In Honduras, government leaders are calling it a crime wave, and are planning to use the military to put down crime wave, that peasant leaders fear will include an assault on peasant squatters that have seized over 10,000 acres of farmland from large corporate owners.
"Zelaya's supporters expressed fear the security buildup might be used in a crackdown on a peasant squatter movement in the area. Just before the coup, about 3,000 farm workers seized almost 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) in commercial plantations used to grow African palms. The pro-Zelaya National Popular Resistance Front said the Aguan deployment posed a serious threat of raids to clear the squatters."
The AP Press reported that "Troops will be sent into Honduras' streets to help police combat a wave of violent crime, the government said Tuesday. Defense Minister Marlon Pascua told reporters that soldiers will be assigned to search vehicles and pedestrians and pursue criminal suspects. He did not specify when the troops would be deployed."
This Central American country of 7.7 million people suffered more than 5,300 homicides in 2009 while grappling with a political crisis touched off by a coup. The country's army was harshly criticized after soldiers hustled then-President Manuel Zelaya out of the country aboard an airplane last June. All six members of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff were charged with abuse of power in January, but all were later cleared by a Supreme Court judge. Lawmakers approved amnesty for both Zelaya and all those involved in his removal. On Monday, Lobo's administration announced it was sending more than 2,000 soldiers and police officers to the Atlantic coast region around the Aguan River to seize drugs and illegal weapons. Drug cartels are increasingly using the coasts of Central America to move drugs toward the U.S. market.
Read more: http://www.macon.com/2010/04/13/1093389/honduran-army-to-help-combat-violent.html#ixzz0lGkPC9T1
