NEWS
Honduran government praises repeal of the ZEDE law as investors denounce ‘lies’ and ‘abuse’
On September 20, 2024, Honduras’ Supreme Court declared the Economic Development and Employment Zones (ZEDE) unconstitutional, annulling a regulatory framework passed by the National Assembly in 2013. Even though magistrates disagree about the legal consequences of the resolution, they reached a unanimous decision, stressing that the ZEDEs violate fundamental constitutional articles. While the government praises the resolution, investors say it’s “abusive.” This has sparked a debate about the possibility of charging public officials who promoted the ZEDEs with treason.
President Castro denounces plans to overthrow her government before the UN
During the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Xiomara Castro denounced an attempted coup driven by “forces of capital” and the “ten most powerful families in Honduras.” Tensions between the government and the opposition mounted after the release of a video linking the Zelaya family and other members of the ruling party with drug traffickers.
Same Old Same Old: US Elections and the future of Honduras & U.S relations
“Immigrants eating cats and dogs” and “transgender operations on illegal aliens in prisons” were some of the viral remarks that came out of last week’s U.S. presidential debate. In the 90-minute debate, former President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris went head-to-head to present their case to the American people and the world. However, when asked about their immigration and border security policies, where the root causes of migration from Central America were mentioned, both candidates left much to be desired. Instead of presenting a clear policy position, they focused on attacking each other.
Guapinol defender Juan López murdered
On the evening of September 14, after attending mass in his community, Juan López – Tocoa councilman and well-known environmental defender in the region – was shot inside his vehicle by a hitman on a motorcycle. President Xiomara Castro has promised to use every means available to law enforcement to investigate the murder. López had called for the voluntary resignation of Tocoa Mayor Adán Fúnez, member of the Libre Party who recently appeared in a video negotiating with drug traffickers and other top politicians of the current government.
MULTIMEDIA
Indecency in the Open
Alexis Carrasco is sculpting Gallery, his other self. He has been doing it for ten years and is already an expert craftsman of the exhausting and painful work of momentarily transforming himself into a woman. First is the structure: foam rubber breasts, hips, and buttocks. That is the marble on which he sculpts his work.
Chamelecón: Neglected people rebuild
Approximately 350 families from the sector of Chamelecón are seeking refuge underneath a bridge; shelters are not an option. The families hope to avoid both flooding and the violence of the gangs who control their community.
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IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION
Featured Investigation
Honduran Attorney General’s Office shelved money laundering and drug trafficking case linked to the Zelaya family
A request for legal assistance sent to Colombian authorities in 2012 revealed that former President Manuel Zelaya Rosales and several of his relatives were under investigation for money laundering and drug trafficking. Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office provided Honduran authorities with telephone recordings that tie the Zelaya family to drug trafficking and the irregular acquisition of properties. To date no indictment has been filed and Honduran prosecutors have not made progress in the investigation.
Tony Hernandez’s legacy continues: Companies linked to his case favored by Xiomara Castro’s government
When President Xiomara Castro took office in 2022, she made a commitment to eradicate the influence of drug trafficking in Honduran institutions. However, three companies that have been investigated by the US Department of Justice in relation to the Tony Hernandez case continue to operate without restrictions: one holds million-dollar state contracts, another was designated as a state contractor, and the third received contracts in 2020 from a politician who holds a high position in the current government.
Long-awaited and partial justice for Honduran political refugee in the U.S.
Monserrat is the daughter of Margarita Murillo, a Honduran leading activist who was involved in campesino movements until her murder in 2014. She arrived in the U.S. after receiving death threats for seeking justice for her mother and has been living as a political refugee in New York ever since. During the trial against former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a witness mentioned Marlene Banegas, a Honduran prosecutor who was murdered after receiving information that exposed Hernández’ ties to the drug trade. Banegas was also investigating Murillo’s murder.
An imposed refoundation
Hondurans euphorically relived celebrations of the November 2021 elections, which had the highest voter turnout in recent history, when former President Juan Orlando Hernández was apprehended in February 2022. Hernández was prosecuted in the U.S. and is now awaiting trial for drug trafficking charges. However, hope for a possible way out of a prolonged political crisis to a period of democratization quickly turned to frustration, a change that began in National Congress when the new administration took office.
Socio-environmental vulnerabilities for a cup of coffee
Coffee is one of the most widely traded and consumed commodities in the world, which is why I want to talk about the negative socio-environmental impacts of its production in developing countries and guide people to consume it more responsibly.
Perfect timing by the Zelaya family
Honduras is in a state of political turmoil. After terminating the US extradition treaty, the Castro government has shifted key figures to strengthen its “re-foundation plan.” Government officials say they are protecting themselves from an imminent coup, and after making it clear that US extradition requests will no longer be processed, members of the Castro family – who are accused of having ties to drug traffickers – submitted to the Honduran justice system. Adding to the tension, Rixi Moncada was appointed secretary of defense a few days prior to launching her presidential campaign.
Doctors Without Borders call for the implementation of the Comprehensive Care Protocol for Sexual Violence Victims and Survivors
One year and a half after Honduras approved the Comprehensive Care Protocol for Sexual Violence Victims and Survivors, Doctors Without Borders denounced that the protocol has not been implemented. There are no health facilities or clear mechanisms to avoid revictimization. Medical personnel in several parts of the country don’t know how to provide post-exposure prophylaxis, and the population doesn’t know where to seek help in case of a medical emergency.
Colorless Corals Pose a Grave Warning for Honduran Reefs
Honduras’ last Garifuna refuge
