TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #24 07/20/2009 AS OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000624 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #24 07/20/2009 AS OF 15:30 LOCAL (17:30 EDT) REF: TEGUCIGALPA 623 AND OTHERS -------------- DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITY -------------- ¶1. (U) As of 08:30 local (10:30 EDT),RSO contacts indicated that pro-Zelaya demonstrators would gather at the National Congress in downtown Tegucigalpa later in the morning. It was also reported that teacher's unions would accompany the "reds" in the afternoon. At 09:15 local (11:15 EDT), approximately 300 pro-Zelaya protesters congregated at the National Congress with approximately 40 military and 60 police officers stationed there as well. As of 12:15 local (14:15 EDT),approximately 400 protesters had congregated at the National Congress with plans to demonstrate. The group disbanded at 1:20 local (13:30 EDT) and plans to gather tomorrow, July 21 at the Kennedy neighborhood off-ramp of the peripheral highway. ¶2. RSO contacts assert that several pro-Zelaya roadblocks will be set up throughout the country today, July 20 starting around 10:00 local (12:00 EDT). Demonstrators are expected to interrupt traffic on the CA-5, Honduras's main highway. As of 10:09 local (12:09 EDT),several bus companies reported interrupted service due to a roadblock on the CA-5 in Comayagua. ¶3. (SBU) Police contacts report that 11 Nicaraguans were detained in Guaymaca, Francisco Morazan on Sunday, July ¶19. Allegedly, these individuals were participating in pro-Zelaya demonstrations. ¶4. (U) The curfew remains in effect, and is expected to cover 23:30-04:30 local (01:30-06:30 EDT) again tonight. There were 96 arrests Sunday and 42 arrests Monday due to curfew violations. When detained on such charges, the individuals are released when curfew is over. 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. -------------- Infrastructure and Communications -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While the pressure exerted by the defacto regime on the media has appeared to ease since the June 28 coup, pro-Zelaya media outlets continue to report intimidation, detention, anonymous death threats, manipulation of reports, targeted power outages and rumors of a new law banning their transmission over cable thus hampering their national coverage. Post will give further notice via SepTel. ¶6. (U) PAO reports that CNN en espanol was the only channel to broadcast a live feed of the weekend talks in Costa Rica and is unsure why national television outlets did not provide coverage. ¶7. (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. ¶8. (U) As of 08:00 local (10:00 EDT),police contacts report all land borders are open to both private and commercial traffic and functioning normally. ¶9. (U) There are no reports of abnormal public utility outages in the country. -------------- Consular and Embassy Operations TEGUCIGALP 00000624 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶10. (U) The Embassy is open for normal business on Monday, July 20. Barring any changes in the security situation, the Consular Section is open for regular consular services until further notice. ¶11. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive sporadic inquiries each day from AmCits regarding the political situation. The latest warden message was issued Friday afternoon, July 17. Post will circulate additional Warden Messages only in the event that the security situation changes. The Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS information on the Embassy website. ¶12. (SBU) The EAC met Monday, July 20 at 14:30 local (16:30 EDT) and determined that Post will maintain its current security posture. The next EAC meeting will be determined on Wednesday. LLORENS