US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1200

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001200 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL/PHD (KCUMBERLAND), WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, EAID, KDEM, KCRM, KJUS, PGOV, HO 
SUBJECT:  EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY FUND 
PROPOSAL: INVESTIGATING/PROSECUTING EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS 
 
REF: A) State 88764 
 
     B) State 65803 
 
1. Post believes that the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights 
and Labor initiative to address programs that promote human 
rights and democracy can greatly aid Mission efforts to 
strengthen the human rights practices in Honduras, 
particularly in the area of investigating and prosecuting 
extrajudicial killings. 
 
2. Our proposal seeks to improve the Government of Honduras' 
ability to investigate and prosecute suspected extrajudicial, 
summary, and arbitrary executions, particularly of youth. 
This issue is one of the most serious human rights problems in 
Honduras right now.  Post's project is designed to produce 
immediate tangible results and builds on existing POL/INL and 
USAID criminal justice sector strengthening and training 
programs. 
 
3. At Post, POL/INL and USAID provide training to Honduran 
prosecutors and law enforcement personnel on issues of 
internal affairs investigations that focus on suspected 
extrajudicial killings.  In 2003, Post provided technical 
assistance to the Ministry of Public Security (police 
investigators) and Public Ministry (prosecutors) on a specific 
case that allegedly may have involved human rights violations. 
Historically, POL/INL has directed training efforts toward 
prosecutors, investigators, and police at all levels in 
Honduras in the area of law enforcement investigations.  USAID 
has been responsible for training of prosecutors and judges. 
 
4. USAID has worked closely with the Honduran Attorney 
General's office providing significant technical assistance in 
the development of a new oral, adversarial criminal justice 
system under the new Criminal Procedure Code.  USAID has 
developed an excellent working relationship with the Public 
Ministry in the process.  USAID can utilize this current 
relationship and would be responsible for training prosecutors 
and judges on human rights issues such as extrajudicial 
killings. 
 
5. Post is convinced that a country-based and well-coordinated 
approach on the investigations and prosecutions of 
extrajudicial killings is the key to helping Honduras develop 
a more effective, indigenous human rights law enforcement and 
prevention strategy.  In other words, we believe this project 
will yield ancillary benefits in other human rights efforts. 
 
6. Goal:  Post will provide two courses to include training 
and technical assistance that will facilitate strengthened 
institutionalization of the Ministry of Public Security 
Internal Affairs Unit working in cooperation with prosecutors 
and judges focused on human rights-related crimes. 
 
7. Objectives:  This project will provide for one objective 
that will positively impact three separate government offices: 
the internal affairs investigators, prosecutors for human 
rights violations, and judges in human rights cases.  The 
strengthening of investigative and prosecutorial abilities to 
address these crimes as well as the abilities of judges to 
properly convict human rights crimes is an important objective 
that will work toward a more clear initiative against human 
rights violations such as extrajudicial killings. 
 
8. Activities:  The Ministry of Public Security (MoPS - 
police) and the Public Ministry (prosecutors) as well as the 
mission have acknowledged a need to focus specific attention 
on alleged extrajudicial killings.  In furtherance of this 
acknowledgement, Post, through its INL program, proposes to 
provide training and technical assistance to the Ministry of 
Public Security to strengthen the Special Investigative Unit 
that will also work closely with POL/INL and other U.S. law 
enforcement agencies in the investigation of suspected 
extrajudicial killings.  Training and technical assistance 
will be provided by USAID to prosecutors and judges to form a 
countrywide group of prosecutors and judges that will work 
closely with investigators to prosecute these crimes. 
 
9. Timeline:  The project as a whole should be completed 
within one year.  Using Post resources, POL/INL and USAID can 
begin the program within 90 days of receiving funds. 
 
10. Sustainability:  At the completion of this plan to 
strengthen the capabilities of the (GOH), the GOH will be 
expected to fund the infrastructure and necessary budget to 
ensure continued success in the investigation and prosecution 
of suspected extra judicial killings.  The Ministry of Public 
Security has already demonstrated a commitment to resolving 
these types of crimes by providing for the Special 
Investigative Unit and Internal Affairs Unit in the proposed 
five-year budget.  The Public Ministry continues to support 
its Special Prosecutor for Human Rights, as well as it Special 
Prosecutor for Children's Issues, which is made up of 
prosecutors that have worked closely with POL/INL and other 
U.S. agencies on suspected crimes involving human rights 
violations. 
 
11. Performance Indicators:  This three-pronged project will 
produce strengthened capabilities of the Special Investigative 
Unit and prosecutors as well as the increased prosecution of 
human rights violations and extrajudicial killings. 
 
12. Evaluation Plan/Process:  The three portions of this 
project will be discussed on a monthly basis at Post's 
Democracy Working Group.  In addition, on a quarterly basis 
Embassy officials will meet with Honduran counterparts to 
discuss and review statistics gathered on arrests, 
prosecutions, and reports of suspected extra judicial 
killings. 
13. Cost:  The cost estimate for the first year of this 
proposed project is $50,000.00 as follows: 
 
Investigative support (POL/INL) 
    a. Training $10,000.00 
    b. Technical assistance and operational support $10,000 
 
Prosecutorial and Judicial Support (USAID) 
    a. Training $20,000 
    b. Technical Assistance $10,000 
 
14. Points of contact are Law Enforcement Advisor Sharon Parks- 
Banda, phone: (504) 236-9320, x4787, IVG: 539-4787, fax: (504) 
236-9462, e-mail: parksbs(at)state.gov, and Human Rights 
Officer Derrick M. Olsen, phone: (504) 236-9320, x4394, IVG: 
539-4394, fax: (504) 238-4446, e-mail: olsendm(at)state.gov. 
 
15. Per para. 7 in reftel B, post's Public Affairs Officer 
Melissa Cooper has grant signing authority for only $10,000. 
 
Palmer