Honduras - Díaz Chavez - army major

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All documents related to Mariano Díaz Chavez, former Honduran army major and instructor of the Honduran Public Order Military Police (Policia Militar del Orden Público, PMOP). Documents should include, but are not limited to: reports, cables, and military training records.

Background: According to reports, Mariano Díaz Chavez completed the elite TESON course in Honduras and served in Iraq on a joint peace mission with U.S. soldiers in 2003-4. Mariano Díaz was arrested on May 2, 2016 in connection with the murder of Berta Cáceres – the Honduran environmental and indigenous rights activist who was assassinated in her home on March 3, 2016 in La Esperanza, Honduras. Berta Cáceres had received numerous death threats as she led a multiple year struggle to stop the construction of the Agua Zarca Dam project along the Gualcarque River, in Intibucá, Western Honduras.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jesse Franzblau