Central America

UN applauds arrest of Guatemala genocide suspect

The UN announced its approval of the arrest of Gen. Hector Mario LĂłpez, former Guatemalan armed forces chief accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during his tenure from 1982-3.

Central America

Central American integration —and militarization

Talks on a Mexico-Central America free trade zone wrapped up as long-standing regional political disputes were officially resolved. But increased integration comes with stepped-up “anti-crime” military efforts.

Central America

Honduras: Zelaya returns, resistance responses vary

Thousands of Hondurans gathered at Tegucigalpa’s ToncontĂ­n International Airport to greet former president Manuel (“Mel”) Zelaya (2006-2009) as he returned from a 16-month exile.

Central America

Honduras: “normalization” …of political violence?

Ousted Honduran president Mel Zelaya and incumbent Porfirio Lobo signed a pact that will allow Zelaya to return to the country and “normalize” relations with the OAS. The next day, another journalist was shot in Tegucigalpa.

Central America

Guatemala arrests ex-Kaibil in Zeta massacre

Guatemalan police arrested a presumed leader of the Zetas narco-paramilitary network who authorities say is likely commander of the assassin squad that carried out this week's grisly massacre of 27 farmworkers.

Central America

Guatemala: Zetas massacre 27 farmworkers

Guatemalan authorities announced the discovery of 27 bodies—all but one decapitated—at a ranch in the northern jungle of Petén. The victims were farmworkers who were apparently massacred by a Zeta narco-trafficking cell.