TEGUCIGALPA, (Reuters) – Honduran President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency yesterday and began implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country.
Castro’s new measures would allow the suspension of some constitutional rights in areas with predominant criminal gang presence, a deployment of 20,000 police agents, new security controls on roads and measures against money laundering.
Congress must still approve the suspension of constitutional rights, though the security plan came into force yesterday.
The declaration also authorizes the Honduran government to make extraordinary use of public funds to combat criminal gangs known for involvement in illicit activities such as kidnapping and drug trafficking.
The leftist president announced the new plan to combat extortion afflicting the impoverished Central American nation in a television broadcast.
The plan follows pressure from businessmen, truck, bus and taxi drivers, residents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who say extortion – largely by the Mara Salvatrucha MS-13 and Mara Barrio 18 gangs – has worsened in recent months.
