HWG QUESTIONS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001338929
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2010
• Case Number: F-2001-01650
• Publication Date: January 31, 1996

31 January 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Your Memo dated 31 January
operation is based on our investigation/L in 1995, in response to headquarters
concerns.
A. My understanding f l ~ l~ r i n i ate" ` WA r l J e.:::,,
confronta'tibf with the a al ordes.:
OMata was captured and shot irii.the hoar. To my knowledge, following t e event,
the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF) stated that Father Carney died of starvation after he was left
behind by the group. The HOAF claim, and common belief throughout the 1980's was, that he did
not participate in the Olancho operation a ;E ass, n-as responsible for the 19"83,
investigation was q ie ti e rte as of last summer,'he was in
Honduras working forUSAID._also concluded that Father Carney had died of starvation.
I am not aware of how his investigation was conducted or how he reached his conclusions, nor
have I read his reporting from the early 1980's. When this incident resurfaced in 1995, some
military officers stated publicly that Father Carney had died of malaria, not starvation. In .1995, we
had provide any evidence or any suggestion grater than rumor, that Father Carney was with the
group when it confronted the Special Forces.
B. I have no information.
C. I do not know.
D In 1Q5 aleYtse~
,GO,r,Y1 t
speaking about the operation. Iso reportedon hcdent. information came
from who clearly biased an id not have any role in the 1983 incident.
5 "ea me Einformation from people who were with the group that confronte tth Special
Forces. I do not believe that anyone who may have witnessed the killings of Reyes Mara or Father
Carney by the Special Forces would have lived to tell about it. I do not consider this report to be
accurate information WP riicecminatn.t ,at..... ,...~.._ . ,._ .4._
E. As note
oq_ ve, h i e r onsib'
officer Ido d j g art non the coordi anon pr i es'. I have
never herd ghat"there were any CIA offs ` rs m r1c a at tirrie I iiirill note,"-however, t he
Honduran military "has often accuse of "being CIA; He is trot, t this" could ac oui t`for
some:,. orif6sidn'.
II. A. I _~a foreign service officer of the political section of the
Embassy was responsible for all human rights issues. Usually this was a more senior officer.
always provided input to the annual human rights report, and rifully involved i
coordination nn thi
s
APPROVED FOR RELEASE^ DATE:
d ET 29-Jun-2010
 B I do not know who took the lead in preparing the report in 1983 or any information [
provided.
C. N/A
D. I always read the report in draft and in final form. I think the human
rights situation was accura ely described. In the 1990's, there was no evidence of pressure to
downplay human rights violations. If anything, there was pressure to emphasize human rights
abuses. This may have been different in the 1980's.
A 'q 6 tha ply mention of possible human fights abuses
the Olancho incident. It stated that the confrontation
as a complete Ps41co sS~" ttte g~ter~l as v ere "annihilated " 4f he trtie, hi opeira ion was
vie wed " ( t Tleas't by tin HOA) as a success against a-guermiila grow said riot hum n rights b e
There was no other mention of
I was not a ware of his role in
the Olancho inci ent, Th tee is
ll
genera
y not lw re f o t eir views would not h ve bees
sol cited n not know if. they had reporte indePendentl r of :any.reporting? was
c
d
on,. i
ered
Cept ado.". file.
wool, ip tew those oldi-ngs. This: is common
what happened at the time
0anc o mci ent.
that WdU - are included reporting; wee
but l ca .comment on
Frankly, I was surprised to learn o is ro a in tiie
cactitell us; what r_eally.happened to.F Cher Mg
,yis
B. I have no information on these questions.
C. I have no information.
IV. A.L
information on uman ng is a uses inat was not passed to HQS
tf?yo
I am not aware of any
B. I am not aware of any politicization of reporting or finished analysis on Honduras;
however, I did not work this account durin the Cold War. I
n?rtr3ty' ~Y; a~ y T
messages were relayed to HQS. _. _., .... ,.....ti ~, ?~..
^^w _ B. I believe that elements of the former 316th battalion still participated in political
DNI
d
i
~.
an
poss
bly members or the
Cl battalion. I have no evidence to support this claim other than teh fact that the type of operation
often paralleled that conducted by the 316th in the mid-1980's.
C. I'a i a e of by ah 4f
tods ve
oi accusatioria of ht%mn
figFits abuse
D. As far as I know, we reported cases we were aware of and the Embassy human rights
report included all cases that occurred during the year or remained unresolved. We ~~t +~~ dot ,repofit cn a sassinations or human ri hts abuses that were covered Eiji the p'ess u?n e`ss we had,; , .
SE ET
 more to add or we knew that was nvoi.v
E. I was aware., of EL s existence in the 1'980's and the possibility of its involvement in
human rights bu es. I do not have any other information about the group.