US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1950

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001950 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, DRL/IL, AND DRL/PHD 
DOL FOR ILAB 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, PGOV, PREL, KDEM, HO 
SUBJECT:  HONDURAN LABOR LEADER IS MURDERED ON MAJOR HIGHWAY; NO 
EVIDENCE YET THAT MURDER IS CONNECTED TO HIS POSITION 
 
REF: Tegucigalpa 
 
1. Francisco Cruz Galeano, a 44 year-old General Confederation of 
Workers (CGT) labor leader and coordinator for the regions of 
Comayagua, Intibuca and La Paz, was shot to death on September 11 
in Ojo de Agua, on the road from Comayagua to Siguatepeque. 
Darwing Roberto Maradiaga, who was traveling with Cruz, was 
injured in the shoulder and leg.  Cruz was driving a four-wheel 
drive vehicle when the murderers intercepted him.  An 
undetermined number of assailants opened fire on the vehicle from 
the bushes on the highway.  Cruz Galeano was reportedly hit by 25 
bullets.  As of September 16 police had no lead on the 
perpetrators.  A special team from the General Direction of 
Criminal Investigation (DGIC) was assigned to work on the case. 
Leaders from the CGT have asked the Ministry of Public Security 
for priority answers in this case. 
 
2. Daniel Duron, Secretary General of the CGT, stated publicly 
that the attempt on Cruz Galeano's life was carefully planned and 
it was not a random assault.  Investigators believe that 
individuals who perpetrated the murder knew of Cruz Galeano's 
comings and goings and knew the escape routes out of the area. 
Among possible hypotheses, police are considering revenge due to 
land tenure problems, an extramarital affair, possible debts, or 
his actions as leader of the CGT. 
 
3. Political Chief spoke September 21 to Duron, an excellent 
Embassy contact, to express condolences for the death to the CGT 
and Cruz Galeano's family (who Duron was visiting at the time of 
the call).  Duron said the CGT does not want to speculate on why 
Cruz Galeano was murdered, but he noted that he was an active 
labor leader and his murder might be related to his labor work. 
He promised to keep the Embassy informed about any information 
the CGT obtained about the murder.  PolChief told Duron the 
Embassy was expressing USG interest in the investigation to the 
Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the police. 
 
Williard