AMBASSADOR WARNS HONDURAN MILITARY ON COUP RUMORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000474 SIPDIS WHA/CEN DAS DAVE ROBINSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WARNS HONDURAN MILITARY ON COUP RUMORS REF: TEGUCIGALPA 465 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reason 1.4 (B&D) ¶1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, hosted Honduran Military Joint Chief Romeo Vazquez Velasquez and Deputy Chief Miguel Garcia Padgett for breakfast on June 18 and conveyed in the strongest terms USG concerns about rumors that the military would move against the government if Honduran politicians did not reach a consensus on the legality of poll on a referendum for a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution (reftel). The Ambassador told the two military leaders that the &heavens would fall8 if the military made any unconstitutional move, that the USG and international community would condemn them and that democracy in Honduras and the military as an institution would be set back for years. Vazquez assured the Ambassador that the military would not make any move against the government, though admitting that they had privately threatened to do so in order to put pressure on politicians to reach a consensus. ¶2. (C) Rumors have been circulating for more than a week that the military had threatened political leaders with action &to restore democracy8 if an agreement was not reached on the poll issue. The military is under pressure on the issue as President Manuel &Mel8 Zelaya has ordered them to provide logistical support for the poll while an appellate court has ordered the poll illegally, and threatened any government agency that supports it with legal action. Military leaders have therefore told senior politicians from both of Honduras, two major political parties that if a resolution is not found they may have to take unspecified action against the Zelaya government. (Note: Senior Honduran military officers have told DATT that they would consider creating an &administrative junta8 until elections are held in December for a new president and congress. In these meetings we have also made clear that such action would be totally unacceptable to the U.S.) ¶3. (C) Vasquez admitted to the Ambassador that these threats had been made, but said that their purpose was to prod politicians into reaching an agreement. Vazquez described the military's situation as intolerable, with being told by their commander-in-chief to carry out an order while being told by a court that order was illegal. Nevertheless he denied any intention to actually take action and assured the Ambassador that the military would never do anything that was not/not supported by the USG. Besides telling Vasquez that any unconstitutional action would be unacceptable, the Ambassador urged patience, telling him that we were in contact with Zelaya and senior Honduran politicians (to be reported septel) and that there was a possibility of a last minute compromise. The meeting concluded with the Ambassador and Vasquez agreeing to stay in touch. ¶4. (C) Comment: The military has found itself between a rock and a hard place, being ordered by their commander-in-chief to carry out an order ruled illegal by an appellate court. They have decided to push back and insist that Honduran politicians reach a consensus that removes the military from this dilemma. That they have made these threats is both a sign of the severity of the situation. Nevertheless, we do not/not believe that military leaders have any intention of actually moving against the legitimate government, at this time. We are actively engaged with all key actors and will continue to monitor their situation while encouraging Honduran politicians to reach an equitable solution. LLORENS