Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TEGUCIGALPA492
2009-06-24 20:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTG #0492 1752020 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 242020Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9945 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEIAYF/ATO LATIN AMERICA RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEAHND/CDRJTFB SOTO CANO HO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEAHND/COMJTF-B SOTO CANO HO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RUMIAAA/USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000492
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/FO FOR A/S SHANNON AND DAS DAVE
ROBINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL HO
SUBJECT: PROTESTS AGAINST THE FOURTH URN
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 489
B. TEGUCIGALPA 438
C. SECSTATE 61160
D. TEGUCIGALPA 462
E. TEGUCIGALPA 474
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (B &
d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000492
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/FO FOR A/S SHANNON AND DAS DAVE
ROBINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL HO
SUBJECT: PROTESTS AGAINST THE FOURTH URN
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 489
B. TEGUCIGALPA 438
C. SECSTATE 61160
D. TEGUCIGALPA 462
E. TEGUCIGALPA 474
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (B &
d)
1. (U) The Alliance for Peace and Democracy, led by
religious, private sector and professional organization
leaders, marched in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, second largest
city and business center, on June 23 in support of democracy
and to protest President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya,s attempt to
hold a June 28 nation-wide, government-sponsored poll. The
poll, which was ruled illegal by an appellate court, is the
first step in the President,s plan to hold a Constituent
Assembly and rewrite the Constitution (reftels). Reported
participation in the march varied widely with newspapers
reporting a clearly exaggerated 120,000, San Pedro Sula
police reporting 20,000, and a private security firm
estimating between 5,000 and 10,000. From photographs and
video of the march, we estimate that the police figure was
probably the most accurate. The Alliance also launched a
media campaign and held several smaller rallies throughout
the country.
2. (C) COMMENT: The San Pedro Sula march was the largest in
Honduras on any issue in recent memory, by a factor of at
least four even with the 20,000 estimate. It was
particularly noteworthy as the crowd was not paid, which is
typically true of government-sponsored rallies. It remains
to be seen if the interest can be maintained or expanded to
other cities. A demonstration organized by the same group in
Tegucigalpa on June 24 drew only 150 people. END COMMENT
LLORENS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/FO FOR A/S SHANNON AND DAS DAVE
ROBINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL HO
SUBJECT: PROTESTS AGAINST THE FOURTH URN
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 489
B. TEGUCIGALPA 438
C. SECSTATE 61160
D. TEGUCIGALPA 462
E. TEGUCIGALPA 474
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (B &
d)
1. (U) The Alliance for Peace and Democracy, led by
religious, private sector and professional organization
leaders, marched in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, second largest
city and business center, on June 23 in support of democracy
and to protest President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya,s attempt to
hold a June 28 nation-wide, government-sponsored poll. The
poll, which was ruled illegal by an appellate court, is the
first step in the President,s plan to hold a Constituent
Assembly and rewrite the Constitution (reftels). Reported
participation in the march varied widely with newspapers
reporting a clearly exaggerated 120,000, San Pedro Sula
police reporting 20,000, and a private security firm
estimating between 5,000 and 10,000. From photographs and
video of the march, we estimate that the police figure was
probably the most accurate. The Alliance also launched a
media campaign and held several smaller rallies throughout
the country.
2. (C) COMMENT: The San Pedro Sula march was the largest in
Honduras on any issue in recent memory, by a factor of at
least four even with the 20,000 estimate. It was
particularly noteworthy as the crowd was not paid, which is
typically true of government-sponsored rallies. It remains
to be seen if the interest can be maintained or expanded to
other cities. A demonstration organized by the same group in
Tegucigalpa on June 24 drew only 150 people. END COMMENT
LLORENS