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