LARGE BUT PEACEFUL TEGUCIGALPA PROTEST COMES OFF

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000298

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, EB, DS, AND INR
STATE PASS TO USTR
DOL FOR ILAB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB SOCI ETRD PREL ECON ASEC PINR HO
SUBJECT: LARGE BUT PEACEFUL TEGUCIGALPA PROTEST COMES OFF
AS EXPECTED: ANTI-GOH, ANTI-FREE TRADE

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 236 (NOTAL)


1. As promised, the leftist organization Popular Block held a
large protest march February 5 in Tegucigalpa, and a smaller
protest in San Pedro Sula. The protest also included
temporary morning road blocks on main highways near major
cities in several parts of the country. The largely peaceful
protests (some graffiti and minor property damage) included
approximately 3-5,000 demonstrators total (most in
Tegucigalpa). The mood was anti-GOH and focused on
controversial domestic issues linked to the recent IMF
agreement, as well CAFTA and FTAA. The march ended at the
Presidential Palace; there was no demonstration outside the
Embassy.


2. In a new twist, some journalists joined the protests to
decry a recent guilty verdict in a defamation/slander case
against a prominent journalist. A dispute over what
percentage to increase the minimum wage is still outstanding,
and was only a minor issue for protesters.
PALMER