Fugitive Honduran General Claims Military Support Amid Legal Troubles
General Romeo Vásquez, wanted for alleged involvement in a 2009 murder, asserts backing from police and military while evading capture.
Honduran General Romeo Vásquez, currently a fugitive, declared over the weekend that he has the support of police and military personnel in Honduras.
This assertion comes amid ongoing legal challenges following his alleged involvement in the 2009 military coup that ousted then-President Manuel Zelaya, the spouse of the current president, Xiomara Castro.
Vásquez, aged 68, remains wanted for the murder of Isy Obed Murillo, a 19-year-old protester, during demonstrations against the coup.
In connection with the case, Vásquez, along with fellow retired generals Venancio Cervantes and Carlos Puerto, faced legal proceedings that led to Cervantes and Puerto being sentenced to preventive detention on March 18, 2024. Previously, these generals had been under house arrest after a brief imprisonment in January.
The court's decision to revoke their house arrest was influenced by a request from the Prosecutor's Office.
The current reward for information regarding Vásquez's whereabouts has been set at $40,000.
In his message to several media outlets, Vásquez expressed gratitude towards the community supporting him, as well as police and military personnel he claims have shielded him during his flight from justice.
As of now, neither the police nor the military have publicly commented on his claims of support from within their ranks.
The accusations against Vásquez and his fellow generals not only pertain to the murder of Murillo but also extend to serious injuries and attempted murder against another protester, Alex Zavala, during the repression of anti-coup demonstrations.
The events took place on July 5, 2009, shortly after the coup occurred in June of that year, which was executed by a coalition of right-wing military and civil factions.
The investigation into the actions of the three generals had been dormant for several years but was revived in 2024 under the current Attorney General, Johel Zelaya.
Although the Attorney General is affiliated with the government, it is noted that he is not a relative of former President Zelaya.
The developments surrounding this case continue to unfold, with significant political implications regarding the legacy of the coup and ongoing tensions in Honduras.
This assertion comes amid ongoing legal challenges following his alleged involvement in the 2009 military coup that ousted then-President Manuel Zelaya, the spouse of the current president, Xiomara Castro.
Vásquez, aged 68, remains wanted for the murder of Isy Obed Murillo, a 19-year-old protester, during demonstrations against the coup.
In connection with the case, Vásquez, along with fellow retired generals Venancio Cervantes and Carlos Puerto, faced legal proceedings that led to Cervantes and Puerto being sentenced to preventive detention on March 18, 2024. Previously, these generals had been under house arrest after a brief imprisonment in January.
The court's decision to revoke their house arrest was influenced by a request from the Prosecutor's Office.
The current reward for information regarding Vásquez's whereabouts has been set at $40,000.
In his message to several media outlets, Vásquez expressed gratitude towards the community supporting him, as well as police and military personnel he claims have shielded him during his flight from justice.
As of now, neither the police nor the military have publicly commented on his claims of support from within their ranks.
The accusations against Vásquez and his fellow generals not only pertain to the murder of Murillo but also extend to serious injuries and attempted murder against another protester, Alex Zavala, during the repression of anti-coup demonstrations.
The events took place on July 5, 2009, shortly after the coup occurred in June of that year, which was executed by a coalition of right-wing military and civil factions.
The investigation into the actions of the three generals had been dormant for several years but was revived in 2024 under the current Attorney General, Johel Zelaya.
Although the Attorney General is affiliated with the government, it is noted that he is not a relative of former President Zelaya.
The developments surrounding this case continue to unfold, with significant political implications regarding the legacy of the coup and ongoing tensions in Honduras.
