TFH01: DE FACTO REGIME ABROGATES DECREE CURTAILING

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001067 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC SOCI HO SUBJECT: TFH01: DE FACTO REGIME ABROGATES DECREE CURTAILING CIVIL LIBERTIES REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 989 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 1045 ¶1. (U) Summary. The de facto regime has abrogated the executive decree it adopted that severely curtailed civil liberties. Ensuring a high voter turnout for the general election scheduled for November 29 was the justification for the abrogation. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The de facto regime abrogated the executive decree it had issued on September 22 and published in the national register on September 26, which limited the freedoms of speech, association, movement and due process (See Reftel B). ¶3. (U) The decree providing for the abrogation, which was published in the October 17 national register, states that its goal is to contribute to consolidation and strengthening of democracy and ensure the highest participation by the citizenry in the electoral process that will be held on November 29 of this year, which will bring about the new constitutional government. The decree also states that there has been a decrease in acts of vandalism which motivated issuance of the first decree and that it successfully restored public order. ¶4. (U) Pro-Zelaya television station Channel 36 and radio station "Radio Globo" resumed operating on October 19 after being shut down on September 28 pursuant to the decree. However, a decree published by the de facto regime in the national register on October 5 providing for the revocation of the operating licenses of media outlets that violate national security and public order remains in effect. ¶5. (SBU) Comment. The de facto regime came under significant pressure, both domestically and internationally, to abrogate the decree. The regime touts the general election scheduled for November 29 as the solution to Honduras' political crisis. It seems clear that arguments that the decree placed credible elections in jeopardy hit home with the regime. The pro-Zelaya faction has been unable to effectively organize demonstrations since the decree curtailing civil liberties was passed. It remains to be seen how the regime will react if large-scale pro-Zelaya demonstrations commence. The October 5 decree, which is still in effect, gives the de facto regime the same control over the press as did the abrogated decree. LLORENS