Honduras tightens laws against gangs and "terrorists"

Honduras began to enforce on 4 November new, stricter laws to fight the various types of gangsters now being termed terrorists. The Special Law to Strengthen the Penal and Procedural Framework in the Fight Against Terrorist Groupings, Maras and Gangs (Ley especial para el fortalecimiento del marco penal and procesal en el combate a asocaciones terroristas, maras y pandillas), approved in parliament in late October, raised jail terms for so-called terrorist activities from 15-20 years to up to 40 years or even life in prison for gang chiefs, the country's public broadcaster reported. Lengthy sentences were also envisaged for recruitment of minors (as often happens) into gangs and attacks on public servants including policemen. The broadcaster cited other provisions including giving police more time to seek an arrest warrant once a suspect was caught, curbs on jail privileges or facilities and provisions for police search operations without a court order. The speaker of parliament, Tomás Zambrano, said on 4 November this was a "historic" day for Honduras with a reform meant to boost police powers and relevant coordination between state agencies, Televisión Nacional de Honduras reported. For the gangs, he said, "the party's over." The government intended to use the new laws immediately to launch a nationwide sweep against crime, the country's ranking policeman Gerson Velásquez said on 3 November.