Violence, gangs cast pall over life in Honduras
Perspective by
Ana Luz, sister-in-law of Ronald Blanco, looked on grimly as neighbors of the murdered Honduran man washed away the rills of blood left where his bullet-ridden body had lain outside his house in a troubled barrio on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa.
Story
I explained that I was a journalist taking photographs of the event. But the youth kept pressing me with questions about what had brought me to Blanco's funeral. As I continued taking the photos, I felt increasingly uncomfortable.
Finally, the tension eased when one of Blanco’s friends intervened, saying that the grieving family had authorised my presence.
The body of Ronald Blanco lies on a police pick-up truck.
Concepcion, aunt of Ronald Blanco, looks at his body as it lies on truck where he was shot dead.
Relatives of Ronald Blanco react near his coffin during his funeral.
Lucia, wife of Ronald Blanco poses for a photograph in her new home after fleeing her neighbourhood in Tegucigalpa.
Barrio-18 graffiti is seen inside a so-called Crazy House.
"El Fresa" (left), a Barrio-18 gang member, sits on a sofa next to another Barrio-18 gang member.
The facade of a residential building occupied by Barrio-18, so-called Crazy House.
A policeman frisks civilians in a neighbourhood occupied by gangs known as El Hoyo.
Civilians and former gang members gesture inside a rehabilitation centre.
A policeman points a gun from a so-called Crazy House in a neighbourhood occupied by gangs known as El Hoyo.
The body of a man who, according to the police, was kidnapped and killed lies next to a river.
The body of a man who, according to the police, was kidnapped and killed is seen covered with leaves.
Forensic workers carry the body of a man who was killed in San Pedro Sula.
Children cover their noses near the body of a man who was killed.
A forensic worker photographs human remains wrapped in a blanket.
Relatives and friends of Blanca, 37, and Norma, 18, carry the coffins during their funeral. According to the police, Blanca and Norma, a mother and her daughter, were kidnapped and their bodies found four days later.
Lourdes, mother and grandmother of Blanca and Norma, cries during their funeral.
The body of a man lies on the ground after a shootout.
Relatives and friends react at a crime scene after a man was killed.
A man looks at the body of Marlen, 31, who, according to the police, was killed.
Cyntia (left) mother of Saylin, 14, who, according to the police, was killed by Barrio-18 gang members, waits for Saylin's body outside a morgue.
People stand next to the coffin of Saylin during her funeral.
Cyntia, mother of Saylin, attends her funeral. According to the police authorities, Saylin was kidnapped and tortured by her killers.
A girl stands next to the coffins containing the bodies of Blanca, 37, and Norma, 18, during their wake inside a garage, in Tegucigalpa.
Policemen work next to the body of a man after a shootout.
A forensic worker dusts a pick-up truck for fingerprints after the killing of a man.
A woman reacts after a group of men were killed in Tegucigalpa.
A forensic worker takes photos next to the body of a man who was thrown from a car into the street after he was killed.
