Honduras: When will the US stop funding death squads?

[Judi Lynn]

Honduras: When will the US stop funding death squads?

It is time for the US to stop aid to Honduras as there is credible evidence of human rights abuses.

Last Modified: 04 Jun 2013 14:31
Lauren Carasik

A resurgence of death squad activity targeting suspected gang members and others is exacting a mounting toll in Honduras, a country already wracked by violence and impunity. As documented in a series of AP investigative reports, it is increasingly apparent that US-funded Honduran National Police are dispatching summary justice to gang members, in a policy of "social cleansing", with complete impunity.

Since evidence has surfaced linking the Honduran police to death squad activity, US support for the police would violate the "Leahy Law", which mandates withholding aid to foreign security forces when credible evidence exists that they have committed human rights abuses.

Most notably, the director of the Honduran Police, Juan Carlos "El Tigre" Bonilla, is suspected of previous involvement in death squad activity, including three homicides, and is allegedly linked to 11 other deaths and disappearances.

Despite the US' position that funds are carefully administered to avoid supporting human rights abuses, a March AP investigative report found that the US was sending aid to Honduras in contravention of the restriction. Yet the US State Department continues to claim that funding only flows to specially-vetted forces outside of Bonilla's control.

More:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/06/201363749961821.html

[ocpagu]

1. Excellent question.

When?

This is barbaric. Outdated. Unacceptable for a society living in the 21st century. Not only from US, of course, the sick criminals conducting the social cleansing in Honduras and elsewhere are equally guilty, but it can not be accepted as a standard practice of foreign policy any longer. Enough.

And how about this?

"Seeming to contradict the approach previously articulated by his boss, Brownfield recently expressed his respect and admiration for Bonilla's effective police work'"

Why Kerry hasn't fired this guy yet?

Thanks for this very nice article, Judi!

[Demeter]

2. We'd have to break the Corporate/Government connection at home. first. And I do mean BREAK!

Which would have the added benefit of ending human rights abuses in this country, or at least, making them politically unsupportable...

Dethroning the Global Corporations with their illusions of Empire could only benefit all the peoples of the world.