Thread: Central American leaders discuss security

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/ameri ... curity.ap/

Central American leaders discuss security

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- Central American leaders Thursday discussed the creation of a regional special forces unit to fight drug trafficking, gang violence and possible terrorism within their shared borders. The unit would be the latest integration step in a plan that includes opening borders from Nicaragua to Guatemala and creating one, common passport.

The presidents were expected to approve creation of the unit later Thursday, when they wrap up a two-day summit on security and economic issues. On Wednesday, Guatemalan President Oscar Berger called on the United States to help train and equip the force.

"Obviously, we need support from the institutions in the country that consumes drugs, which is to say from the United States," he said.

Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have already integrated their customs systems, leaving only one common checkpoint at their shared border crossings and speeding the movement of people and goods. The region is also developing a Central American passport.

U.S. officials had expressed concern that opening the borders might also facilitate drug trafficking and other crimes. To ease concerns, Central American nations are developing common databases and improving their shared technology, so they can track the movement of people and goods.

There have been unfounded allegations that terrorists were using the region to possibly stage attacks against U.S. targets, fueled in part by the fact that El Salvador is the only Latin American country left with troops in Iraq.

While there is little or no evidence terrorists are operating here, officials said in a statement they wanted a common strategy to deal with "the eventual use of Central American territory by international terrorist groups."

Also Thursday, Central American leaders were developing a common plan for battling their growing gang problem, which began in the 1990s when the U.S. began deporting Salvadoran gang members. Many of the gangs have become brutally violent, beheading their victims and, in Honduras, leaving bloody warnings for officials to halt tougher measures against them.

Mexico has been the latest to join the fight, saying it will toughen laws against gangs and begin actively cooperating with Central American law enforcement officials.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fisk attended Thursday's meeting, in large part to discuss the U.S. government's efforts at cracking down on gang members, most of whom are concentrated in the Washington and the Los Angeles, California, areas.

Protesters, angered by a proposal to create a Central American Free Trade Agreement that would include the United States and the Dominican Republic, spent all night camped out at security fences surrounding the hotel where the summit took place. On Wednesday, some clashed with police and shouted: "Gringos get out!"

Gasoline pledge
On Wednesday, officials agreed to strengthen the rights of migrants heading north to the United States while fighting the smugglers who move thousands across borders, from Panama to Mexico.

Soaring oil prices also dominated Wednesday's meeting, with Central American nations pleading with oil giant Mexico to do more to help them lower the cost of fuel. In Honduras, a gallon of gasoline costs more than $3. Prices have hit the poor especially hard.

Mexican President Vicente Fox said there was little he could do to change the price of oil on the world market, and added that Mexico was producing at capacity. But he promised to try to help, in part by offering to open Mexican gas station franchises in Central America that would offer cheaper gasoline.

Fox and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe talked about their nations' crackdown on drug trafficking, and leaders said the result had been an increase in smuggling by water instead of air and land.

They're discussing security for themselves. They should be discussing security for the United States. Why aren't they helping in Iraq?