Honduras Government Unveils “Radical Actions” to Combat Organized Crime

In a bid to tackle the country’s soaring crime rates, Honduran President Xiomara Castro unveiled a raft of measures aimed at combating organized crime. However, critics argue that the plan is short on substance and lacks a clear strategy for addressing the root causes of violence.

Measures Announced by President Castro

Speaking at a televised press conference on June 15, Castro said that the government would be implementing “radical actions” to tackle extortion, gang activity, and other forms of organized crime. The measures outlined in a three-page document include:

• Construction of a new prison with a capacity for 20,000 inmates
• Emergency decrees aimed at addressing specific aspects of organized crime

Critics Argue Plan Lacks Substance

However, critics argue that the plan is overly reliant on emergency decrees and lacks a long-term approach to addressing the underlying causes of violence.

“It’s a communication style where you try to communicate that you have a plan, but you don’t really have a plan,” said Andreas Daugaard, Research Coordinator at the Association for a More Just Society (La Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa – ASJ).

Soaring Crime Rates in Honduras

The Honduran government has been under pressure to address its soaring crime rates, with extortion affecting over 11% of households in the country. However, the percentage of households affected by extortion has actually increased since the government first implemented a state of emergency in November 2022.

Ineffective State of Emergency

Critics argue that the state of emergency has been ineffective and has even undermined the rule of law.

“The main impact of the state of emergency has been the violation of society’s fundamental rights,” said an official with knowledge of the judiciary, who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Community Leaders Speak Out

Community leader Daniel Pacheco, from a neighborhood in San Pedro Sula where gangs are locked in an ongoing territorial conflict driven by extortion revenues, said that the state of emergency had “no impact” on the way criminal groups operated. Many police officers were reluctant to enter the area, preferring to remain on the main roads on the outskirts of the community.

Need for a More Effective Approach

Critics say that a more effective approach is needed – one that addresses the root causes of violence and prioritizes community-based solutions.

“It’s clear that the Minister of Security doesn’t understand what happens in these barrios,” said Pacheco. “The authorities keep saying they’ve had huge successes [but criminal groups] continue doing what they’ve always done.”