Honduras: Whether a guerrilla group called "Lorenzo Zelaya" exists, and if so, its activities; whether other guerrilla groups exist in Honduras (1995 to May 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HND31886.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Honduras: Whether a guerrilla group called "Lorenzo Zelaya" exists, and if so, its activities; whether other guerrilla groups exist in Honduras (1995 to May 1999), 1 May 1999, HND31886.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acff40.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Extremist Groups, the Lorenzo Zelaya Popular Revolutionary Forces (FPR-LZ) is defunct (1996, 207). Sources identify the FPR-LZ leader as being Efrain Duarte (ibid.; Political Handbook of the World 1998 1998, 399). Extremist Groups adds that Duarte was arrested in 1983 and has allegedly "cooperated with the government" (206). Political Handbook of the World 1998 states that in April 1991, FPR-LZ offered to cease its armed resistance in exchange for some guarantees of safety, which appeared to have been carried out by the general amnesty of 11 July 1991 (399). Extremist Groups reports that the last major activity of the FPR-LZ was the bombing of a department store in Tegucigalpa in April 1987 (207).
For additional background information on the Lorenzo Zelaya Popular Revolutionary Forces (FPR), please consult HND16097.E of 22 December 1993.
Extremist Groups lists the April 7 Martyrs and Cinchoneros Popular Liberation Movement as defunct guerrilla groups in Honduras (203, 205). The same source states that as a result of losing Cuba's support, another Honduran guerrilla group, the Morazanist Patriotic Front (FPM), sought no "new means of support and new targets" (209).
However, Patterns of Global Terrorism states that on 5 April 1995, the FPM guerrillas "claimed responsibility for a leaflet propaganda bomb that exploded in front of a Tegucigalpa building that houses US, German, and Spanish press agencies. The attack caused minor damage to nearby buildings" (Apr. 1996). The Political Terrorism Database states that the FPM has not recently carried out any "terrorist activity" (1998).
Additional information on the Cinchoneros guerrilla group can be found in HND21034.E of 5 July 1995, HND2300 of 20 October 1989 and HND1515 of 18 July 1989.
Please consult the attached document taken from Extremist Groups for additional information on the FPR-LZ and other guerrilla groups in Honduras.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups, and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements. 1996. Edited by John Murray and Richard H. Ward. Chicago: Office of International Criminal Justice.
Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA.
Political Terrorism Database. 1998. [Internet]
U.S. Department of State. Patterns of Global Terrorism for 1995. April 1996. [Internet]
Attachment
Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups, and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements. 1996. Edited by John Murray and Richard H. Ward. Chicago: Office of International Criminal Justice, pp. 203-207.
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America NewsPak [Austin]. 1997-1999.
La Prensa [San Pedro Sula]. 1996-1999.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1995-1999.
Latin American Regional Reports: Caribbean and Central America Report [London].
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet and WNC.
