Military Given Full Powers to Fight Crime in Honduras

[Judi Lynn]

Military Given Full Powers to Fight Crime in Honduras
By Thelma Mejía
Wednesday, September 4, 2013

TEGUCIGALPA, Sep 4 2013 (IPS) - Human rights defenders and members of the opposition in Honduras see a new elite military unit created to engage in policing as a drastic setback for the demilitarisation efforts that began two decades ago.
The Military Police of Public Order will be launched in October, initially with 900 officers, to be built up to 5,000 by early 2014.

It was created to carry out law enforcement duties in shantytowns and other poor neighbourhoods where the civil police force has pulled out, overwhelmed by the greater organisation and firepower of common criminals and organised crime. It will also have powers to call up military reservists and engage in domestic intelligence activities.

The new unit’s intelligence efforts will be in addition to the work carried out by the National Intelligence Directorate, created six months ago, the Anti-Drug Trafficking Directorate and the anti-drug prosecution service.

Ramón Custodio, the national human rights commissioner or ombudsman, said he was staunchly opposed to the new body on the grounds that it violated the constitution and virtually ensured the demise of the national civilian police, re-established 15 years ago when the military began to yield power to civilians.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/09/military-given-full-powers-to-fight-crime-in-honduras/

[Bacchus4.0]

1. they just did the same in Venezuela n/t

s

[Link Speed]

2. We were talking about this yesterday

Wondering how the country could possibly get any more screwed up and my business partner said that the military could be turned loose on the populace.

Well...