Honduras’ president is requested to resign after corruption scandal

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TEGUCIGALPA (AP) — The pinnacle of an anti-corruption group on Wednesday demanded that Honduran President Xiomara Castro resign after a video was launched wherein her brother-in-law allegedly obtained drug cash.

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“This request is predicated on the intense accusations of drug trafficking which were introduced towards your loved ones, whom you’ve appointed to work within the State,” mentioned Gabriela Castellanos, director of the non-governmental group the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Council, in a public letter to Castro.

The demand comes after a rocky week for Castro, who received the presidency on an anti-corruption marketing campaign.

The day earlier than the letter was despatched, a video recorded in 2013 was launched purportedly displaying drug traffickers at the moment imprisoned in the USA providing greater than $525,000 to the president’s brother-in-law and congressional chief, Carlos Zelaya.

On this video revealed in an investigation by journalists at InsightCrime, Zelaya mentioned “half of it’s going to go to the commander,” referring to his brother, former president Manuel Zelaya, Castro’s husband and major adviser who was overthrown in a 2009 coup d’etat.

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Castro’s brother-in-law Zelaya acknowledged days earlier that he had met with the chief of the drug trafficking group “Los Cachiros,” who supplied to assist his celebration’s marketing campaign that 12 months; 2013 was the identical 12 months Castro made her first unsuccessful run for president.

However Zelaya instructed the press he was unaware the individuals who attended the assembly had been associated to drug trafficking.

Castro’s brother-in-law Carlos Zelaya was amongst just a few relations who resigned from their positions in authorities after he admitted to having met with a drug-trafficking group in 2013. Zelaya claimed he didn’t know the folks he met with had been narcos and denied taking cash on the time.

“I fell right into a entice, I take accountability for my actions,” Zelaya instructed press.

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Zelaya and his son, the previous minister of protection, each resigned from their positions consequently.

Shortly earlier than Zelaya’s revelation, Castro had knocked down a longstanding extradition treaty between Honduras and the USA, which analysts and disillusioned Hondurans mentioned was not a coincidence.

Below the treaty, dozens of Hondurans accused of drug trafficking had been extradited to face justice within the U.S., together with the nation’s ex-president who was lately sentenced to 45 years in jail by a New York courtroom.

The video of Zelaya was met by anger and frustration by many Hondurans, who harbored hope after they elected Castro in 2021 that she could be a unique president than the corrupt leaders which have lengthy dominated the Central American nation.

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However her recognition has slowly light lately as gang violence rages, the financial system and excessive unemployment proceed to plague Hondurans and plenty of really feel they haven’t seen the change promised them.

After the video of Zelaya’s assembly with the narco group was broadcast, Castro claimed in statements over radio and tv that “darkish forces” in Honduras and overseas had been working to hold out a coup d’etat towards her.

“The plan to destroy my socialist and democratic authorities and the upcoming election is underway,” she mentioned. She supplied few different particulars in her accusations.

Analyst and former presidential candidate Olban Valladares described her claims of a plot to oust her as “absurd,” including that Castro “insists on utilizing rhetoric that has already been worn out.”

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