TFH01: HONDURAN COUP: POLITICAL WRAP-UP 07/28/09

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000665 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM HO SUBJECT: TFH01: HONDURAN COUP: POLITICAL WRAP-UP 07/28/09 REF: TEGUCIGALPA 662 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4(d) ¶1. (U) Summary: This is another in a series of daily round-ups of political news in the aftermath of the June 28 forcible removal and exile of President Manuel Zelaya from Honduras. End Summary. -------------- Full Court Press to Honduran Congress -------------- ¶2. (C) Congress created a special commission to analyze the San Jose Agreement July 27. Of greatest concern, according to Embassy contacts, is the issue of political amnesty for President Zelaya. Embassy officers are reaching out to commission members and congressional leaders to push for acceptance of and gauge their level of support for the Agreement. -------------- Concern for Hondurans in Border Towns -------------- ¶3. (U) The Human Rights Defense Committee (CODEH) presented to the Supreme Court a petition to end the curfew in the border zone El Paraiso, stating that the curfew has prevented citizens from leaving to buy food and that people are imprisoned in their own homes. Various human rights groups have said that the curfew, which has lasted for 72 hours, is illegal and irrational. There have also been reports that there are not adequate food and supplies along the border. Other sources present a less extreme picture, claiming that police are allowing residents to conduct regular business away from their homes once they show valid ID establishing themselves as residents. -------------- Economic Losses -------------- ¶4. (U) The President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Fedecamaras) stated that protests and roadblocks have resulted in a 30 percent decrease in the economy of El Progresso, a zone where many factories are located. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa have reported that roadblocks have resulted in a loss of USD 105 million nationwide. LLORENS