HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION POST-COUP UPDATE 4

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000605 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI KDEM HO SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION POST-COUP UPDATE 4 REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 599 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 589 Classified By: Amb. Hugo Llorens, E.O. 12958 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (U) Summary: The human rights situation in Honduras remains tense despite a public invitation for international human rights groups to monitor the situation. The curfew was reinstated the night of July 15 and will last at least through the weekend. Opponents of the de facto regime continue to face questionable prosecutions and other forms of intimidation, the press remains hindered, and human rights groups feel abandoned. In some cases, pro-Zelaya groups appear to be making distorted allegations of rights abuses for political purposes. The Embassy continues to closely monitor the situation, strongly raise human rights concerns publicly and with the Attorney General,s Office, and to vigorously investigate any individual claims of human Rights violations. End Summary. -------------- Institutional Intimidation -------------- ¶2. (C) After handing out copies in Congress July 14 of the decree that officially installed Roberto Micheletti as interim president in place of Manuel Zelaya, Liberal Party dissident Congressman Manuel de Jesus Velasquez was summoned by Attorney General Luis Rubi and reportedly told "stop instigating trouble" and to conduct himself in a "more conciliatory manner." Velasquez told Poloff that the meeting was just to clear up a few issues. However, his friend and fellow Liberal Congressman Javier Hall said Velasquez was intimidated and refused to talk about the meeting. Both Hall and Velasquez are scheduled to travel to Washington July 19 with several other dissident members of Congress, including Margarita Zelaya, who has also reported police intimidation (ref B),and at least one mayor to provide their perspective on recent political developments. ¶3. (C) Amilcar Alexander Ardon, the National Party mayor of El Paraiso, Copan Department, allegedly arrived at the home of teacher Oscar Barrera with a contingent of armed men and ordered Barrera to call his personnel and advise them to resume teaching classes July 15. Ardon went on to say he had given the armed men the "green light" to do "whatever needs to be done" to ensure that classes resume. Similar actions were taken against the director of the local high school, Lito Lemuz. Lemuz claims that Ardon threatened him with bodily harm if classes did not resume. (Note: The teachers unions are considered part of Zelaya's core support and have been protesting for his return. End Note.) -------------- Some Allegations Appear Unfounded -------------- ¶4. (C) Post investigated the arrest of Olvin Herrera, brother of prosecutor and human rights activist Jari Dixon Herrera, on domestic violence very thoroughly and believes the charges, which followed a long history of domestic abuse, was probably not aimed at intimidating his brother. Herrera was arrested by police and local Prosecutor Ivania Lopez at his mother's home in Talanga, Fransisco Morazan Department, the evening of July ¶14. The arrest followed a formal complaint by his girlfriend's father, who witnessed Herrera beating his daughter that day. The authorities making the arrest claim they did not even know that the suspect's brother had just denounced the de facto regime in an interview from Washington that was aired on Spanish CNN. Various internet reports of gunfire and police brutality have been denied by Honduran police and Herrera's mother , Ada Hernandez, in a newspaper report on July 16. Herrera remains in police custody on charges of domestic violence. -------------- Press Bias Persists -------------- ¶5. (C) Carlos Denton, president of CID Gallup Latin America, in an e-mail said the Honduran press, including "La Prensa" newspaper, HRN radio and TV Channel 5, were not willing to publish the complete results of his company's poll showing a majority opposed Micheletti's installation as president (ref A). Denton said his Honduran press contacts indicated they feared President Zelaya would be encouraged by the results of the poll. Denton also expressed his general surprise at the politicization of the news in Honduras, mentioning that "the media owners have the information along with political and government leaders but the people of Honduras (have not) gotten it." Denton added, "Honduras is running backwards right now on a series of issues that almost are mind boggling in the 21st century." -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Although the situation is not grave, there is serious deterioration in the respect for civil and press freedoms and the nation,s democratic institutions have been significantly weakened. There is also a growing atmosphere of fear of the de facto government. Post will continue to investigate, verify and report on alleged rights violations on both sides of the political divide. End Comment. LLORENS