1900 – U.S. invade
1923 – local client of U.S. Corporation United Fruit seizes power in coup.
1932 – United Fruit client succeeds in taking over Honduras and rules for 17 years.
1951 – United Fruit’s PR team, headed by Edward Bernays invites the North American Press to witness faked atrocity photos and a “Communist riot” to pave the way for the “anti-Bolshevik” invasion of Guatemala.
1969 – During fighting with El Salvador, United Fruit’s PR Director discusses plan with Government of Honduras to plant Russian arms into the hands of dead Salvadoran soldiers, like the Phoney Arms Ploy in Honduras 1951.
1979 – U.S. support “Contras” in southern Honduras to fight Nicaragua.
May 1980 – Honduras/El Salvador – Rio Sumpul – 600 civilians murdered in joint operation.
1980 – children – 1/8 die before the age of 2. 3/4 of remainder are undernourished. Staple needs (corn, rice, sorghum and beans) are imported. Massive exports of coffee, beef, cotton, fruit, palm oil. Beef production doubled since 1960s, exports of hamburgers, hot dogs and pet food rose five-fold, domestic consumption reduced.
1985 – Colonel Ricardo Lau head of FDN, the main contra force. Formerly in deposed Nicaraguan dictator Somoza’s National Guard. Now training Death Squads in El Salvador and Guatemala.
1989 – Elections – 2 candidates, one from family of wealthy landowners, one from family of wealthy industrialists. In previous months security forces kill 78. Tortures and beatings more than triple over previous year. In preceding weeks, bomb and rifle attacks against independent political figures, journalists and union leaders. Economy collapsing despite substantial U.S. aid and no guerrilla conflict. 70% malnutrition.
In 2020, we can again view a summary of the situation in Honduras from Human Rights Watch. “Impunity for human rights abuses remain the norm in Honduras. Despite a downward trend in recent years, the country’s murder rate is among the highest in the world. Efforts to reform the institutions responsible for providing public security have made little progress. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective.”