Honduras Country Handbook This Handbook Provides Basic Reference
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Honduras Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on Honduras, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to Honduras. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Honduras. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and government personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries as required and designated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this docu ment, to include excerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 U.S. Embassy .............................................................. 2 U.S. Consulate ............................................................ 2 U.S. Military Facilities ................................................ 3 Land Mines ................................................................. 3 Entry Requirements .................................................... 3 Customs Restrictions ............................................. 4 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 4 Geography ................................................................... 4 Land Statistics ........................................................ 6 Borders ................................................................... 6 Bodies of Water ...................................................... 6 Topography ............................................................ 8 Environment ........................................................... 12 Climate ....................................................................... 13 Climatic Patterns .................................................... 13 Phenomena ............................................................. 16 INFRASTruCTURE ............................................ 16 Transportation ............................................................. 16 Roads ..................................................................... 17 Rail ......................................................................... 21 Air .......................................................................... 22 Communication ........................................................... 27 General Description .............................................. 27 Radio ...................................................................... 28 Television .............................................................. 29 iii Contents (Continued) Telecommunication ................................................ 30 Newspapers and Magazines ................................... 31 Postal Service ......................................................... 32 Internet ................................................................... 32 Satellites ................................................................. 33 SOCIETY AND CULTURE ............................................ 34 Population Patterns ................................................ 34 Society ........................................................................ 36 People .................................................................... 37 Ethnic Groups ........................................................ 37 Language ................................................................ 39 Family .................................................................... 39 Roles of Men and Women ...................................... 40 Customs and Courtesies .............................................. 40 Education and Literacy ............................................... 42 Religion ....................................................................... 43 Recreation ................................................................... 44 Cultural Considerations .............................................. 44 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 45 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 45 Medical Capabilities ................................................... 47 Civilian Health Care .............................................. 47 Military Health Care .............................................. 48 Key Medical Facilities ........................................... 48 HISTORY ......................................................................... 49 Chronology of Key Events .......................................... 52 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 54 Government ................................................................. 54 iv Contents (Continued) National Level ........................................................ 56 Local Level ............................................................ 58 Politics ........................................................................ 59 Political Parties ..................................................... 60 Foreign Relations .................................................. 61 International Organizations .................................... 64 Nongovernmental Organizations ........................... 65 Corruption .............................................................. 65 ECONOMY ..................................................................... 66 Economic Aid ............................................................. 66 Banking Services ....................................................... 67 Resources .................................................................... 69 Outlook ....................................................................... 78 THREAT .......................................................................... 78 Crime .......................................................................... 79 Drug Trafficking ......................................................... 79 Major Intelligence Services ....................................... 80 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 82 Army ........................................................................... 82 Mission .................................................................. 82 Organization ........................................................... 83 Personnel ................................................................ 84 Uniforms ................................................................ 84 Training .................................................................. 86 Recent Operations .................................................. 87 Equipment .............................................................. 88 Communication ...................................................... 90 Unit Dispositions ................................................... 91 v Contents (Continued) Navy ........................................................................... 93 Mission .................................................................. 93 Organization ........................................................... 93 Personnel ............................................................... 94 Training .................................................................. 94 Equipment .............................................................. 95 Air Arm .................................................................. 95 Marines ...................................................................... 95 Mission .................................................................. 95 Organization .......................................................... 96 Personnel ................................................................ 96 Training .................................................................. 96 Equipment .............................................................. 96 Air Force ..................................................................... 97 Mission .................................................................. 97 Organization .......................................................... 97 Capabilities ............................................................ 98 Personnel ................................................................ 98 Training .................................................................. 98 Equipment .............................................................. 100 APPENDICES Equipment Recognition ................................................... A-1 Holidays ........................................................................... B-1 Language .......................................................................... C-1 Dangerous Animals and Plants ........................................ D-1 vi Contents (Continued) ILLUSTRATIONS Honduras .......................................................................... ix National