POPULAR REVOLUTIONARY FORCES ISSUE COMMINIQUE:

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 001144

SIPDIS

NOFORN

STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA, WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, S/CT, INR, EUR/WE
DIA FOR CSR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2013
TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR PREL CASC HO
SUBJECT: POPULAR REVOLUTIONARY FORCES ISSUE COMMINIQUE:
THREATEN AMERICAN,UK AND SPANISH DIPLOMATS IN HONDURAS

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 912

Classified By: Regional Security Officer John B. McKennan,
Reasons 1.5 C and D.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On the evening of May 14 post received a
communique from a group calling itself the "Popular
Revolutionary Forces" announcing the beginning of a campaign
to overthrow the Maduro government and vowing to evict
"Yankees" and other foreign occupiers. The communique's
rhetoric follows traditional Latino revolutionary style. It
also identifies United States, United Kingdom and Spanish
diplomats accredited to Honduras as legitimate military
targets. Based on information available at this time Post
concurs with the initial Honduran police assessment (assuming
the document is valid) that the communique represents an
attempt to gain political support and is not a realistic
threat. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) On the evening of May 14 post received a communique
from a group calling itself the "Popular Revolutionary
Forces" FPR announcing the beginning of a campaign to
overthrow the Maduro government and vowing to evict "Yankees"
and other foreign occupiers from Iraq (and presumably
Honduras). The communique's rhetoric follows traditional
Latino revolutionary style. It also identifies United
States, United Kingdom and Spanish diplomats accredited to
Honduras as legitimate military targets. RSO has checked
with a number of sources and determined that FPR cells were
created in El Salvador in the 1970s-1980s and clandestinely
charged with agitating within unions and popular
organizations. The FPR was supported by the Salvadorian
guerrillas. Four of the group's most powerful Honduran
leaders were exiled and then circa 1991 allowed to return to
Honduras. They subsequently violated an agreement not to
continue revolutionary activities. Two of those exiled were,
Gustavo Garcia Espana and Rigoberto Padilla Russell.
Clementina Garcia Espana, (Gustavo's sister) was also a
senior member, but not exiled. Reftel, para 1 describes
thirty organizations involved in political demonstrations and
the eight groups that are the most anti-U.S. including the
Democratic Union (UD).


3. (S) The FPR is believed to have been involved in the
burning of the AID building in Tegucigalpa in 1988. Last
month there was an attempt by several anti-U.S. groups to
commemorate the 15 year anniversary of the attack with a
demonstration in front of the AID mission building. While
the demonstration did not take place, RSO sources with
access to activist planners, indicated that some leaders were
attempting to bring back former Leftists responsible for the
attack to help with training and to motivate current group
members. The FPR, or persons using that name, have been
known to release communiques over the years since 1991
against government policies and to call people to street
protests. It is not possible at this time, given the
available information, to determine the "validity" of this
document. Additionally, the document was provided to the
Embassy via Honduran Military Intelligence (C-2). RSO
Comment: The C-2 organization is a small group struggling
with limited resources that has on occasion provided
information from questionable sources for questionable
reasons. While the document was reportedly given to/obtained
from a local newspaper, post was unable to find any mention
of the communique in today's Press. Normally, the local
press does not hesitate to report this type of story. End
Comment.


4. (C) RSO sources indicate that two leaders of the FPR (or
the attempt to create a new FPR) are Carolos Umberto Paz and
Carlos Umberto Amalya Amador (possible aka: Ramon Amalya
Amador). Both were active in the recent May Day
demonstrations in Tegucigalpa, and were personally involved
in tearing down a fence at the National Congress. Both have
been seen participating in demonstrations outside the Embassy
and RSO staff has photographed Paz painting a revolutionary
slogan on the street outside the Embassy during the last
demonstration. Paz also reportedly played a role in the
burning of the AID building 15 years ago.


5. (C) It appears that Carlos Umberto Paz and Carlos
Umberto Amalya Amador are attempting to re-establish the FPR
as part of a continuing effort by certain elements to
de-stabilize the Maduro government. They are said to be
looking for "sponsors" and feel they will be easier to obtain
if they identify with their old name and organization. This
communique may be an early attempt to garner support for a
re-kindled FPR.


6. (C) Paz, Amador, and several other members of the
original FPR, aka: Fuerzas Populares Revolutionarias -
Lorenzo Zelaya movement including Gustavo Garcia Espana,
Rigoberto Padilla Russell and Clementina Garcia Espana are
known to be active members of the party that became the
Democratic Union Party (Unificacion Demoncratica) or UD
represented in the National Congress.


7. (C) Post has shared copies of the comminique with the UK
and Spanish missions and been in contact with the police who
are also assessing the information. RSO and PolOff will meet
tomorrow with representatives from the UK and Spanish
diplomatic missions to brief them on the latest developments.
Based on information available, Post concurs with the
initial Honduran police assessment (assuming the document is
valid) that the communique represents an attempt to gain
political support and is not a realistic threat at this time.
Post will continue to investigate and provide additional
information as it becomes available. Below is an informal
translation of the communique.


Popular Revolutionary Forces

Communication

We, the popular revolutionary Forces announce to the Honduran
people the beginning of our political and military activities
in an effort to eliminate the neo-liberal and pro-imperialist
government of Ricardo Maduro that is imposed on the majority
of our people.

In the international arena, we condemn the military
occupation of Iraq by the United States, along with the
despicable governments of Great Britain and Spain.
We demand the immediate retreat of the Yankees' occupation
forces in Iraq and support the fight of the Arab people
against the International Zionism.

We, again, raise our trenches to fight politically and
militarily against the enemies of our people, who deeply
rooted in the government, distribute among themselves the
country's wealth whilst forsaking thousands of fellow
citizens.

Our liberty rifles will be aimed from now on, to the heads of
those white-collar thieves; and as revolutionaries we swear
to not rest until we seize them and do justice in the name of
our country.

We have defined our military objectives as the following:
fight political corruption amongst government employees; the
bourgeoisie's businesses, buildings, companies, as well as
their accomplices involved in such corruption. For these
people, we have a long list of their addresses and know of
their movements.

We have also defined as subjects of our military objectives
all diplomats of the governments of the United States of
America, Great Britain and Spain who are accredited in
Honduras. We won't rest until we avenge the blood of our
Iraqi brothers, who's peoples are today, victims of the
aggression of those countries.

We urge the patriotic officers of the police and the army to
rebel against a tyrannical government. Let your weapons
point to the thieves and corrupt officials who have wronged
this noble country.

THE REVOLUTIONARY POPULAR FORCES call on this country's
popular and rebellious organizations, to repossess the
streets and overthrow this government that mangles the
dignity of the poor and humble citizens.
THE PEOPLE UNITED AND ARMED, SHALL NEVER BE DEFEATED OR
DESTROYED.

From an unknown location in Honduras:
Political-military Commission of the
POLITICAL REVOLUTIONARY FORCES

May 2003 END OF TRANSLATION
Palmer