Tank treads blown off after a seperate operation.

They aimed to jeopardize social peace and democracy in this Central American country. On Thursday, Honduran authorities arrested Arcadio Lopez, Perfecto Enamorado, and Antonio Catan, who were formally charged with the crimes of terrorism and attempted murder.

They are part of a conspiracy to assassinate former Honduran President and Libre Party coordinator Manuel Zelaya and overthrow President Xiomara Castro. This conspiracy also aimed to paralyze the state, disrupt the constitutional order, and jeopardize social peace and democracy.

“That is to say, to prevent the 2025 general elections from being held,” said Attorney General Joel Zelaya, who stressed that the attempted attack against the former president was not an isolated incident but part of a broader plan to force the early ouster of Castro and thus prevent the elections scheduled for Nov. 30.

“This case is not based on conjecture or rumors. The evidence we present today is based on irrefutable scientific proof,” the Attorney General stated, adding that authorities are working to expand the charges to other individuals and urged the public to trust that prosecutors will fulfill their duty to ensure clean and democratic elections.

Former President Zelaya commented on the matter on the social platform X, saying the evidence confirms there was also a plan to kill him in 2009. Meanwhile, Hector Zelaya, private secretary to President Castro, said political violence has no place in the country.

“Since 2009, we have denounced the hate campaign against my family, especially against my father, Manuel Zelaya, general coordinator of the party that fights for the Freedom and Refoundation of Honduras, and former president ousted in a 2009 coup,” he said.

The political leader’s son called today’s arrests “a firm and responsible step by the Public Ministry” and expressed confidence that the investigation will continue until the events are clarified, the material and intellectual authors are identified, and the full weight of the law is applied.

“Neither fear, nor threats, nor violence will stop the Refoundation of Honduras. We remain steadfast, with more strength and conviction than ever,” he said.

Lima, Aug. 14 (Prensa Latina) The iron door of the prison for former high-ranking officials slammed shut today behind former Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra, who must serve five months of preventive detention that could be extended to 20 years.

The white van belonging to the National Penitentiary Institute transported Vizcarra from the temporary detention center to the Barbadillo prison, which was originally built for former president Albert Fujimori and had to be expanded several times to accommodate other involuntary inmates.

In front of the prison, located on the grounds of a police barracks, small groups of Vizcarra's supporters and detractors chanted slogans in one direction or another, while a police barrier prevented them from crossing and approaching the prison gate.

The ruling handed down yesterday by Judge Jorge Chávez seemed to surprise the defendant, as his cheerful and optimistic face turned somber, and he even ruled out the possibility of an adverse ruling such as the one requested by the prosecution, which sought a 20-year prison sentence.

In a hearing lasting more than seven hours, Judge Chávez overturned the decision of a lower court judge who had granted Vizcarra conditional release while he faces trial on charges of receiving $657,000 in exchange for public works contracts, as confirmed by the businessmen involved.

The events took place before he became president (2018-2020), when he was governor of the southern region of Moquegua.

Judge Chávez argued that the evidence of Vizcarra's guilt makes a conviction very likely, which could lead to his flight, and therefore he must remain in prison until the trial is over.

Vizcarra's lawyer, Erwin Sicchia, announced that he will appeal the ruling and is confident that it will be overturned, but the coordinator of the Prosecutor's Office for high-level corruption cases, Rafael Vela, assured that the evidence against Vizcarra makes it almost certain that he will be convicted.

The former president is also facing two investigations for illegal contracts awarded by the highway agency (Provías) and for hiring a singer with no qualifications for the position as an advisor to the Ministry of Culture for $50,000, cases that occurred during his presidential term.

Vizcarra shares the prison with former presidents Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), and Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), although they have no contact with each other.

Toledo and Humala have been convicted of corruption and sentenced to 20 years and six months each, while Castillo is on trial for attempting to dissolve Congress, with the prosecution seeking a 34-year prison sentence.