This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, DRL/PHD, AND INL/LP 
STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA 
STATE FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/DSS/CC, AND DS/IP/WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM KJUS CASC ASEC HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAS: 13 PRISONERS KILLED BY OTHER 
PRISONERS IN APPARENT DRUG DEALING DISPUTE IN TAMARA 
 
 
¶1. Summary: On January 5, at approximately 3pm local time, A 
violent conflict occurred in which 13 prisoners were killed 
and up to 38 prisoners injured within Tamara National 
Penitentiary outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  This was 
reported by both the press and by Embassy sources.  It was 
reported that members of the Wilmer-Hernandez gang, 
incarcerated within the maximum-security section of the 
prison, clashed with other prisoners over drug territory 
within the prison.  Two pistols allegedly used in the 
conflict have been discovered, one of which has been traced 
to the Honduran National Police.  Two prison officials have 
been suspended and Honduran authorities are continuing to 
investigate.  Consul General spoke with the General Director 
of Detention Centers at approximately 6pm on January 5 
concerning U.S. citizen (AmCit) prisoners in Tamara.  RSO 
sources provided info concerning the conflict, and PolOff 
and ConOff visited the prison the morning of January 6 to 
gather information and determine the status of the three 
AmCits incarcerated in the same prison.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. The National Penitentiary in Tamara, located 
approximately 15 miles from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, houses 
some 3,368 prisoners, though its capacity is only 1,800. 
The Casa Blanca section, where the massacre took place 
yesterday, houses approximately 400 prisoners.  This area 
houses felons convicted of assault, bank robbery, drug 
trafficking, rape, kidnapping, and car theft.  This 
particular wing is considered one of the most dangerous 
areas in the prison.  In addition, due to their length of 
internment, prisoners in Casa Blanca reportedly have 
acquired the most privileges and abilities of procurement. 
 
¶3. Though Tamara houses a large population of the two major 
street gangs in Honduras, Mara Salvatrucha-13 (MS-13) and 
Calle 18 (18), they are not believed to have been involved 
in the attacks.  These gangs control many parts of the 
prison and remain a powerful force.  Reports indicate that 
the Wilmer-Hernandez gang was responsible for the clash over 
probable drug dealing territory within the prison.  (Note: 
Information about the direct cause of the attacks is still 
preliminary and could change as the GOH investigation 
progresses.  RSO is currently investigating the Wilmer- 
Hernandez gang.  End Note.) 
 
¶4. On January 5, Embassy officials were informed of a 
violent conflict at the National Penitentiary located at 
Tamara.  Reports indicate that during the 3pm confrontation, 
prisoners used homemade knives and firearms, including two 
semi-automatic pistols to attack other prisoners.  It has 
been reported that 13 prisoners were killed and a varying 
number were wounded, anywhere from 1 to 38.  Unsubstantiated 
reports have stated that two hand grenades were found as 
well.  By approximately 4pm, Honduran authorities had 
regained control and started investigating the conflict. 
All other convicts were evacuated for their own safety. 
Reports indicate police did not shoot any of the inmates, 
but rather, all the murders were committed by other inmates. 
No perpetrators have been named yet.  Extra police were 
brought in to support those already at the prison. 
President Ricardo Maduro is calling for a full investigation 
of this incident, as is President-elect Jose Manuel "Mel" 
Zelaya. 
 
¶5. The prison director, Marvin Rajo, was suspended from his 
position until further notice.  At least one other prison 
official has also been suspended.  So far, one of the 
confiscated pistols is of police issue, but according to 
prison officials not from the prison police.  (Note:  There 
are multiple divisions of the police, all of which fall 
under the Ministry of Public Security.  End Note.) 
According to prison officials, other firearms were involved 
in the conflict, at least one small caliber weapon, and a 
.38 revolver. 
 
¶6. There were no AmCits in that section of the prison. 
Andrew Stephen Gole, Rafael Enrique Guardia, and David Paul 
Castriota, AKA Fini, are housed in different sections of the 
prison that were not affected by the shooting.  PolOff and 
ConOff visited Castriotta, Gole, and Guardia the morning of 
January 6.  All three AmCits were in good health and 
professed no knowledge of the conflict.  However, all seemed 
certain that the weapons used were obtained from prison 
police or police visitors.  The AmCits also seemed 
supportive of the prison director. 
 
¶7. Comment:  Problems within the police and prison system 
have again had catastrophic consequences.  Negligence, or 
possibly complicit corruption of prison police and prison 
officials, apparently provided a volatile population with 
the means to permanently settle conflicts and disputes. 
Overcrowding, poor security, poor supervision and 
incompetence, possibly combined with police corruption and 
an inadequately trained prison staff, appear to have led to 
a killing spree that will have far-reaching consequences for 
the prison system and probable jail time for some officials. 
Honduran prisons are a violent place: according to press 
reports, 28 prisoners were killed in 2005.  As with the last 
two major prison disasters in 2003 and 2004, these deaths 
illuminate many of the problems within Honduras' criminal 
justice system that have and will continue to plague and 
hamper the government's efforts to provide security for its 
population.  Post will seek to work with the new Honduran 
Government to urge them to work to correct these problems of 
crime and corruption.  End Comment. 
 
¶8. RSO POC for this case is A/RSO Bill Stowell.  Questions 
concerning the AmCit prisoners at Tamara can be directed to 
ConOff Kathleen Corey.  Human rights questions can be 
directed to PolOff Ben Brown. 
 
Ford