Submitted by crinadmin on
13 March 2006 – Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras announced an all out war on gangs this February “to take back the streets of our cities held hostage by gangs for the past 10 years, and suffering a reign of terror”.
The joint declaration was issued at the end of the conference “Journalism, Violence and Gangs in Central America,” organised by the Inter American Press Society (SIP) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The meeting brought together regional newspaper editors, governmental authorities and representatives of the Spanish language press in the United States, as well as lawyers, journalists and students. Voice of discord Honduran Minister of Security, General Álvaro Romero, however, was the sole voice of discord. He disclosed that he had spoken “over the phone with mara leaders who claimed they were ready to establish dialogue with the government”. The general further explained that the odds are against the social re-insertion of former gang members who rarely come out. The fact they sport face tattoos makes it even harder. According to the current Mano Dura gang repression policies, mara membership is a crime. "Policies based on public morals" Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, admitted that the violence sparked by gangs is rampant in Honduras, and enjoined his compatriots to help him combat the scourge.
“We want to do away with the rampant violence in our streets, the children turned into cold blooded killers and the pain and mourning,” said the Minister of Governance of Guatemala, Carlos Vielman.
“Mara members are involved in almost all criminal activities from drug felonies to sex crimes and murders,” said Vielman, adding: “Gang members live in a culture of violence; they turn exclusively to the maras, or gangs, for protection, prestige and the solution of their problems.”
The Minister of Governance of El Salvador, René Figeroa, has described the maras as “inhuman, a threat to national security, from the United States to Latin America”. He further added: “We must teach these groups that crime does not pay.”
“They are intelligent in spite of their aggressiveness,” the General stated. Romero also announced that he is interested in reincorporating ex-gang members to society “so they can have a normal life”, but did not offer any solutions.
“The maras are a serious problem that affects all of us, irrespective of class, we must put the nation back on course by adopting policies that are based on public morals and the common good,” President Zelaya said.
The President of Honduras explained that gangs are at the service of the drug trade and organised crime. “Our prisons are overcrowded with sick children and youths, we must do something for them,” said President Zelaya.
International Affairs Director at the United States of America’s Internal Security Department, Cresencio Arcos reaffirmed his nation’s resolute combat of the maras.
According to the SIP, the conference will make available tools and methodology to journalists covering violence and gangs. The conference stopped short however, of analysing editorial policy in the media.
It is estimated that gangs in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras and Nicaragua employ, jointly, over 100 000 members.
Sources: El Mundo, Prensa Libre, La Tribuna