Central America
Honduran President inaugurates Museum of Memory
June 29 |
Honduran President Xiomara Castro inaugurated on Wednesday the Museum of Memory and Reconciliation in what used to be the Presidential House, located in downtown Tegucigalpa, 14 years after the coup d’état perpetrated against former President José Manuel Zelaya Rosales in 2009.
Castro stressed that the first act of his government was to approve the Law for the Reconstruction of the Constitutional Rule of Law and for the Events Not to Be Repeated, to condemn the coup d’état, compensate its victims and move towards reflection and historical memory.
“Today, with the opening of this Museum of Memory and Reconciliation, we create a space for reflection, a space for learning, a place to meet, to listen to the silenced voices and reconstruct the fundamental values of the creation of our Homeland. Building memory and reconciliation is a complex task,” he stressed.
The Head of State informed that the Secretariat of Human Rights formulated the project to establish the National Day of Truth, Memory and Justice, in addition to the approval of an Executive Decree through which the State assumes the responsibility to support the victims of the unconstitutional coup and their families.
“To those who with their sacrifice taught us that the liberation of our Homeland is not a gift, but a right that we must defend with all our strength, we are here to tell you that your names will remain engraved in the collective memory as a symbol of courage and resistance,” he recalled.
According to the Government Press Secretariat, the president joined the audience attending the evening to chant the names of the heroic men and women who gave their lives to oppose the breaking of the constitutional order, such as Isy Obed Murillo, Roger Vallejo, Wendy Ávila and others.
“Compatriots: together we can build the great Homeland, the dream of Morazán, of Bolívar, of Martí. Honduras today opens its fraternal arms to the solid altar of justice and democratic socialism that only on the basis of a fair and inclusive system can we build”, concluded the head of state.
The event was attended by former President Manuel Zelaya, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Rebeca Raquel Obando; the former President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, members of the National Congress and international guests who accompanied the people of Honduras during the 2009 coup.
Central America
Panama’s Geisha Coffee Retains Pure Ethiopian Genetics, Studies Find
Panama’s exclusive Geisha coffee variety retains the full genetic purity of its Ethiopian ancestors and preserves a distinctive sensory profile, according to two studies presented by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP).
“Ensuring that the genetics we have in Panama remain 100% pure is vital for the country’s future,” Ricardo Koyner, president of Panama’s specialty coffee association, told EFE.
Panamanian Geisha coffee has gained international fame after breaking price records at global auctions. In the latest auction, a kilogram sold for more than $30,000.
The variety is highly sought after, particularly in Asian markets, for its complex flavor, which differs from traditional strong coffee, as well as its distinctive floral aroma.
Studies confirm genetic purity and unique flavor
A genetic analysis conducted in France found that Geisha coffee trees grown in Panama retain the same genetic lineage as the original plants from Ethiopia. Those plants are preserved at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica, through which the coffee variety reached Panama.
“We compared Panama’s Geisha with the original Geisha from CATIE, which is the ancestral reference. The genetics are exactly the same,” explained Christophe Montagnon, director of the study.
According to Montagnon, the findings indicate that Panama has preserved the genetic heritage of the variety over the years.
A second study focused on the sensory characteristics of Panamanian Geisha coffee and identified a distinctive note of white flowers or jasmine, described as particularly sweet and similar to the sensation of drinking jasmine tea.
Fabiana Carvalho, a flavor neuroscientist at the University of Campinas in Brazil, said the characteristic is highly valued in the international specialty coffee market.
“Coffees from Panama that have these sensory markers will be perceived, and already are perceived, as authentic. The final consumer, the coffee drinker, is willing to pay more,” said Carvalho, who led the study aimed at identifying the flavor markers that distinguish Panamanian coffee.
The findings reinforce the reputation of Panama’s Geisha coffee as one of the world’s most distinctive and valuable specialty coffees.
Central America
Honduran Lawyer and Protected Witness in Angie Peña Case Shot Dead
Honduran lawyer and former judicial official Dereck McField was shot and killed on Monday morning, according to local media reports.
The attack took place in the street as McField was returning home after dropping off his young son at school, Honduran outlet HCH reported.
The killing sparked widespread concern after Honduras President Nasry Asfura later confirmed that McField was a protected witness in the case of Angie Peña, a Honduran university student who disappeared on January 1, 2022, while riding a jet ski on an island.
Authorities suspect Peña was trafficked to a criminal network for sexual exploitation. Her jet ski, life jacket and other belongings were found days later on a cay in Belize.
Four men — three Americans and one Honduran — have been charged in connection with the case and remain in pretrial detention as proceedings continue.
At the start of the judicial process in 2024, authorities said they had evidence indicating that Harold Green allegedly sold Peña to William James Murdock for money. Prosecutors said the case included phone records, videos, photographs and witness testimony.
Search operations have been carried out since then in an effort to locate Peña, but she has not been found. Authorities have said they continue to hope that she is alive.
The three U.S. defendants live in Honduras and have tourism-related investments in Roatán.
McField’s killing raises new questions about the safety of witnesses involved in the high-profile case and comes as authorities continue investigating Peña’s disappearance.
Central America
Guatemala Declares Highest Alert in Areas Affected by Fuego Volcano Eruption
Guatemalan authorities declared a red alert, the highest level of danger, on Tuesday in areas affected by the eruption of the Fuego Volcano, located about 35 kilometers from the country’s capital.
The most active volcano in Central America entered an eruptive phase on Monday morning, and its activity intensified overnight with lava emissions and large columns of gas and ash.
No fatalities have been reported, but the volcanic activity forced the evacuation of around 500 people as a precautionary measure.
The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred) declared a state of emergency in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, the agency announced through its official X account.
The affected regions are home to approximately 1.6 million people. However, ashfall has so far impacted only about five municipalities.
Despite the increase in the alert level, authorities reopened a road leading to the city of Antigua, the country’s main tourist destination, after evaluating safety conditions in the area.
The Fuego Volcano is one of Guatemala’s most active geological formations and has a history of frequent eruptions, requiring continuous monitoring by national emergency agencies.
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