Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELMOPAN185
2007-03-16 22:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

BELMOPAN - UPDATE ON BELMOPAN PROTEST; SO FAR VERY

Tags:  ASEC ELAB PGOV BH 
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VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0185 0752238
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 162238Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0345
UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000185 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS, WHA/CEN - JASON
MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ELAB PGOV BH
SUBJECT: BELMOPAN - UPDATE ON BELMOPAN PROTEST; SO FAR VERY
PEACEFUL

REF: A) BELMOPAN 179; B) 05 BELIZE 55

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000185

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS, WHA/CEN - JASON
MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ELAB PGOV BH
SUBJECT: BELMOPAN - UPDATE ON BELMOPAN PROTEST; SO FAR VERY
PEACEFUL

REF: A) BELMOPAN 179; B) 05 BELIZE 55


1. (U) SUMMARY: As of 1530 local (1730 EDT),Te planned protest at
Belize National Assembly in Belmopan (REF A) is still in process,
and has been peaceful. The protest will likely continue until the
National Assembly completes debate this evening. Utilities so far
have not been interrupted. The protest has smaller numbers than
planned (estimate between four and five hundred present),and
organizers stress the peaceful intentions. More protestors may be
bussed in this evening, after normal work hours and before the
National Assembly breaks. END SUMMARY


2. (U) The union-planned protest in Belmopan had protestors bussed
in from Belize City. Information on the number of buses varied: one
report counted ten buses of protestors, police stated five buses. A
Locally Employed Staff (LES) member attending the debate inside the
National Assembly estimated the crowds at between four and five
hundred. The protestors have stressed the peaceful nature of their
assembly by singing "We are non-violent."


3. (U) The planned strike by utility workers announced last night on
Belize media has apparently not occurred, or if so, in numbers too
small to impact production. No interruption of utilities has yet
occurred. POL/ECON is preparing a SEPTEL on the debates and
protest, but the majority of protestors are apparently teachers and
not utility workers as all union predictions forecasted. The
possibility of additional protestors being bussed in for the evening
has been suggested by a source. After normal work hours, union
members not willing to strike may still show support as the National
Assembly breaks up.


4. (U) RSO was able to drive with DEA past the protest site; nothing
was visible from the main road. An RSO FSN stated about 40-50 of
the protestors were "hard core," while the majority were simply
observers. Local Guard Mobile Patrols have reported nothing
noteworthy. Uniformed police are on site, with tactical units
staged nearby but not in view. A key indicator as to the peaceful
nature of the protest is the Police Commissioner approached the
chain link barricade between protestors and police, and spoke with
union leaders.


5. Conditions will continue to be monitored, and any updates
necessary will be communicated to DS Command Center.

6 (U) POC for this cable is RSO Patrick Harms at 011-501-822-4011,
ext. 4007.

DIETER