SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TEGUCIGALPA 000912

SIPDIS

NOFORN

STATE FOR DS/DSS/ITA AND DS/OP/WHA FROM EAC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/14/13
TAGS: ASEC HO PTER
SUBJECT: SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ)

REF: A. 03 STATE 53528

B. 02 TEGUC 02934 (SEPQ 10/23/02)

C. 02 TEGUC 0989

Classified By: (U) 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).


POLITICAL VIOLENCE


1. (SBU) Demonstrations: Responses to reftel (A).

(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:

- ARTISTA DE LAS UNAH
Official Artists of The National Autonomous University of
Honduras (UNAH)

- BLOQUE POPULAR
Popular Block

- COCOHS
Farmer's Cooperatives Union

- CODECOH
Honduran Consumer Protection Committee

- COFADEH
Honduran Committee of the Family Members of the
Detained and Disappeared

- COHAPAZ
Honduran Action Committee 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

- CTH
Confederation of Honduran Workers

- FSM
Feminist Movement (details needed)

- FUR
University Revolutionary Front

- FUT-H
United Federation of Honduran Workers (Sometimes FUTH)

- GRUPO LOS NECIOS DE LA UNAH
UNAH Fools Group - Activist group in UNAH that "cheerleads"
and motivates demos

- MEH
Honduran People's 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
anti-U.S.
demonstrations

- REPRESENTANTE DE FRENTE Y REFORMA DE LA UNAH
Reform Front Representative of UNAH

- SERUNAH
New group, UNAH Coalition like Popular Bloque

- 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 roll for many demos)

- SITRAPANI
Child Welfare Association Workers' Union

- UD
Democratic Unification Party
(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 Afghanistan and Iraq have
become the current focus. The following statements/demands
have been made repeatedly during recent 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 and grillwork has 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.) Ineffective. A new unit within the Ministry of
Security has been established to handle border patrol duties
but has yet to come fully on-line.



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) 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.


7. Information is being updated regarding
groups/organizations listed in para 1-A. Future list will
contain the full Spanish names for the groups. The POC for
additions/corrections to the list is RSO Tegucigalpa.
Palmer