US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1141

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001141 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, DRL/PHD, INL/LP, INR, CA, AND DS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, SNAR, KCRM, KJUS, CASC, ASEC, HO 
SUBJECT: SAN PEDRO SULA PRISON FIRE KILLS 103 INMATES; 
SECOND DEADLY PRISON FIRE IN LITTLE OVER A YEAR 
 
REF: A. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 1742 
 
     B. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 861 
     C. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 1309 
 
Classified By: DCM Roger D. Pierce; Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) A fire allegedly caused by an electrical short circuit 
in a refrigerator for soft drinks in a cell block for gang 
members killed 103 inmates in a prison on the outskirts of 
San Pedro Sula.  Approximately 25 injured prisoners were 
treated at a nearby hospital.  (Two other injured prisoners 
died at the hospital.)  The vast majority of the victims were 
members of the gang "Mara Salvatrucha," AKA "13."  The 
incident caused President Ricardo Maduro to cut short his 
trip to Europe and announce he plans to return to Honduras. 
 
2. (U) The prison, reportedly built to hold 800 prisoners, 
housed approximately 1,960 prisoners at the time of the fire 
according to the GOH.  San Pedro Sula is Honduras' second 
largest city and economic capital, but is plagued by gang 
violence and an extremely high murder rate. 
 
3. (SBU) Police are speculating that Mara Salvatrucha's 
rival, the "M-18 (diez y ocho)" gang, may have deliberately 
set the fire.  Others are sure to soon blame the GOH for the 
fire given what happened in April 2003 at the El Porvenir 
prison near La Ceiba.  While at least one inmate claimed that 
prison guards shot at prisoners, prison authorities said that 
the only shots fired were into the air to prevent a mass 
escape.  Currently, there is no evidence that any of the 
victims were shot. 
 
4. (U) Note:  On April 5, 2003, 68 persons, 61 of them gang 
members, were killed in a violent incident at El Porvenir 
prison near La Ceiba.  Reports produced by the Public 
Ministry, a Special Commission of the Honduran National 
Council for Internal Security (CONASIN), and the Human Rights 
Commissioner placed the blame for the vast majority of the 
deaths on government security forces (police and military 
under police command) and non-gang member inmate trusties. 
(See refs A-C for background and septel for an update.)  End 
Note. 
 
5. (U) There are two American citizen prisoners at the 
prison, but the Embassy's Consular Agent in San Pedro Sula 
has confirmed that neither was injured in the fire. 
 
6. (U) Minister of Public Security Oscar Alvarez told Embassy 
Law Enforcement Advisor that the GOH would thoroughly 
investigate the incident.  EmbOff offered the assistance of a 
law enforcement consultant currently working with the Police 
Internal Affairs Unit if needed. 
 
7. (C) Comment:  Especially given the April 2003 incident at 
the El Porvenir prison, there are likely to be allegations 
that the GOH is either (a) responsible for setting the fire, 
(b) negligent in letting a fire be started, and/or (c) 
negligent for allegedly not assisting the inmates in their 
burning cell block immediately.  However, as noted above, it 
is quite possible that gang rivalries could have led to this 
incident.  Violence between gang members (both inside and 
outside the prisons) is common.  Past violent incidents have 
occurred at this San Pedro Sula prison, including grenades 
thrown over the prison walls.  The San Pedro Sula prison has 
less controls than the main Tamara prison outside of 
Tegucigalpa.  Post will closely follow the investigation of 
this incident and urge the GOH to conduct a complete and 
transparent investigation.  End Comment. 
Palmer