PRESIDENT ZELAYA "DISSES" UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001876 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL HO SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ZELAYA "DISSES" UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Classified By: Charge d'affaires James Williard, reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (U) UN Special Rapporteur on the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Ambeyi Ligabo visited Honduras November 26 - 30, 2007. Ligabo's goal was to investigate recent threats and attacks against journalists, especially those who denounce corruption. Ligabo was invited by the Honduran government, but spent most of his time meeting with civil society and journalists. He was able to meet with Attorney General Leonidas Rosa Bautista and Foreign Minister Milton Jimenez Puerto, but he was unable to see President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya. Zelaya instead accepted a meeting with a group of Harley Davidson enthusiasts (he himself owns a Harley),and told the press he would have received Ligabo if he had arrived at the Casa Presidencial on a motorcycle. ¶2. (U) In order to repair the damage, FM Jimenez flew to New York on December 4 to meet with UNSYG Ban Ki-moon. Jimenez explained that the request for a meeting between Ligabo and Zelaya was received too late, and told the press he had traveled to New York to reaffirm his government's complete respect for freedom of expression and "dissipate misunderstandings" regarding his commitment to the security of the journalists. ¶3. (U) On December 6, Ligabo issued his report in which he said that Honduras needs to step up its efforts to ensure that journalists and others enjoy better protections. He said that Honduran journalists, media owners and many members of civil society face a climate of "rampant insecurity" that includes the threat of assassination, pressure from organized crime and widespread impunity for those who carry out violent acts against them. ¶4. (C) Comment: It appears that again Zelaya reacted emotionally when he refused to receive Ligabo, after his government had invited him to Honduras. FM Jimenez was then sent off on the sorry mission to try to repair the damage. On several occasions, Zelaya's advisors have been able to convince him to backtrack from making these public snafus. But this time they were either not able to get to him in time, or they are losing their influence. If it is the latter, we may see much more of these similar shenanigans to come. End comment. WILLIARD