Some links around Central America

Several interesting and/or recommended stories.

Community violence / state repression in Guatemala

Guatemala Emergency Measures After Deadly Clash

Guatemala imposes state of emergency in town rocked by disturbances

Another Suspension of Civil Liberties in Guatemala

Guatemala: nuevamente su población enfrenta violencia

Child sex abuse ‘a grave problem’ in Guatemala

Well, the country's not doing so well but how's CARSI doing in Honduras?

Central America’s kingpins of graft

In El Salvador, former President Francisco Flores strolled into a courthouse in early September after nearly four months in hiding. He is accused of stealing $5.3 million donated by Taiwan after two earthquakes killed some 1,500 Salvadorans in 2001. About $15 million in donations from Taiwan are still missing.

But Flores’ alleged crimes pale in comparison to the more than $300 million a medical professional bilked from Honduras’ Institute of Social Security (IHSS), which provides healthcare and workers’ compensation to 1.6 million Hondurans.

Authorities say Mario Zelaya, a 46-year-old surgeon and head of the IHSS for four years, along with two high-level associates and hundreds of lesser accomplices, created dozens of shell companies that overcharged the IHSS for essential hospital equipment and supplies, some of which never materialized at all.

Finally, Why Homies Unidos Won’t Create a Civil Society in El Salvador.