US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2874

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002874 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR INL/LP, S/CT, INR/IAA, AND CA/OCS/ACS/WHA 
STATE FOR DS/ITA (KHALL) AND DS/IP/WHA (MFLYNN) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2014 
TAGS: KCRM, PGOV, SNAR, KJUS, PHUM, ASEC, CASC, KSAC, HO 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE FEELS POLICE 
RUSHING IN PINNING BUS MASSACRE BLAME ON MARA SALVATRUCHA 
GANG 
 
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 2841 
     B. USDAO TEGUCIGALPA 241424Z DEC 04 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Larry Palmer; 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Honduran military intelligence chief COL Efrain Ochoa 
met at his request December 30 with AMB and DCM to discuss 
his concerns about public statements made by President 
Ricardo Maduro, Minister of Public Security Oscar Alvarez, 
and top police officials about the massacre of 28 people in a 
bus in San Pedro Sula December 23.  Specifically, COL Ochoa 
said military intelligence believed that statements that the 
Mara Salvatrucha gang was responsible for the attack were 
premature and not yet supported by available evidence.  He 
said it was far from conclusive that the nine suspects 
currently being held, including principal suspect and Mara 
Salvatrucha gang leader, Darwin Alexis Ramirez Hernandez, 
were involved in the attack.  COL Ochoa claimed that one 
survivor of the massacre stated that the attackers in their 
actions, demeanor, and appearance, did not appear to be gang 
members.  COL Ochoa said that they appeared to be people who 
had received military training, and not just criminals.  COL 
Ochoa said military intelligence did not know who was 
responsible for the attack. 
 
2. (C) COL Ochoa said the rush to judgment was convenient, in 
keeping with the GOH's anti-gang focus, but may be wrong and 
in any event gave a false sense of security to the populace. 
COL Ochoa reiterated public statements made by Honduran Army 
Commanding General Orlando Velasquez that accusations that a 
military officer had supplied weapons to the attacker were 
wrong.  The name of the alleged culprit (Angel Humberto 
Urquia) was not of a military officer but rather an ex-police 
deputy inspector.  COL Ochoa also said damning statements 
about the alleged involvement of Judge Mirian Barahona may be 
premature.  Such statements stained the image of GOH 
institutions and the country's image, he said. 
 
3. (C) COL Ochoa said military intelligence had received 
information about possible future attacks on police and/or 
military targets in San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque, and on 
the Presidential Palace in Tegucigalpa.  The military has not 
been able to corroborate these alleged planned attacks. 
 
4. (C) Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime 
Doris Aguilar has informally requested technical assistance 
on this case.  Post may soon receive a formal request for 
assistance from her boss, Attorney General Ovidio Navarro, or 
Minister of Public Security Alvarez. 
 
5. (C) Begin Comment:  Aguilar's request suggests that the 
case against the suspects arrested so far may not be as 
strong as GOH officials have stated publicly, a view 
corroborated by COL Ochoa.  Post will monitor closely 
developments in this case.  End Comment. 
Palmer