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WORLD NEWS Friday 11 March 2022
Ex-Honduran national police chief wanted in U.S. arrested

By MARLON GONZÁLEZ and trafficker,” Berman said in a
CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN statement in 2020.
Associated Press Bonilla was named head
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras of Honduras’ National Po-
(AP) — A former head of lice in May 2012 by Presi-
Honduras’ national police dent Porfirio Lobo, through
who was sought by U.S. December 2013. He was
prosecutors on drug and removed when Hernández
weapons charges was ar- took over as president.
rested Wednesday, ac- Prosecutors have said Bo-
cording to the government. nilla let drug shipments pass
Juan Carlos Bonilla Val- through police checkpoints
ladares served as the without inspection and
country’s top police offi- gave drug organizations
cial in 2012 and 2013. Bet- information about police
ter known as “El Tigre, “ or aerial and maritime inter-
“The Tiger,” Bonilla faced diction operations so they
allegations of human rights could evade them.
abuses during his time in An internal police report in
command. Honduras once accused
Security Minister Ramón Sa- Bonilla of leading death
billón confirmed Bonilla’s squads and participating
arrest Wednesday after- Honduras Police Chief Gen. Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, also known as the Tiger, or “El Tigre,” in three killings or forced
noon at a toll plaza on the salutes during an event in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Dec. 21, 2012. disappearances between
outskirts of Tegucigalpa. Associated Press 1998 and 2002. He was
A high-ranking police of- prosecuted for one murder
ficial, who requested ano- Tony Hernández. The case alleging that he used his said at the time that Bonilla but was acquitted in 2004.
nymity because he was has developed over years law enforcement clout to played a key role in a vio- Late Wednesday, Bonilla,
not authorized to discuss in the Southern District of protect U.S.-bound ship- lent international drug con- like the former president,
the arrest, said Bonilla had New York. ments of cocaine. Bonilla spiracy, working on behalf was led before cameras
been under surveillance by A spokeswoman from the denied at the time being a of former Honduran Con- shackled at the wrists and
a police intelligence unit. U.S. Attorney’s Office de- drug trafficker. gressman Tony Hernández ankles. He wore a black
The official said the arrest clined to comment. He said then he would go Alvarado and his brother, track suit and baseball
came in response to a U.S. Former President Hernán- wherever necessary to Honduran President Juan cap.
extradition request. dez is currently awaiting a prove the accusations un- Orlando Hernández. He was to spend the night
The United States request- determination of a Hondu- true and suggested drug “Bonilla Valladares over- in the same National Police
ed Bonilla’s arrest and ras judge on a U.S. extradi- traffickers were behind the saw the transshipment of special forces base where
extradition in May of last tion request also from the accusations. He held up his multi-ton loads of cocaine Hernández is being held.
year on drug and weap- Southern District of New long cooperation with the bound for the U.S., used Bonilla was scheduled to
ons charges. Prosecutors York on drug trafficking and U.S. State Department as machine guns and other make an initial appear-
labeled him a co-conspir- weapons charges. proof he was someone the weaponry to accomplish ance in the Supreme Court
ator of former President U.S. prosecutors in Manhat- U.S. government trusted. that, and participated in of Justice on Thursday to
Juan Orlando Hernández tan announced charges Then Manhattan U.S. At- extreme violence, includ- have the charges read to
and the president’s brother against Bonilla in April 2020, torney Geoffrey S. Berman ing the murder of a rival him.q
US tells China: Give UN rights chief wide

access in Xinjiang

GENEVA (AP) — The United by the U.N. human rights or reporting, would severe-
States called on China’s chief and her team should ly undermine the credibility
government Wednesday involve access to “the lo- of her visit and support the
to grant “unhindered and cations where atrocities propaganda that denies
unsupervised access” to and human rights violations the abuses occurring in Xin-
the U.N. High Commissioner and abuses” have been re- jiang,” she added.
for Human Rights, Michelle ported. Crocker, who took up the
Bachelet, when she visits “We call upon the Peo- post in mid-January, also
China and its western Xinji- ple’s Republic of China to called on Bachelet to re-
ang region in May. ensure that her visit is ac- lease a long-awaited and
Ambassador Sheba Crock- corded unhindered and much delayed report from
er, the U.S. permanent rep- unsupervised access to all her office on Xinjiang. Michelle Bachelet, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights,
resentative to U.N. institu- areas of Xinjiang and to Numerous human rights speaks to the media about the Tigray region of Ethiopia during
a press conference at the European headquarters of the United
tions in Geneva, said any private meetings with a di- groups and advocacy or- Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 3, 2021.
interference in the work verse range of Uyghur in- ganizations have chroni- Associated Press
of Bachelet’s team would dividuals and civil society cled or spoken out about
support “propaganda” groups,” Crocker said in a allegations of rights abuses Nations. when it plans to release
that denies alleged rights statement. against Uyghurs and oth- Diplomats in Geneva have the report or whether her
abuses against members of “Any access limitations im- ers in the region, but the said the report has been visit to China, announced
the Muslim Uyghur minority posed on the high commis- report from Bachelet’s of- ready — or very close to Tuesday, would have any
in Xinjiang and others. sioner or her office, or inter- fice would come with the it — for months. Bachelet’s bearing on the timing of its
Crocker said a credible visit ference with their activities imprimatur of the United office has not specified publication.q