Honduras: Two high-profile assassinations today

[rabs]

One was Julián Arístides Gonzáles, 57, a retired army general and head of the government's anti-drug agency (Dirección Nacional de Lucha contra el Narcotráfico (DLCN). He was shot to death, after dropping off his daughter at a school in Teguz, by two hitmen on a motorcycle. He had been under death threats (presumably from drug traffickers and had planned to retire to Canada in a couple of months.

Link to scene where he was shot, body, and police conference: (top left, video)

http://www.elheraldo.hn/

The other was retired army Col. Osiris O'Connor Bain, a cousin of golpista president Micheletti. O'Connor was shot to death in the village of El Edén, about 100 kilometers north of Teguz. His driver also was shot and killed in what cops said was an ambush. He was the brother of the head of security for the national congress.

No suspects or motive in either assassination so far.

You will remember that goriletti's nephew was kidnapped and executed couple of months ago near San Pedro Sula, along with another man. That crime is unresolved, but Globo chat room people were talking that it had been drug-related.

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[rabs]

1. English version from BBC on anti-drugs chief's assassination

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8402521.stm


BBC article sort of hints that thanks to the Hillary/Obama bungling of the golpista coup d' etat, Honduras has become a narco-state under the gorilettis. :rofl:

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Gen Aristides said recently he believed smuggling had surged since the US limited anti-drugs co-operation with Honduras in protest at the ousting of President Zelaya in June.

Police have said they have detected more aircraft carrying drugs but have limited resources to stop them without US helicopters and radar

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BBC has not gotten around to reporting assassination of goriletti's cousin yet.

[Judi Lynn]

2. How dare the U.S. briefly suspend drug surveillance duties just because

the whole world recoiled from a bunch of racist, slimy, greedy pig men decided to steal the government from the democratically elected President, and the people of Honduras.

Isn't that sick?

Meanwhile it's only barely acknowledged that:

On Monday, Gen Aristides had presented a report about drug trafficking through Honduras and voiced concern about the number of landing strips in Honduras that traffickers were using.

He said land owners who allowed their property to be used could face charges of involvement in drug smuggling.

Apparently a man who would even dream of impugning the integrity of the large landowners is living on borrowed time!

Thanks, rabs.

These political assassinations do seem very targeted. Too bad the truth of what has been happening will never be heard outside the country.

[flamingdem]

3. There are some 40,000 gang members in Honduras

and much of that activity has to do with drugs. It's a much higher number than the neighboring countries.