VZCZCXYZ0027
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTG #0433/01 0652132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 062132Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1309
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DS/DSS, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/SPC/MSG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KSAC PGOV PINR HO
SUBJECT: RECENT SECURITY INCIDENTS MAY INDICATE A TREND OF 
INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN HONDURAS 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 00427 
 
¶1. (SBU)  SUMMARY: Since the transition into power one month 
ago of the elected Liberal Party government of President Jose 
Manuel "Mel" Zelaya, RSO has seen a slow but steady increase 
in the reported cases of armed robberies, muggings, murders, 
and other violent crime throughout Honduras.  These events 
occur during both daytime and nighttime hours, and they occur 
in all areas of Tegucigalpa -- including near the U.S. 
Embassy and in/around Mission residential neighborhoods.  A 
high percentage of these criminal acts involve the use of 
firearm(s).  There have been five such incidents reported to 
RSO within the last several days, one of which involving a 
Marine Security Guard, one involving an Amcit Mission 
employee, and one involving a visiting U.S. Army MEDRETE 
doctor. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Over the past several weeks, RSO has received an 
increasing number of reports of violent criminal activity in 
Tegucigalpa.  Although crime has historically been high 
throughout Honduras, (and statistics are never very 
reliable), recent trends seem to indicate that violent crime 
is on the rise since the appointment of the new Minister of 
Public Security, Alvaro Romero, one month ago.  Thus far, 
Romero, a former Army General, has been presented in at least 
some press coverage as having a rather "soft hand" on 
security matters, mainly due to his desire for open dialogue 
with gang leaders.  RSO has also found it difficult to 
establish an open channel of communications with Romero as he 
has been somewhat difficult to contact.  RSO realizes that he 
has only been in office for a brief period, and will continue 
to attempt to foster a solid, professional working 
relationship with the Ministry of Public Security so that 
mutual security concerns may be addressed, benefiting both 
the USG and the GOH. 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Some of the recent security incidents include: 
 
a.  On 2/20/2006 at 1330 hours, a male Honduran was walking 
to a shopping center located 1/2 block from the Embassy when 
he passed a male/female couple.  After passing them, the male 
suspect ran behind him and placed a pistol to his throat and 
demanded his cellphone.  The victim surrendered his cellphone 
immediately and the thieves departed the area on foot. (RSO 
note: the robbery of cellphones is a common occurrence here, 
and the assailants have murdered their victims during such 
assaults -- even if there is no resistance and for nothing 
more than their cellphones.  End Note.) 
 
b.  On 2/22/2006 at 2000 hours, an Amcit employee of the U.S. 
Embassy got out of her vehicle to drop an item off at a 
residence -- leaving her teenage son in the front seat of the 
vehicle.  Two Honduran males, who were standing on the 
sidewalk two houses away, noticed the driver exit the 
vehicle.  One of the men walked by the car and noticed a 
purse in the front seat with the door unlocked.  Acting 
immediately, he opened the vehicle door and attempted to take 
the purse.  The teenager and the employee began to struggle 
with the thief, which prompted his partner to enter into the 
scene.  His partner, who was armed with a pistol, told the 
teenager to let go of the purse or he would shoot his mother. 
 The teenager released the purse and the two assailants fled 
on foot down the road.  This incident took place in the Lomas 
del Guijarro neighborhood where numerous Embassy residences 
are located. 
 
c.  On 2/25/2006 at 1000 hours, two men in a stolen taxi 
assaulted two other men riding in a Toyota Tercel two blocks 
east of the Embassy.  The victims, who work at an 
unidentified company, apparently had just left a nearby bank 
branch with an undisclosed amount of money purportedly for 
the company's payroll.  According to eyewitnesses, two 
assailants started firing at the two victims while the taxi 
had pulled alongside the Tercel.  The perpetrators then got 
out, grabbed the money and fled east in the same taxi.  The 
passenger died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds and 
the driver was taken to a local hospital with three gunshot 
wounds (condition unknown). 
 
d.  On 03/01/2006 at approximately 1840 hours in the vicinity 
of the Marriott Hotel, the team leader of a visiting U.S. 
Army MEDRETE-Urology team, who was accompanied by a Honduran 
physician, had his vehicle approached while stopped at a red 
light by an individual brandishing a small caliber handgun. 
The gunman demanded access to the vehicle, and upon gaining 
entry, pointed the gun at them and demanded that they drive. 
The Army physician attempted to wrestle the gun from the 
assailant, but was unsuccessful and fled the scene during the 
 
altercation.  He ran the two blocks back to the Marriott 
Hotel and received first aid for his hand which he lacerated 
during the attempt to seize the perpetrator's weapon.  The 
Honduran physician later returned to the hotel and stated 
that he was uninjured and had let the gunman out at a local 
hospital. 
 
e.  On 03/05/2006 at 0150 hours, RSO received a duty call 
from Post 1 stating that two Marines were fired upon while 
leaving a local nightclub.  No one was injured but the 
unarmored Marine van was impacted by five to six 9 millimeter 
rounds.  RSO contacted local authorities and interviewed both 
Marines and the Marine driver.  It appears that the shooting 
started over the Marines talking with a local Honduran female 
outside of a nightclub that the Marines frequent.  At this 
stage of the investigation, local authorities believe that 
the shooter may be a Honduran police officer (reftel). 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  RSO has distributed security notices to Mission 
personnel warning them of the apparent rise in crime, and to 
remain vigilant when traveling about town.  As the violence 
is seen not only in the poorer sections of the city, but also 
in the more upscale areas, employees have been advised that 
there are no safe areas where one can let down their guard. 
RSO will continue to update Mission personnel and family 
members on the crime situation and offer guidance on safe 
personal protective measures. 
Ford