Central America
Witness details how weapons entered prisons during the truce
May 2 |
Today, this public hearing continued with the appearance of the first six of 42 witnesses, the Specialized Sentencing Court C, in San Salvador, continued, this Tuesday, with the public hearing against former President Mauricio Funes and former Minister of Security, David Munguía Payés, in the case “Truce between gangs”, through which the FMLN government granted benefits to the gangs in exchange, allegedly, to stop attacking the Salvadoran population.
Among the first six witnesses are the heads of the monitoring and intelligence center, and the deputy directors of security at the Izalco prison in Sonsonate and the Zacatecoluca prison in La Paz. All the witnesses are part of a group of 30 people summoned by the Attorney General’s Office.
The six witnesses confirmed the granting of benefits for gang members held in both prisons and meetings to plan, together with the leaders in prison, the actions of the gang members who were on the street, all of which were endorsed by Munguia Payes and the former president.
“I want to denounce seven illegal acts committed by the authorities of the prisons, the Ministry of Security and the government during the period of the truce: One was the entry of mediators without registration; the departure of gang members, clique leaders, to other prisons to meet with other leaders; intimate visits without due permission and procedure; the entry of discos to entertain parties inside the prison; the entry of scantily clad dancers; the simulation of searches and the removal of machines that had information on everything carried out in the prison,” said the former deputy director of security at the Izalco prison.
According to the witness, all of these actions were endorsed by the director of the prison, Juan José Zepeda, and the director of prisons, Nelson Rauda, who received orders from both defendants.
“These people asked the so-called mediators of the truce, who at the beginning were Monsignor Fabio Colindres, Raul Mijango, Roberto Diaz and various street gang leaders, to enter without going through the three security rings,” the witness said.
As well as the deputy director of security at the Izalco prison, one of the people in charge of the monitoring and intelligence center at the prison also pointed out how the mediators, and those who met with the gang members, brought food and objects to Fabio Colindres, Raul Mijango, Roberto Diaz and Father Toño, as Antonio Rodriguez Tercero, a Passionist priest, is known.
In addition to detailing how these weapons would have been brought into the Izalco prison, through the punching bag, both said that the supposed mediators always arrived with briefcases and bags and that when they tried to be searched, they always made calls so that the security guards in charge of the prisons would be ordered to let them pass without any procedure or review.
“On one occasion a simulated search was carried out, these were not programmed, on that occasion 50 cell phones were located in sectors 1 and 2 of the Izalco prison, however, none of these were reported, and at the end of the search all were returned to the gang members,” said the deputy director of security at the Izalco prison.
The Specialized Sentencing Court C of San Salvador expects the public hearing to last five days. During this period, 30 witnesses are expected to appear, and one of Munguia Payes’ defense attorneys has reported that they will present between 10 and 12 witnesses to refute the accusation.
Central America
Washington calls for oversight as Honduras faces allegations of electoral interference
The United States government urged members of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday to support a transparent electoral process in Honduras, free from intimidation, interference, or fraud, just days before the general elections scheduled for this Sunday.
The call was made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during an extraordinary session of the OAS Permanent Council. The meeting was convened at the request of the United States in response to reports of irregularities marking the final stretch of Honduras’ electoral process. Landau expressed concern over the situation in the country, warning that Honduras is facing an institutional crisis. “I fear that Honduras faces an uncertain future. Therefore, I urge you to use your collective voice to warn Honduran officials about the consequences of interfering in the electoral process,” he stated.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed its support for electoral integrity and called on Hondurans to exercise their right to vote. “We hear you and we stand with you. Go out and vote on November 30 to be part of the democratic future of this country,” Landau said in Spanish during his remarks.
In response, Honduras’ ambassador to the OAS, Roberto Quesada, rejected the allegations and said there is no evidence of election-related crimes. “We are surprised that a Permanent Council meeting was called when no crime has been committed,” the diplomat said, dismissing reports of repression against journalists. “These narratives are invented because, as we know, fake news runs wild on the internet,” he added.
The session was also requested by Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay, whose governments expressed concern over the direction of the Honduran elections.
The process has been questioned due to the actions of the Public Ministry and the Armed Forces, both accused of interfering in matters under the exclusive authority of the National Electoral Council (CNE). The Attorney General’s Office has opened investigations into senior electoral officials, while the military has been accused of improperly intervening in civilian affairs.
Marlon Ochoa, a CNE councilor, maintained that despite the pressure, “general elections will be held despite the conspiracy that has been attempted against the electoral process,” and confirmed that all logistical materials are ready.
Colombia’s ambassador, Luis Vargas, announced that his country will provide “accompaniment” during the election, while Argentina’s representative, Carlos Bernardo, stressed that “there is no room for rigged electoral processes” in the region.
The main presidential contenders are Rixi Moncada of the Libre party, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, and Nasry Asfura of the National Party.
Central America
Panama reinforces security with new helicopters and Super Tucano Aircraft purchases
The government of Panama confirmed on Wednesday the purchase of two Bell 407 GXi helicopters for $10.49 million, aimed at strengthening the patrol and surveillance operations of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), according to an official statement from the Presidency.
The funds used for the acquisition come from an insurance payout related to the crash of the AN-141 helicopter on September 10, 2023, an accident in which three Senan officers died. Panama received $13.4 million from the insurance claim, and the remaining balance will be allocated to three additional operational projects that have not yet been disclosed. “These two new aircraft are essential for Senan, as they will enable the protection of the country’s airspace, maritime domain, continental platform, as well as river and lake areas,” the statement emphasized. The government justified the purchase as necessary due to the deterioration of current aircraft and the reduced operational capacity of the security force.
In addition to the helicopters, President José Raúl Mulino’s administration announced the purchase of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, valued at $76.3 million. These military-grade planes will bolster aerial and maritime surveillance and are intended to support operations against drug trafficking and organized crime.
According to Panamanian authorities, nearly 70% of homicides recorded in the country are linked to organized crime, especially gangs involved in drug trafficking. As Panama serves as a key transit point for narcotics moving from South America to the United States and Europe, strengthening its aerial capabilities forms part of its broader national security strategy.
Central America
Trump urges hondurans to back conservative candidate Nasry Asfura in november elections
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Honduran citizens to support conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, of the National Party, in the upcoming November 30 elections. In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that Asfura’s rivals represent “communist expansion” and claimed that their victory could open the door to figures like Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
Trump described Asfura as “the only true friend of freedom in Honduras” and said that together they could “fight the narco-communists.” The U.S. president took direct aim at the other two presidential candidates: Rixi Moncada of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) party, whom he accused of being “aligned with communism,” and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, whom he claimed was part of a scheme to “deceive the people” and split the opposition vote. Trump also praised Asfura’s tenure as mayor of Tegucigalpa, highlighting his efforts to “bring water to millions of people.”
A day before Trump’s comments, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had urged member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) to demand a transparent electoral process free of fraud and intimidation.
The electoral process in Honduras has come under intense scrutiny over alleged institutional interference. The Attorney General’s Office has launched investigations into senior electoral officials, while the Armed Forces have been accused of intruding into responsibilities reserved exclusively for the National Electoral Council (CNE).
In his message, Trump warned that “narcoterrorists like Maduro” could expand their influence into other countries, including Honduras, “just as happened in Venezuela and Cuba,” if voters do not choose clearly.
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