TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #29 07/27/2009 AS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000659

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC CASC KDEM MARR AEMR PINR
HO
SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #29 07/27/2009 AS OF
11:00 LOCAL (13:00 EDT)

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 648 AND OTHERS

TEGUCIGALP 00000659 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b and
d)


1. (U) Over the weekend, most activity was concentrated in
southern Honduras due to the arrival of President Zelaya at
the Las Manos border crossing with Nicaragua on Friday, July

24. RSO reports there were several military and police
roadblocks that prohibited most pro-Zelaya supporters from
reaching Las Manos. There was reportedly one clash between
demonstrators and police/military on Friday in which there
were no injuries. In an unrelated incident, a pro-Zelaya
supporter was found stabbed to death. It is unclear at this
point whether this death can be attributed to the
demonstrations. On Saturday, July 25 there was only one
roadblock reported in Comayagua.


2. (SBU) On Sunday, July 26, an explosive device detonated in
the headquarters of the pro-Zelaya Bloque Popular movement
near Toncontin airport. There were no injuries reported.
While there have been several small explosions in the past
month, this one is significant in that it was targeted at a
pro-Zelaya building as opposed to the previous bombs at
pro-Micheletti locations. Moreover, previous bombings have
been during curfew hours while this incident occurred during
the day. At this point, it is unclear where the bomb
originated but RSO has several theories they will attempt to
verify.


3. (SBU) As of 9:00 local (11:00 EDT),a large group of
approximately 600 pro-Zelaya supporters gathered at the
Pedagogical University with plans to march to the Embassy.
The group reportedly believed the CODEL was still in country
and wanted to ask the Congressmen to expedite President
Zelaya's return. As of 10:10 local (12:10 EDT),Emboffs made
several phone calls to pro-Zelaya movement leaders in which
they indicated that the CODEL had left and that USG policy
had not changed. As of 10:34 local (12:34 EDT),the group
grew to approximately 3,000 people. It appeared that the
group would not march to the Embassy and planned to march to
Bloque Popular headquarters instead.


4. (U) Other activity Monday, July 27 includes, as of 9:45
local (11:45 EDT),50 pro-Zelaya demonstrators congregated at
Radioglobo headquarters and approximately 125 demonstrators
outside the Venezuelan embassy protesting against the
expulsion of Venezuelan diplomats.


5. (U) Over the weekend, police authorities announced a 24
hour curfew in the vicinities surrounding the Las Manos
border in the El Paraiso Department. Sunday, July 26, police
reported that the 24-hour curfew would be extended to Esteli
and Choluteca yet people would be able to go about their
business after presenting their ID to police and showing that
they aren't carrying firearms. Additionally, police stated
that the curfew would no longer apply to the Bay Islands and
that the curfew for the rest of the country today, July 27,
would be from 1:00-4:30 local (3:00-6:30 EDT). The Embassy
Warden Message urges AmCits to consult television and radio
announcements each night to determine the correct curfew
hours.

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Infrastructure and Communications
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6. (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.

TEGUCIGALP 00000659 002.2 OF 002




7. (U) Apart from the closure of the Las Manos border
crossing detailed in reftel, all other borders remain open
and operating as normal.


8. (U) There are no reports of abnormal public utility
outages in the country.

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Consular and Embassy Operations
--------------


9. (U) The Embassy is open for normal business on Monday,
July 27. Barring any changes in the security situation, the
Consular Section is open for regular consular services until
further notice.


10. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive sporadic
inquiries from AmCits regarding the political situation.
Post circulated a Warden Message Friday afternoon, July 24
reminding AmCits to remain alert through the weekend. The
Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS
information on the Embassy website.


11. (SBU) The next EAC meeting is TBD.
LLORENS