2004]

Embassy of Honduras, Washington, DC. 26 August 2004. Telephone interview with military attaché.

An academic source was unable to provide the information requested.

A non-governmental organization was unable to provide the information requested.

Internet: Amnesty International, Central America Report [Guatemala City], Congreso Nacional de Honduras, Country Reports 2003, El Diario de Hoy [San Salvador], Freedom House, Honduras Revista Internacional [Tegucigalpa], Human Rights Watch, International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2003, Presidencia de la Republica de Honduras, World News Connection/Dialog.