CLASHES AT BORDER PROTESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000661

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI DS SNAR HO
SUBJECT: CLASHES AT BORDER PROTESTS

Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b & d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Conditions along the Honduras-Nicaragua
border where pro-Zelaya demonstrators have congregated across
from the encampment of President Zelaya have become a
potential flash point for an escalation to violence in the
Honduran political crisis. Human rights groups have lodged
protests that the de facto regime's security forces, both
police (HNP) and military (HOAF),are denying freedom of
movement throughout the country, and at the border area have
prevented protestors, human rights activists, and relief
workers passage in or out of the cordoned-off areas. Post is
seeking further information and clarification on numerous
reports of possible violence attributed to the situation
along the border, and will continue to report on matters as
we learn more. End summary.

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CONDITIONS ALLEGEDLY GET VIOLENT
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2. (SBU) HNP used non-violent and allegedly violent means to
break up protests urging the return of President Zelaya near
the Nicaraguan border on July 24 and 25. According to human
rights organizations, three Hondurans were injured after
police opened fire on protesters gathered at the Nicaraguan
border on July 24. (Comment: Post is currently trying to
verify these reports and get the names of those injured. End
Comment) Similar reports indicate that approximately 30
protesters were arrested that same day and later released.
The body of Pedro Ezequiel (also identified as Pedro Magdiel
Munoz Salvador),age 24 from Tegucigalpa, was found on the
morning of July 25 with a multitude of knife wounds which
some are reporting are proof that he was tortured. These
same human rights groups claim that they have testimony and
possibly a video as evidence indicating that the HNP did in
fact detain Ezequiel. HNP spokesperson Orlin Cerrato denied
that Ezequiel had been detained and maintained that Gerson
Evenor Vilches Almendarez was the only protester arrested on
Friday. (Note: While the appearance of a body so close to
the border area is in itself suspicious, such deaths are also
common within the context of gang violence nationwide.
Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the
hemisphere. Post is continuing to pursue more reliable
information on this case. End note.)

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REGIME TRIES TO CONTROL PROTESTERS
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3. (SBU) Throughout the weekend, there were reports of
various well-known Zelaya-supporters being detained including
agrarian leader Rafael Alegria and twelve members of the
Coordinating Group of Honduran Indigenous Populations
(COPINH). Security forces have set up approximately 20
roadblocks along the border across from Zelaya's encampment
in Nicaragua and a 24-hour curfew has been put in effect in
the area to control and limit the crowds of protesters.
Reports indicate that throughout the country, security forces
have commandeered buses of protesters to stop them from
arriving at the border area. The First Lady Xiomara Castro
and her family were prevented from reaching the border by
authorities, allegedly out of fear for their safety, but have
not/not been detained as some groups allege.


4. (C) Protesters who successfully reached the border have
been prevented from leaving the area by security forces, who
also prevented resupply of food or water to the groups.
Embassy contacts say the exact number of protesters stranded
is difficult to tally, because they are in isolated clusters
cut off from each other by security forces. On July 26, the
HNP and HOAF allowed the Honduran Red Cross to deliver food
and water to the protesters stranded in the border zone.
Special Prosecutor for Human Rights German Enamorado has been
delayed at numerous roadblocks en route as he works to reach
the zone with six Honduran human rights lawyers in order to
verify the alleged human rights violations taking place.
(Note: Enamorado is currently replacing Sandra Ponce who was
abruptly sent to Chile for training on July 17. End note.)


5. (C) Comment: These events are especially troubling as they

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appear to represent a further deterioration in the human
rights situation. We will continue to press the Attorney
General, HNP and HOAF regarding allegations of human rights
abuses, as well as liaise with human rights NGOs who are
working in the border area. Even those elements of the GOH
who were once impartial defenders of human rights have become
highly partial, even apologists for the de facto regime since
June 28, making the work of verifying claims of abuse even
more difficult. Up to this point in the crisis, there has
been only one death that can be attributed to the crisis with
certainty. Nationwide, both the protests and the responses
from security forces have been surprisingly peaceful, but as
conditions worsen for both sides in the remote border zone,
the potential for violence and violent repression becomes
much greater. End Comment.
LLORENS