Hugo Llorens, former U.S. ambassador to Honduras: “Honduran President Xiomara Castro took a bold step in tackling gang-related criminal activity and violence by declaring a state of emergency in certain high-threat districts and communities. Castro and her Liberal Party won a landslide election last year and were given a strong mandate to fight corruption, reduce pandemic levels of crime and adopt policies aimed at generating employment and reducing poverty. Among the front-burner citizen concerns are gang violence and systemic extortion. Recent research suggests gang extortion of small businesses and the transport sector imposes a prohibitive annual tax estimated at $700 million. In these extreme circumstances, the pressure on the government to act has grown as has public support for forceful action along the lines of measures taken in El Salvador. While growing lawlessness in Honduras requires a robust response and implementing selective emergency measures are…”