TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #69 10/02/2009 AS OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 001007 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #69 10/02/2009 AS OF 14:00 LOCAL (16:00 EDT) REF: TEGUCIGALPA 999 AND OTHERS ¶1. (SBU) Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC),accompanied by Congressmen Aaron Schock (R-IL),Doug Lamborn (R-CO),and Peter Roskam (R-IL) arrived in Tegucigalpa October 2. The CODEL had arranged its own meetings at the Presidential Palace with de facto regime President Micheletti, the Supreme Court, the Elections Tribunal (TSE),and representatives of civil society. The CODEL received a briefing from the Ambassador en route to the airport. They departed at 1345 local (1545 EDT). -------------- Diplomatic Process -------------- ¶2. (U) According to press reports, de facto regime leader Micheletti requested yesterday, October 1 that Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Ruperez, who is waiting in El Salvador, refrain from traveling to Honduras to avoid being denied entry. Micheletti emphasized that since Spain does not recognize the de facto regime the Spanish Ambassador will not be permitted to resume his post. ¶3. (U) According to press reports, the delegation of Brazilian Congressmen visiting Honduras (see reftel 999) met with de facto regime leader Roberto Micheletti on October 1. ¶4. (U) An OAS advance team led by OAS Secretary for Political Affairs, Victor Rico, arrived today, October 2 to prepare for an OAS delegation led by Secretary General Insulza that is tentatively scheduled to arrive on October 7. Rico stated that the objective of the advance team was to establish an agenda for the delegation coming next week. He also noted that he, the Secretary General and the OAS member states were optimistic about being able to restart a dialogue. We plan to meet with the OAS team tomorrow afternoon. -------------- Domestic Political Situation -------------- ¶5. (U) According to press reports, members of civil society and the private sector told the de facto regime during an October 1 meeting that the decree enacted on September 26, which limits civil liberties, should be adjusted and reframed, but that they support it in essence in order to guarantee the safety of the Honduran population. However, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cortes, the most powerful chamber of commerce in Honduras, published a press release calling for the de facto government to overturn the emergency decree. 
 ¶6. (SBU) Special Prosecutor for Human Rights Sandra Ponce told Poloff on October 2 that she had been told the Supreme Court would not accept her office's court action requesting that the "state of exception" decree enacted by the de facto regime on September 26 be deemed unconstitutional and voided. The Court informed Ponce that her petition before the court was invalid because it did not have the express authorization of Attorney General Luis Rubi. Ponce told Poloff that neither Public Ministry rules, nor constitutional law require the approval of the Attorney General and stated that there is precedent for such a case moving forward without the approval of the Attorney General. Ponce told Poloff she will continue to seek ways to challenge the decree in court. -------------- Civil Unrest and Security Environment -------------- ¶7. (U) Fewer than two hundred pro-Zelaya supporters peacefully demonstrated outside the U.S. Embassy today, October 2 for less than one hour before marching to the Hotel Excelsior in the barrio San Rafael, where police used tear gas to disperse them. Protestors stated that they will meet again tomorrow in the Colonia El Pedregal at 1000 local (1200 EDT). TEGUCIGALP 00001007 002 OF 003 ¶8. (SBU) Carmen Lastenia Martinez, a psychologist at the Center for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and their Families (CPTRT) told Poloff on October 2 that CPTRT continued to investigate the alleged mistreatment of Agustina Flores, an anti-coup protestor that was arrested in front of the Brazilian Embassy on September 22 in Tegucigalpa. The victim told Martinez that she was taken into custody by eight policewomen and alleged that the police officers told her, "You are the dogs of the resistance. It is good that you should be messed up." The director of CPTRT, Dr. Juan Almendarez (a medical doctor), evaluated the physical condition of Flores on September 25 and found evidence of physical trauma consistent with injuries from a police baton and blows to the face. The alleged victim told CPTRT that the police continued to physically assault her even after she was in handcuffs. A YouTube video online shows a woman in handcuffs being beaten on the face by a female Honduran National Police officer. CPTRT confirmed to Poloff on October 2 that the woman in the video is Agustina Flores. As of October 2, Flores remained incarcerated in the National Penitentiary in Tegucigalpa charged with sedition. Some human rights organizations are classifying the treatment of Flores as "torture," and post continues to investigate these allegations closely. ¶9. (U) Post has confirmed that sixteen of the fifty-four people arrested for sedition for the occupation of the National Agrarian Institute in Tegucigalpa on September 30 have been released by the court. The remaining thirty-eight were sent yesterday, October 1 to the National Penitentiary in Tamara to complete the six days of preventive arrest. After these six days, the court can either released or keep them in prison until a trial is conducted. ¶10. (U) Honduran National Police reported no incidents related to the political crisis yesterday, October 1. -------------- Consular/ACS -------------- ¶11. (U) The Consular Section will distribute a warden message October 2 reminding American citizens that the decree suspending certain constitutional rights is still in effect and providing travel guidance for the weekend. -------------- Media Update -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Poloff spoke to David Romero, the director of programming for the anti-coup station Radio Globo that was shut down on September 28 (ref Tegucigalpa 983). Romero stated that he regrettably did make various anti-semitic statements on the air on September 25 and apologized for the statements that he characterized as "illogical" and "a grave mistake." Romero told Poloff he had deep respect for the Jewish community in Honduras and stated he regretted any offense to those in the Jewish community. Romero stated he is willing to issue a written apology. Poloff expressed concern to Romero about his offensive statements and said that extreme and anti-semitic statements such as these are unacceptable. Romero ended the call by again expressing regret for making the statements. The Embassy is drafting a letter from the Ambassador to the station owner expressing outrage. -------------- Embassy Operations -------------- ¶13. (U) The Embassy is open today, October 2, and will remain open unless a curfew is imposed. As of 1400 local (1600 EDT) no new curfew announcement had been made. (Note: official announcements have been made minutes before imposing or lifting curfews since September 21. End note) TEGUCIGALP 00001007 003 OF 003 ¶14. (SBU) Limited travel of mission personnel within Honduras is now permitted. TDY travel into Honduras will be approved on a limited, case-by-case basis. LLORENS