TFHO1: HONDURAN COUP SITREP #23 (UNCLASSIFIED) AS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000623 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC CASC KDEM MARR HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAN COUP SITREP #23 (UNCLASSIFIED) AS OF 10:30 LOCAL (12:30 EDT) 07/19/09 REF: TEGUCIGLPA 622 AND OTHERS -------------- DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITY -------------- ¶1. (U) As of 10:30 local (13:00 EDT),no protests have been reported in Tegucigalpa or other cities, and roads and highways connecting Tegucigalpa to the rest of the country are open. Pro-Zelaya demonstration leaders are meeting at Zelaya's "Popular Bloc" movement headquarters near Toncontin Airport in Tegucigalpa, where their rallies have taken place peacefully daily since July 17. ¶2. (SBU) At approximately midnight, a small improvised explosive device was thrown and detonated on the premises of the College of Lawyers (Honduran equivalent to the bar association) near Toncontin Airport. Although the device was moderately more powerful than previous devices, property damage was limited and there were no injuries. The Honduran bomb squad believes approximately one pound of TNT was used, though initial chemical analyses have produced little result. ¶3. (U) The curfew remains in effect, and is expected to cover 23:30-04:30 local (01:30-06:30 EDT) again tonight. However, due to the last-minute nature of official curfew time changes, the Embassy Warden Message urges AmCits to consult television and radio announcements each night to determine the correct curfew hours. ¶4. (SBU) The general public remains on edge as they anticipate word from the negotiations in San Jose. Post remains attentive to the possibility of sudden changes in the security environment. -------------- Infrastructure and Communications -------------- ¶5. (U) Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa remains open and has been operating since Tuesday afternoon, July 7. American, Continental and Delta flights continue operating as normal. San Pedro Sula airport remains open for international flights, and American, Continental and Delta Airlines continue to operate flights as usual to and from that destination. ¶6. (U) As of 09:30 local (11:30 EDT),HNP reports all land borders are open to both private and commercial traffic and functioning normally. ¶7. (U) There are no reports of abnormal public utility outages in the country. -------------- Consular and Embassy Operations -------------- ¶8. (U) The Embassy plans to be open for normal business on Monday, July 20. Barring any changes in the security situation, the Consular Section plans to be open for regular consular services until further notice. ¶9. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive approximately 50 inquiries each day from AmCits regarding the political situation. The latest warden message was issued Thursday, July 16. The Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS information on the Embassy website. ¶10. (SBU) Post convened a truncated EAC Sunday, July 19, at 08:30 local (10:30 EDT) and determined there was no need to change the security posture. Post will convene another meeting Monday, July 20 at 14:30 local (16:00 EDT) to review events further. LLORENS