Bus drivers and owners in Honduras say the government has left them alone, without protection against the “war tax” – an extortion fee imposed by Maras on public bus drivers. This year more than 100 bus drivers have been killed for not paying the fee.
More than 100 bus drivers have been killed this year alone throughout the country, according to the National Human Rights Commissioner, Every five days an assassination is registered by the police, the main reason being the charge of the “war tax” – an extortion fee imposed by Maras (transnational criminal gangs) on public bus drivers.
“The war tax is that the Mareros ask for a monthly fee that you have to pay if you have a small business and if you don’t want to be shot by them. They control drugs and also public transportation,” said Yeleni Cruz, a constant user of public transportation.
According to the Direction of Transportation more than one million people have been affected by the strike today.
The bus drivers and the bus owners say the government has left them on their own.
They claim more results from the money the government has received from the security tax, a charge of 0.3 percent of each financial or commercial operation.
The security tax each month means more than US$8 million that the government uses to create new things like the Military Police, which hasn’t been able to reduce the rate of violence and insecurity.
The public transportation workers say they will maintain the strike until the government guarantees their security.
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