Hondurans against the death penalty

[Kip Powick]

Seems a bit of a dramatic and ruthless way to make a point.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras — Unknown assailants opened fire on a public bus in northern Honduras late Thursday, killing at least 23 passengers and wounding 16 others, mostly women and children, police said.

The shooting took place about 7:30 p.m. local time in the northern Atlantic city Chamelecon, 200 kilometres north of the capital Tegucigalpa, said police spokesman, deputy commissioner Wilmer Torres.

”It was an unbelievable massacre,” he said in a telephone interview.

”We don't know yet who did it.”

The bus was driving through the heavily populated neighbourhood San Isidro, when a car carrying an unknown number of armed attackers cut in front of it and other assailants fired from behind the bus, Mr. Torres said. He said officials did not yet know how many people were aboard the bus but that the majority of the passengers were women and children.

Sixteen of the victims died aboard the bus, while the seven others died after being taken to a public hospital in the nearby industrial city San Pedro Sula, he said.

The attackers left a message containing ”vulgar words against the president of the congress,” Porfirio Lobo Sosa, and Security Minister Oscar Alvarez, Torres said.

”In the note, the killers present themselves as a revolutionary group that opposes the death penalty,” something Lobo has promoted in political ads, he said.

Lobo Sosa is one of four candidates competing in a primary Feb. 20 to determine the governing National party's presidential candidate.

The note added: ”People should take advantage of this Christmas, because the next one will be worse,” Mr. Torres said.

Police have arrested a suspect, believed to be a member of the violent Mara Salvatrucha gang, who was driving a vehicle similar to that said to have participated in the attack. Authorities seized a .38-calibre pistol and several automatic weapons from the suspect and had begun interrogating him, Mr. Torres said.

The gangs Mara Salvatrucha and Mara 18 claim more than 100,000 members in Honduras. The gangs are known for extorting protection money from residents, as well as committing robberies, homicides and other crimes.

[Guest rattler]

Economy - overview: Honduras spent 1999 primarily recovering from Hurricane Mitch, which killed more than 5,000 people and caused about $3 billion in damage. Although it is slated to receive about $2.76 billion in international aid, the economy shrank 3% with widening current account and fiscal deficits in 1999. It nevertheless met most of its macroeconomic targets, and 2000 should see economic recovery as reconstruction projects make progress and the agricultural sector recovers. Honduras may also get relief from its $4.4 billion external debt under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: -3% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,050 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20%

industry: 25%

services: 55% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 50% (1992 est.)