US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA649

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000649 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR S/CT, PM, INL/LP, G/TIP, DRL/PHD, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2014 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, PREL, PGOV, SMIG, PHUM, HO 
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP -- TEGUCIGALPA 
MEETING; U.S. ONLY COUNTRY PROVIDING CT ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: STATE 14279 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Palmieri; 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: At our first Counterterrorism Action Group 
(CTAG) meeting to discuss counterterrorism (CT) assistance to 
the Government of Honduras (GOH) and assess GOH CT needs, 
representatives of G-8 missions, Spain, and the European 
Union (EU) all concurred that the threat of a terrorist 
attack in Honduras remains low.  At this time, no other 
government or international organization, apart from the 
U.S., has active CT programs in Honduras.  The participants 
had the opportunity to review U.S. CT assistance programs in 
Honduras, and some support was expressed for a Central 
American regional CT program if one were to be developed. 
Embassy plans to invite representatives from the GOH to 
participate in the next CTAG meeting.  End Summary 
 
2. (U) Embassy Tegucigalpa hosted its CTAG meeting March 9, 
to share information on current U.S. CT programs and 
assistance to Honduras with other interested governments and 
to review and assess GOH CT needs.  In attendance were 
representatives from the following embassies:  France, 
Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan.  A representative of the 
European Union also participated.  PolOff met separately with 
a representative from Canada who could not attend the March 9 
meeting. 
 
3. (C) All participants concurred that the threat of a 
terrorist incident in Honduras remains low.  There was 
agreement, however, that the GOH lacks the ability to 
effectively control its borders and that this remains 
problematic.  Participants agreed that alien smuggling and 
trafficking in persons, organized crime syndicates, and 
narcotrafficking remain the largest external threats facing 
Honduras, particularly as some of these organizations could 
possibly be affiliated with terrorist organizations in 
Colombia.  Control of Honduras identity documents is weak and 
fraudulent passports are easily obtained via corrupt public 
officials.  The fact that Honduras has yet to name a CT 
Coordinator, as obligated by the UN, was also highlighted. 
(Note:  Honduras convened an emergency National Security 
meeting attended by Minister of Defense Federico Breve, 
Minister of Public Security Oscar Alvarez, and Minister of 
Interior and Justice Jorge Ramon Hernandez Alecerro to 
discuss the March 11 terrorist attack in Madrid, Spain and to 
review Honduras' security postures.  The GOH is concerned 
that it might possibly be targeted for future terrorist 
attacks due to its support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. End 
Note) 
 
4. (SBU) Participants noted that Honduras is the only country 
in the region, apart from Panama, to have signed and ratified 
all UN and OAS counterterrorism treaties, conventions, and 
protocols.  (Note:  Decrees making official congressional 
approval of three of the conventions are awaiting 
presidential signature and publication.  End Note.)  Honduras 
also does appears to do a better job than its neighbors at 
apprehending illegal aliens and their smugglers, although the 
GOH needs more assistance in investigative techniques and 
with how to orchestrate undercover operations.  The Honduran 
Frontier Police remain the most capable law enforcement 
entity in the country and they would likely be called upon to 
respond to any internal terrorist threat, although the 
organization is not particularly geared toward CT activities. 
 The Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF) are also in the process of 
reconfiguring their Special Forces Battalion (stationed in La 
Venta) into a more effective CT unit.  No CTAG participant 
has, however, conducted an independent assessment of GOH CT 
needs and capabilities. 
 
5. (SBU) Political Counselor reviewed with the participants 
recent U.S. CT and law enforcement assistance/training to the 
GOH to include: port security; INL programs; money laundering 
training; assistance with machine readable passports; some 
special forces training; the construction of a shoothouse in 
La Venta; and training to Honduran immigration, customs, law 
enforcement, and border guards to better identify fraudulent 
documents, impostors, suspicious persons, and in recognizing 
bonafide U.S. documents, all to help combat alien smuggling 
and trafficking in persons and contraband. 
------ 
Canada 
------ 
 
6. (U) Canada does not currently have any CT programs planned 
or in place for Honduras.  Their Embassy is, however, 
interested in participating in a regional CT program if one 
were to be developed. 
 
----- 
Japan 
----- 
 
7. (U) Counselor Naganuma of Japan reported that, in the 
past, the GOJ has sent some Honduran law enforcement agents 
to Japan for training, although no programs are currently 
ongoing.  He also noted the possibility of illegal Chinese 
immigrants transiting Honduras on their way to the U.S., 
using stolen Japanese passports. 
 
------ 
France 
------ 
 
8. (U) France does provide some limited police 
training/assistance to the GOH although this does not focus 
on CT efforts.  France currently has no plans to fund CT 
projects or training in Honduras. 
 
------- 
Germany 
------- 
 
9. (U) Germany does not have any ongoing programs in Honduras 
that would contribute to the GOH's ability to conduct CT 
operations. 
 
----- 
Italy 
----- 
 
10. (U) Italy does not have any ongoing CT programs in 
Honduras. 
 
----- 
Spain 
----- 
 
11. (U) Spain has been providing some limited training to the 
GOH through assistance to the Public Ministry to improve rule 
of law, the intelligence services, and to modernize the 
security forces, but there has been no real focus on CT 
efforts. 
 
-------------- 
European Union 
-------------- 
 
12. (U) The EU has not particularly focused on law 
enforcement or CT threats in Central America and no programs 
are currently being planned. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
In Honduras, G-8 Not Focused on CT Issues 
----------------------------------------- 
 
13. (SBU) Comment:  Other diplomatic missions in Honduras 
remain primarily focused on traditional consular services, 
rule of law, and development issues.  There is a growing 
consensus, however, that transnational threats such as alien 
smuggling/trafficking in persons and organized crime 
syndicates need to be better addressed.  There is some 
interest in a regional CT program if one were to be 
developed.  Embassy will continue to work with  CTAG members 
to support efforts to enhance Honduran law enforcement, 
military, and judicial institutions to address these 
concerns.  Embassy will invite a representative from the GOH 
to the next CTAG meeting.  End Comment. 
PALMER