Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TEGUCIGALPA273
2009-04-17 17:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
ZELAYA SOFTENS RHETORIC ON HONDUTEL SCANDAL
how-toP 171714Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9587 INFO DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000273
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2019
TAGS: KCRM KJUS ECPS PGOV HO
SUBJECT: ZELAYA SOFTENS RHETORIC ON HONDUTEL SCANDAL
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 263 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, E.O. 12958, Reasons: 1.4(b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000273
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2019
TAGS: KCRM KJUS ECPS PGOV HO
SUBJECT: ZELAYA SOFTENS RHETORIC ON HONDUTEL SCANDAL
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 263 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, E.O. 12958, Reasons: 1.4(b)
and (d)
1. (C) President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya's rhetoric on the
Hondutel scandal, following the indictment of Latin Node,
Inc. in Miami, has cooled from his initial claims that the
U.S. prosecution of Latin Node, Inc. was part of a CIA
conspiracy to get him (reftel). The Ambassador talked with
President Zelaya several times since the weekend, urging him
to drop the conspiratorial rhetoric, to focus on the facts of
the case and to launch a Honduran investigation into Honduran
participation in this bribery scandal. Our release of a
statement saying that President Zelaya was not being
investigated by the USG helped reassure him.
2. (C) Following our advice, President Zelaya named a
committee to investigate the scandal on April 15; the
committee includes a representative of Honduras' cardinal,
who is well respected and has been outspoken against
government corruption. In addition, our DOJ and legal
attaches (based in San Salvador) met today with Honduran
Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi, responding to their
request for information on the case. The team explained to
the Attorney General's staff the proper methods for
requesting Legal information from DOJ.
3. (C) Comment: On the diplomatic front, our primary goal is
to avoid a dispute over what is a legal and judicial manner.
Nevertheless, we are encouraging Honduran officials,
including the president and attorney general, to pursue a
serious investigation of this scandal. We plan to direct our
assistance for their investigation through proper legal
channels and not/not to publicly involve the Embassy in the
Honduran investigation. A prudent management of our legal
assistance will seek ensure that the Honduran investigation
does not negatively affect the prosecution of Latin Node,
Inc. in the U.S.
LLORENS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2019
TAGS: KCRM KJUS ECPS PGOV HO
SUBJECT: ZELAYA SOFTENS RHETORIC ON HONDUTEL SCANDAL
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 263 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, E.O. 12958, Reasons: 1.4(b)
and (d)
1. (C) President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya's rhetoric on the
Hondutel scandal, following the indictment of Latin Node,
Inc. in Miami, has cooled from his initial claims that the
U.S. prosecution of Latin Node, Inc. was part of a CIA
conspiracy to get him (reftel). The Ambassador talked with
President Zelaya several times since the weekend, urging him
to drop the conspiratorial rhetoric, to focus on the facts of
the case and to launch a Honduran investigation into Honduran
participation in this bribery scandal. Our release of a
statement saying that President Zelaya was not being
investigated by the USG helped reassure him.
2. (C) Following our advice, President Zelaya named a
committee to investigate the scandal on April 15; the
committee includes a representative of Honduras' cardinal,
who is well respected and has been outspoken against
government corruption. In addition, our DOJ and legal
attaches (based in San Salvador) met today with Honduran
Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi, responding to their
request for information on the case. The team explained to
the Attorney General's staff the proper methods for
requesting Legal information from DOJ.
3. (C) Comment: On the diplomatic front, our primary goal is
to avoid a dispute over what is a legal and judicial manner.
Nevertheless, we are encouraging Honduran officials,
including the president and attorney general, to pursue a
serious investigation of this scandal. We plan to direct our
assistance for their investigation through proper legal
channels and not/not to publicly involve the Embassy in the
Honduran investigation. A prudent management of our legal
assistance will seek ensure that the Honduran investigation
does not negatively affect the prosecution of Latin Node,
Inc. in the U.S.
LLORENS