SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TEGUCIGALPA 002092

SIPDIS

NOFORN

FOR DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/WHA, S/CT, AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2014
TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV HO
SUBJECT: SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ)
FOR HONDURAS

REF: A. STATE 185263


B. TEGUC 01472

C. TEGUC 01439

D. TEGUC 00542

Classified By: DCM Roger Pierce, Reason 1.5 (C) and (D)


1. (U) The following responses are keyed to the Security
Environment Profile Questionnaire (ref A).

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.

- ARTISTAS DE LA UNAH
Artists of the National Autonomous University of
Honduras (UNAH)

- BLOQUE POPULAR
Popular Block

- 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

- COLPROSUMAH
Honduran Professional Teachers College

- 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
Honduran Professional Association Teachers' Union

- CGT
General Workers Central (the largest of Honduras' three
national labor confederations)

- CTH
Confederation of Honduran Workers (probably, the strongest of
the three national labor confederations)

- CUTH
United Confederation of Honduran Workers (the most left of
the three national labor confederations)

- CRRP
Regional Center for Popular Resistance (associated with
Bloque Popular and FUTH)

- FPR
Popular Revolution Forces, A shadowy alleged revolutionary
group. See Reftel C for details.

- FUTH
United Federation of Honduran Workers (the largest component
of CUTH, above)

- FSM
Feminist Movement (details TBD)

- FUR
University Revolutionary Front

- 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)- Leader of STIBYS is also the leader of the Popular
Block.

- 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 fervent anti-U.S. groups are: MEH, URP, UD,
Bloque Popular, STIBYS, COPINH and COMPA-H. The following
groups have committed and participated in violent acts
against the Honduran Government and other entities: Bloque
Popular, COPINH, Democratic Unification Party (UD) and The
Revolutionary People's Union (URP).

(1-B.) Yes. There have been 53 demonstrations in Tegucigalpa
since September 2003. While not all demonstrations are
directed against the U.S. Government, almost all
demonstrations have some undertone of anti-U.S. sentiment.

Demo dates: 09/04/03, 09/05/03, 09/11/03, 09/16/03,
09/17/03, 09/19/03, 10/02/03, 10/09/03, 10/29/03, 11/05/03,
11/20/03, 11/21/03, 11/26/03, 11/27/03, 11/28/03, 12/08/03,
12/11/03, 12/17/03, 12/19/03, 01/22/04, 02/06/04, 02/18/04,
03/02/04, 03/20/04, 04/01/04, 04/14/04, 04/15/04, 04/21/04,
04/29/04, 05/01/04, 05/03/04, 05/10/04, 05/20/04, 05/24/04,
05/27/04, 06/01/04, 06/03/04, 06/04/04, 06/10/04, 06/14/04,
06/15/04, 06/20/04, 06/22/04, 06/24/04, 06/25/04, 06/30/04,
06/30/04, 07/01/04, 07/03/04, 07/08/04, 07/16/04, 08/11/04,
08/26/04

(1-C.) About half of the demonstrations listed above have
taken place at or near U.S. Mission facilities.

(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),and U.S. involvement
in Venezuela and Haiti have become the current focus. The
following statements, demands, and gestures 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 U.S.
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, Stop
intervention in Haiti.

(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 5,000 - 10,000
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 protesters within the
demonstrations.

On occasion, small groups of thug-like cadre have
initiated/instigated violence against static police guards by
attempting to strike them in the lower leg areas not
protected by riot shields, with heavy placard poles with
large nails embedded in the ends. Several police officials
have been injured in unsuccessful attempts to get the police
to use force.

(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 relatively 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 only a few years old, 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.
Palmer