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 seizes over 1,200 drug packages in container bound for Lithuania
Authorities in Panama reported the seizure of 1,251 packages of suspected drugs hidden inside a shipping container bound for Lithuania, just days after intercepting another shipment of similar size headed to the same destination.
The Panama Public Prosecutor’s Office stated on social media that, through its Colón Drug Prosecutor’s Office and in coordination with the National Anti-Drug Directorate, authorities carried out the operation. The illicit substance was discovered inside a container scheduled for export.
Last Friday, officials also seized 1,506 packages of drugs in another container destined for Lithuania.
While authorities have not specified the type or exact weight of the seized substance, drug packages in Panama typically weigh around one kilogram each, and cocaine remains the most commonly confiscated narcotic in the country.
So far this year, Panamanian authorities have reported multiple drug seizures. Among them was a shipment of 5,356 packages intercepted on January 17, when agents of the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) stopped a vessel near the Pearl Islands archipelago in the Pacific.
According to official figures, in 2025 Panama seized 129 tons of drugs and 47.8 tons of chemical precursors, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat international drug trafficking.
Central America
Guatemala narrows emergency measures to hardest-hit gang violence areas
The government of Guatemala has narrowed the scope of its state of emergency to the areas most affected by gang violence, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda announced on Thursday.
The measure comes two months after coordinated attacks attributed to the Barrio 18 left 11 police officers dead.
President Bernardo Arévalo initially imposed a state of siege in mid-January following the violence, which was reportedly in retaliation for government intervention in three prisons where gang leaders had staged uprisings.
That measure, which allowed arrests without a warrant, expired after one month. It was then replaced by a less restrictive “state of prevention,” alongside an increased security deployment in Guatemala City and surrounding areas.
According to Villeda, the state of prevention has been extended for two additional weeks but will now apply primarily to the central department of Guatemala — home to the capital — and Escuintla, which have recorded the highest levels of homicides and criminal activity.
“We need to continue these joint operations between the police and the military to maintain control,” the minister said.
The measure will also remain in effect in border departments including Petén, San Marcos and Huehuetenango, which border Mexico, as well as Izabal, which borders Honduras and Belize, in an effort to prevent the entry of criminal groups linked to drug trafficking.
Villeda added that in the past two weeks, homicides have dropped by 25% and extortion cases by 33% compared to the same period in 2025.
Central America
Costa Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns
The government of Costa Rica announced on Wednesday the closure of its embassy in Cuba, a move that signals a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed that Costa Rica has also requested the withdrawal of Cuban diplomatic personnel from San José, leaving only consular representation in place.
According to André, the decision is driven by concerns over the worsening human rights situation on the island, including increased repression against citizens and opposition figures.
He also noted that Cuba’s ongoing economic and social crisis—marked by shortages of food, medicine, and basic services—has made the operation of the embassy increasingly difficult.
President Rodrigo Chaves backed the measure, stating that his administration does not recognize the legitimacy of Cuba’s political system.
In response, the Cuban government rejected the decision, calling it a “unilateral” move taken under pressure from United States.
“Under pressure from the United States, Costa Rica has limited its relations with Cuba to consular matters,” Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said, describing the action as “arbitrary.”
Despite the diplomatic setback, Cuban authorities stated that historical ties between the two nations would endure.
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Central America5 days agoCosta Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns
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