US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1197

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 001197 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR DS/IP/FPO FREDERICK GARDNER, IP/WHA CRAIG MASS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABUD, AFIN, AMGT, ASEC, KESS, KICA, KSEP 
SUBJECT: TEGUCIGALPA FY 2004 AND FY 2005 LGP REDUCTIONS 
 
REF: A. STATE 096070 
     B. POST HARDSHIP DIFFERENTIAL REPORT CRIME SECTION 
        ATTACHMENT A 
     C. TEGUCIGALPA 00883 QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT 1 
        QUARTER 2004 
     D. TEGUCIGALPA 00542 SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE 
        QUESTIONNAIRE 
     E. TEGUCIGALPA 00224 QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT 4 
        QUARTER 2003 
     F. TEGUCIGALPA 00224 ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION 
        QUESTIONNAIRE 
     G. TEGUCIGALPA 00224 ANNUAL CRIME SAFETY REPORT FOR 
        OSAC 
     H. TEGUCIGALPA 02880 QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT 3 
        QUARTER 2003 
     I. TEGUCIGALPA 01951 QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT 2 
        QUARTER 2003 
     J. TEGUCIGALPA 00374 QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT 4 
        QUARTER 2002 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary:  Post carefully reviewed and is modifying 
the Local Guard Program (LGP) contract in order to meet the 
requested 3.3 percent LGP reduction goal (approximately 
$18,000) for FY 2004.  RSO is currently working with the GSO 
contracting office to negotiate a reduction in contract 
vehicles cost as a result of these modifications.  This 
reduction could result in an additional 4 percent to the FY 
2005. The total reduction to Post LGP will equal 7.5 percent 
(dependent on the reduction in contract vehicle cost).  Post 
EAC has carefully reviewed these modifications/cuts and 
unanimously agree that no further reductions can be absorbed 
given the current security environment.  The initial reaction 
by members of the EAC was to find a way to maintain the 
current program.  Five Agency heads individually supported an 
increase in ICASS cost to counter the budget cut (This idea 
was researched but was found not to be feasible.  Tegucigalpa 
is a high crime threat post (borderline critical) with 
ever-increasing real crime.  Many EAC members questioned why 
the Department was requesting funding cuts at a high crime 
post.  End summary. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Since the third quarterly status report in 2002, 
every subsequent report (QSR) submitted has contained 
incidents of Mission employees being victimized - most events 
occurring in and around the Chancery, USAID building and 
residential areas of Mission employee housing.  The following 
list highlights specific examples of assaults that have been 
on the increase during the last 18 months.  During this same 
time period, RSO issued more than twenty Mission-wide 
security advisories via e-mail to employees and family 
members.  This list notes only the more egregious crimes 
against Mission members and does not include harassment, 
conventional thefts or crimes against Mission locally 
employed staff (LES) outside of their official duties: 
 
     (Reftel J) The Milgroup Commander was assaulted by 
three robbers outside a local pizza take-out store.  He was 
struck on the head with a brick, threatened with more severe 
injury and robbed. 
 
     (Reference B) An EFM was robbed at gunpoint near a 
bakery frequented by U.S. Mission families close to the 
Embassy. 
 
     (Reference B) A USAID Honduran employee was robbed and 
threatened by a motorcycle robber (Note - Robbers, often as 
two-man teams, utilize medium-sized motorcycles.  This MO is 
so common that Mission security advice warns that any two men 
on a medium-sized motorcycle should be considered armed and 
dangerous until proven otherwise.) as she walked from her 
parked vehicle to the USAID entrance (The USAID building is 
directly across the street from the Chancery). 
 
     (Reftel H) Twelve Honduran Embassy employees were held 
hostage and robbed at gunpoint while preparing a residence 
for an incoming Mission family.  Two employees suffered 
injuries requiring medical attention.  There were four 
additional home invasions during the quarter against 
non-Mission residences but they occured close or adjacent to 
Mission residences. 
 
     (Reftel H) Three American TDY employees were threatened 
and robbed at gunpoint by motorcycle robbers close to an 
embassy perimeter entrance.  One female was assaulted, beaten 
and required medical attention. (10 stitches) 
 
     (Reftel E) An MSG was robbed at gunpoint by three men 
traveling in a taxi close to the MSG house. 
 
     (Reftel C) The visiting mother of the MilGroup 
Commander was robbed by a motorcycle robber as she exited her 
vehicle. 
 
     (Reftel C) Another USAID Honduran employee was robbed 
and threatened by an armed motorcycle robber as she walked 
from her parked vehicle to the USAID entrance. 
 
     (Reference B)  Peace Corps Country Director's home was 
invaded by three armed men.  The Director, his spouse and 
daughter, and 6 Honduran house guests were held hostage, 
assaulted and robbed at gunpoint as three men threatened 
murder, kidnapping, and further reprisals if they reported 
the attack. 
 
3.  (SBU)  Additional circumstances affecting the Post 
security program: 
 
Honduras is the third most violent country in Latin America 
and one of the most corrupt.  These facts, combined with the 
lowest per capita ratio of police in Latin America (5400 
police for a population of 6 million and 1100 police in 
Tegucigalpa for a population of 1 million - gang members 
outnumber the police in the capital by 18:1.) exacerbate a 
dangerous, multi-faceted criminal threat to Mission 
employees, family members, and the resident American 
community.  Police response to emergencies is problematic and 
unpredictable.  During the recent home invasion of the Peace 
Corps Country Director, the response time of the local police 
was more than an hour - this, after nine people were 
threatened and held at gunpoint by armed men. 
 
Another example of the inability of the local police to 
respond to an emergency occurred when the neighbor (they have 
a shared wall) of the DCM (also the landlord of the current 
DCM residence) was shot in the face inside his residence in 
an assassination attempt.  Fortunately, the victim fled to 
the street and was spotted by an alert Embassy guard at the 
DCM residence.  The guard immediately notified the LGF 
Command Center which in turn notified the local police and 
dispatched the LGF residential sector mobile patrol to the 
area.  Upon arrival, the mobile patrol guards administered 
first aid and took the victim to the hospital, saving his 
life.  Local Police arrived at the scene more than 45 minutes 
later and only after being brought there by the Embassy 
roving patrol. 
 
In effect, the Post LGF is the Mission's police force and 
first and last line of defense.  The much-needed residential 
security program is critical to maintaining Mission security, 
morale, and an environment where American employees and their 
families can feel safe.  In times of emergencies, the only 
help is the LGF which responds within minutes - minutes that 
can save lives.  The Embassy LGF accounts for more 
apprehensions and detentions of criminals near Mission 
facilities and residences than the local police.  At any 
given time during non-business hours, the local police have 
only one patrol vehicle dedicated to an area greater than all 
Mission residential sectors combined. 
 
Currently, the Mission LGF is managed by InterCon, which has 
operations worldwide.  Since April of 1998, InterCon has had 
19 guard deaths in Honduras.  In Colombia during the same 
time frame, InterCon has had 1 guard death.  While InterCon 
Honduras represents only 4 percent of InterCon's worldwide 
operations, the Honduras operation has accounted for 40 
percent of InterCon "line of duty" guard deaths and has had 
more guards killed than all of InterCon's other overseas 
operations combined, including Africa.  This fact, combined 
with a Honduran murder case closure rate of less than 1.5 
percent, creates a dangerous environment where murder is 
commonplace and crime pays well. (35 American citizens have 
been murdered since 1997 and all but 3 cases remain open.) 
 
In view of the information above, RSO has evaluated the local 
guard contract and proposes the following deductions to 
accommodate, as fully as possible, the mandated cuts. 
 
4.  (SBU)  FY 2004 LGP reductions:  The following is an 
itemized list of reductions and cost savings. 
 
Position    Function Code  Hours Cut    Dollar Value 
SD-3         9912          eliminated    $1,094 
M-9          5822          976           $1,288 
M-10         5822          976           $1,181 
M-11         5822          eliminated    $3,865 
M-12         5822          eliminated    $3,543 
C-11         5826          eliminated    $1,096 
G-2          5826          eliminated    $767 
CA-2         5826          255           $696 
C-1          5826          2,078         $5,673 
 
A total of $19,204 in savings equaling a 3.5 percent 
reduction for FY 2004. 
 
5.  (SBU)  FY 2005 reductions:  RSO, in cooperation with GSO 
contracting office, is working to negotiate a reduction in 
vehicle cost as a result of a decrease in roving patrols from 
six to five.  While it is estimated that this could result in 
a savings of nearly $16,000 per year, multiple issues 
(dealing with local laws and regulations that are arcane, 
complex and skewed in the interest of the GOH) could factor 
into the final reduction figure. 
 
6.  (SBU)  Post EAC concurs with the above planned guard 
cuts.  Any further reduction in guard force could have a 
serious negative impact on Post morale.  The home invasion 
mentioned earlier has left many families feeling vulnerable 
and has spawned numerous requests for static guard positions 
at residences in addition to the roving patrols.  The RSO 
office is continuing an aggressive security awareness program 
to counter threats faced by personnel and re-enforcing the 
theme that security is a shared responsibility. 
 
7.  (U)  POC for this cable is ARSO Dennis LeBow. 
IVG-539-4504. 
Palmer