SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TEGUCIGALPA 002231 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR DS/DSS/ITA, DS/OP/WHA, S/CT, AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2013 TAGS: ASEC HO PGOV PTER SUBJECT: SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ) REF: A. 03 STATE 249843 ¶B. 03 TEGUC 02102 ¶C. 03 TEGUC 912 (SEPQ 04/15/03) ¶D. 03 TEGUC 01144 (POPULAR REVOLUTIONARY FORCES INFO) Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Roger Pierce, Reason 1.5 (C) and (D). (U) The following responses are keyed to the Security Environment Profile Questionnaire contained in Reftel (A) and were discussed by EAC Reftel (B). POLITICAL VIOLENCE ¶1. (SBU) Demonstrations: (1-A.) Yes. Additionally, there are a number of organizations and groups under the loose collective leadership of (and affiliated with) the Bloque Popular that have been carrying out anti-American demonstrations, as well as demonstrations targeting local issues. The following organizations have been involved in anti-American political activities to varying degrees. They are listed in alphabetical order, utilizing Spanish acronyms where applicable (Updated list follows): ARTISTAS DE LA UNAH Artists of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) BLOQUE POPULAR Popular Bloc COCOH Farmers' Cooperatives Union CODECOH Honduran Consumer Protection Committee CODEH Honduran Committee for Human Rights COFADEH Honduran Committee of Family Members of the Detained and Disappeared COHAPAZ Honduran Committee for Action for Peace COLPROHSUMA A small Teachers' Union COMPA-H People of the Americas Convergence Movement (COMPA)- Honduras COPEMH Honduran Association of Secondary School Teachers COPINH Civic Council of Popular Organizations and Indigenous Groups of Honduras (also appears as COPIN) COPRUMH Professional Association Teachers' Union CGT General Coordinator of Honduran Workers (the largest of Honduras' three national labor confederations) CTH Confederation of Honduran Workers (the strongest of the three National Labor Confederations) CUTH United Confederation of Honduran Workers (the most left of the three National Labor Confederations) FPR Popular Revolutionary Forces, A shadowy alleged revolutionary group. See Reftel D for details. FUTH United Federation of Honduran Workers (the largest component of CUTH, above) FSM Feminist Movement (details needed) FUR University Revolutionary Front FUTH United Federation of Honduran Workers (the largest component of CUTH, above) GRUPO LOS NECIOS DE LA UNAH UNAH Fools Group - Activist group in UNAH that "cheerleads" and motivates demos MEH Honduran Student Movement PARTIDO DE LOS TRABAJADORES DE LA FACULTAD DE PEDAGOGIA DE LA UNAH Teaching Faculty Workers' Party of UNAH RADIO GUALCHO Leftist/Activist radio station (1510Mhz) that works closely with Bloque Popular and is actively involved in most demonstrations REPRESENTANTE DE FRENTE Y REFORMA DE LA UNAH Reform Front Representative of UNAH SERUNAH New UNAH coalition group, like Bloque Popular SETROINFOP Details Needed SITRAINA National Agrarian Institute Workers' Union SITRAIHSS Institute of Social Security Workers' Union SITRAUNAH UNAH Workers' Union SITRAUPEN A Workers' Union (details needed) STIBYS Beverage and Associated Industries Workers' Union (plays a key organizing and logistics role for many demos) SITRAPANI Child Welfare Association Workers' Union UD Democratic Unification Party (remnants of the Communist Party of Honduras and other former Marxist parties; represented in the National Congress) UNAH National Autonomous University of Honduras URP Revolutionary People's Union NOTE: The most anti-U.S. groups are: MEH, URP, UD, Bloque Popular, STIBYS, COPINH and COMPA-H. (1-B.) Yes. There have been more than seven demonstrations in Tegucigalpa since December 2002, either at the Embassy or nearby locations. Demo dates: 12/5/02, 01/25/03, 01/30/03, 02/15/03, 03/8/03 and 03/27/03. (1-C.) Over half of the demonstrations have taken place at or near the Embassy. (1-D.) The size of anti-American demonstrations at the Embassy varies from twenty to over three hundred participants. The larger demos usually consist of supporters from six to more than twelve different organizations, which operate as a loosely structured coalition under the guidance of Bloque Popular. (1-E.) While there are demonstrations based on local issues, such as civil service salaries, privatization, IMF requirements, etc. U.S. actions in Iraq and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) have become the current focus. The following statements/demands have been made repeatedly during past demos at the Embassy: No to war in Iraq, No to war, Stop plan Colombia, Pro-Human rights, World Peace, Stop Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), U.S. Forces out of Honduras (Soto Cano AB),Burning US flags, U.S. Military out of Cuba, U.S. destroy your WMD, Stop intervention in Venezuela, Stop Standard Fruit exploiting the indigenous people, No to CAFTA, No to privatization. (1-F.) Generally peaceful, but demonstrators have burned U.S. flags, painted slogans on Mission outer perimeter walls and utilized homemade mortars to detonate large fireworks charges that are propelled high into the air before exploding. (1-G.) N/A. (1-H.) N/A. (1-I.) Yes. (1-J.) Yes. Occasionally they will pass by the Embassy. (1-K.) The size varies from a few hundred to 5-10 thousand people. (1-L.) Generally peaceful but fences, grillwork and windows have been destroyed near the National Congress and many tires burned. At times suspected plain-clothes police have been held and beaten by hard-core protestors within the demonstrations. (1-M.) N/A. ¶2. (SBU) Macro Conflict Conditions: (2-A.) NO. (2-B.) N/A. (2-C.) N/A. (2-D.) N/A. ¶3. (SBU) Host Country Capabilities: (3-A.) No. (3-B.) Yes. Training by US Border Patrol(BorTac) Teams good, but GOH security infrastructure needs major improvements. (3-C.) Yes. (3-D.) No. However, GOH intelligence units have an institutional awareness of and a modest capability of penetrating indigenous radical groups. (3-E.) Yes. (3-F.) No. (3-G.) Yes. (3-H.) Average/Below Average. (3-I.) Average/Ineffective. (3-J.) Average/Ineffective. A new unit within the Ministry of Public Security called the Frontier Police has been established to handle border patrol duties. The unit is making positive steps towards border control but lack of funding and manpower are limiting the effectiveness of the unit. ¶4. (SBU) Indigenous Terrorism-Anti American Terrorist Groups: (4-A.) No. (4-B.) N/A. (4-C.) N/A. (4-D.) N/A. (4-E.) N/A. (4-F.) N/A. (4-G.) N/A. (4-H.) N/A. ¶5. (SBU) Other Indigenous Terrorist Groups: (5-A.) No. (5-B.) N/A. (5-C.) N/A. (5-D.) N/A. (5-E.) N/A. ¶6. (C/NF) Transnational Terrorism-Transnational Terrorist Indicators: (6-A.) No. However, there are rumors that there are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA),IRA, and Chiapas (Zapatistas) sympathizers in Honduras who could be involved in advising indigenous groups. Some Hondurans are studying in Cuba and also conceivably could be receiving training in subversion and terrorism, although it is more likely they are being indoctrinated as agents of influence. As this Cuban program for Hondurans is in its infancy, there have been no indications that such training is taking place. (6-B.) N/A. (6-C.) N/A. (6-D.) N/A and NO. (6-E.) N/A. (6-F.) The only known hostile intelligence presence of note is Cuban. While the Cuban mission appears to have extensive contacts with leftists and indigenous groups, there is no indication they are planning or supporting terrorism. (6-H.) There is no shortage of weapons in Honduras. It would also not be difficult for hostile terrorist elements to import weapons and/or explosives from neighboring countries. PIERCE