E D I T O R I A L and O P I N I O N

11/28/2013

Honduras Postures for Victory Against Transnational Organized Crime

The deeply troubled nation of Honduras within the northern cone region of Central America is opulently anticipating the inauguration on January 27, 2014 of their newly elected President Juan Orlando Hernndez (45).

Juan Orlando Hernndez

Although with at least 66.7 percent of the 3,233,000 votes cast in Sunday's presidential election in Honduras counted and reported, it appears clear now that National Party candidate Hernndez is the winner with 34 percent of the vote. Election officials called the vote irreversible with less than 50 percent of the vote counted. Libre Party candidate Xiomara Castro de Zelaya was at 29 percent and would not concede. Election observers for both the European Union and Organization of American States issued statements describing the election and vote count as transparent. Xiomara Castro is the wife of former Honduran leftist President Manuel Zelaya. The controversial Manuel Zelaya served as president of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009 when he was removed from office after planning a referendum to change the Honduran Constitution to lift presidential term limits like his mentor; the late president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez.

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Much of Manuel Zelaya's woes stem from his history- from what has been described as a centrist to one who morphed into a radical leftist. Elected as a conservative, Zelaya shifted to the political left during his presidency, forging an alliance with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) led by the late President Hugo Chavez. Zelaya closely aligned himself with Chavez, and other leftist presidents- Evo Morales of Bolivia, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua.

Morales, ZELAYA, Ortega, Chavez, Correa

In this critical Honduran election, Hondurans needed to decide whether a Zelaya return to power might transform their nation into a socialist state, and bring a renewed radical populist threat to Central America. Plus, a need to resist a corrupt Hugo Chavez-like massive misuse of the state and political apparatus had to be considered. President Elect Hernndez has critical challenges ahead that are facing the country. A divided Congress will likely face Hernndez, whose 128 members were also elected Sunday. For 120 years, Honduran politics were dominated by just two parties - the National Party and the Liberal Party - alongside intermittent periods of military rule. There is speculation that the political situation is unlikely to change much in this nation of 8.5 million people- home to the worlds highest homicide rate and widespread poverty. Honduras armed criminal insurgents, in effect, have a common agenda of goals that include murder with impunity, crimes with barbaric violence, territorial control, corruption of police and government officials, and massive profits. What they cannot earn is simply taken, along with massive human life. The question is what strategy is needed to have an immediate impact? Hernndez must not ignore the means of this transnational enemy that carries no flag of allegiance. The weapons of power they possess to achieve superiority over legitimate authority is a critical issue. These criminal insurgents attack government officials, police officers, journalists and other innocents. These enemies have solidified their presence and territories throughout the regions. They are in essence a de facto authority that has neutralized the rule of law and weakened government. Honduras deployed defenses must be unwavering, swift, and decisive in order to truly be effective. Honduras presidentelect has already named a transition team. President elect Hernndez comes with impressive credentials. He was elected to Congress for the first time at age 29. He served as the President of the National Congress; is a lawyer; obtained a Masters Degree in Legislative Administration from the State University of New York at Albany in 1995; served as a Professor of Constitutional Law in the Law School of National University of Honduras 1997-1999; was a reserve army lieutenant; and Director of the National Council of Youth in 1991.
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Hernndez has vowed to "do whatever it takes" to control the violence that has saddled Honduras with an annual murder rate of more than 85 per 100,000 inhabitants- this at a time when public debt is mounting and the economy is unstable. While in Congress, he oversaw a reform to allow the extradition of Hondurans involved in organized crime to the United States, and deployed a militarized police force to reclaim control of a nation. His plans are to continue to strengthen the force to battle the escalating violence and organized criminal insurgents, alongside the army. Violence and murder in Honduras has become barbaric with atrocities that include decapitation, dismemberment, hangings, and related bloody acts that are meant to be intimidating and psychological in nature. Assassinations and murder of the elderly and children instil fear both in citizens and their enemies. Honduras, much like Mexico and other northern cone neighbors, is engaged in a battle against a far better-resourced and equipped transnational enemy. There are many other issues that will require diligent attention by this new administration. The corruption within the political and security system; prevalence of human rights violations, and the impunity with which crimes are committed that ultimately create an ideal breeding ground for maximizing the influence of organized crime must be harnessed. The challenge and substantial response to combating transnational organized crime in Honduras is that it is not solely a matter of addressing corruption and weak institutions, but also one of providing solutions to pressing societal and governance problems. Criminal organizations can deter or inhibit political reform efforts at all levels of a political system by exploiting the perception or actual governments violating of basic democratic principles and could create a natural incentive for such groups to actively attempt to topple democratic governments. A lack of a comprehensive and democratically anchored approach, along with regional cooperation and coordination is highly problematic due to the adaptive nature and resiliency of these violent, powerful and well-armed transnational groups. A continued military presence will be a key component for a period of time for Hernndez while attempting to build effective law enforcement infrastructure and a competent system of prosecution. judicial reform, and a criminal justice system that will stand with the rule of law and avert what could be called a near failed state.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATES United States of America jbrewer@cjiausa.us Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global threat mitigation firm headquartered in northern Virginia. His website is located at http://www.cjiausa.org BREWER Published archives TWITTER: CJIAUSA
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