Clash between rival gangs kills 44 inmates in an Ecuadorean prison
NPR Online NewsNov 30, 2021
The Facts
On Tuesday, a deadly riot at a women's prison in Támara, about 30 miles northwest of Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa, left at least 41 women dead and seven more injured.
The fight is believed to have broken out between the rival Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gangs at the Centro Femenino de Adaptación Social women's prison.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Honduran government has mobilized all its resources to restore control of the prison, demonstrating it will not tolerate terrorist actions carried out by organized crime in the penitentiary facilities. With a probe of the crime scene almost complete, justice for the victims is undoubtedly underway.
Narrative B
Violence has long spiraled out of control in Honduras' prisons, which have become a potent breeding ground for organized crime groups that can continue their criminal activities and exert control through violence without interference from officials. This tragedy is another example of the Honduran penitentiary authorities' lack of control over the country's prisons.
