Document #1171065
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
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.
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)
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)