Cablegate: Media Reaction On Drug Trafficking, June 3, 2003

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001272

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/PDA (MBUCKLEY); WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV IZ HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DRUG TRAFFICKING, JUNE 3, 2003

1. Editorial on liberal daily "La Tribuna", Tegucigalpa based
6/3 entitled: "Plastic Jails". If Honduras does not
demonstrate a serious interest on the fight against drug
trafficking, it could become an issue which may harm the
relationship between Honduras and the United States. This
happened to Guatemala, which has recently been accused of a
serious lack of compliance to international regulations
concerning this issue.

Honduras worked closely with the United States in the fight
against drug trafficking. Now, there are more severe laws to
penalize narco trafficking, as well as other criminal
activities related to drug trafficking, such as money
laundering.

However, there is no point if the Honduran authorities arrest
and convict people responsible of such actions if the bars of
its jails are made of plastic. This situation could be much
worse if it is true that some authorities have collaborated
in the escape of these criminals, as in the case of two
convicted drug dealers who escaped when they were taken back
to prison under police custody.

Pierce

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