TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #41 08/12/2009 AS OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000738

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO
SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #41 08/12/2009 AS OF
15:00 LOCAL (17:00 EDT)

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 733 AND OTHERS

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DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITY
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1. (SBU) Tegucigalpa: Pro-Zelaya demonstrations on August 11
were large (over 5,000 people). The largest march into the
city was led by Padre Tamayo who led a group of marchers from
Olancho. Protestors first congregated at the Clarion Hotel
where they heard speeches from First Lady Xiomara de Castro
Zelaya and other members of the First Family. Protestors
then moved a few blocks east toward the Presidential Palace
where they encountered the police/military line. At around
14:15 local time (16:15 EDT),police gave protestors a
one-hour ultimatum to move away from the police line. By
15:30, most of the protestors had moved away. While leaving,
the protestors damaged fast food restaurants with stones in
the vicinity of the Clarion Hotel, then continued to march
south toward the University.


2. (SBU) Later in the afternoon, near the Pedagogical
University, an individual who had been passing by on his
motorcycle was shot in the ankle. (Initial reports that a 13
year old boy was killed were incorrect.) Police indicate
that the individual suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound and
was transported to the hospital where he is receiving
treatment. According to local media, a bus also hit a
protestor (who was not killed, NFI on whether s/he was
injured). The clashes that ensued culminated with protesters
setting fire to the bus and a Popeye's fast-food restaurant.
A 26 year old male employee at the Popeye's was said to have
sustained injuries while escaping the fires.


3. (SBU) After the disturbances, most protestors returned to
the Pedagogical University, although there was not enough
room to hold all protestors. Others stayed at the National
University of Honduras.


4. (SBU) As of 13:00 on August 12, police/military and
demonstrators were clashing in the vicinity of the National
Congress downtown. As of 14:40, the police/military had
disrupted the demonstration at the National Congress and
demonstrators who were not arrested fled the area in various
directions.


5. (SBU) San Pedro Sula: On August 11, a medium-sized crowd
gathered at the Central Park. There were no acts of
violence. Protestors spent the night in different local
schools. As of 10:00 on August 12, a police commissioner
says that the situation is calm. The police suspect that
demonstrators will attempt to prevent the Honduras Costa Rica
soccer match.


6. (SBU) A curfew was broadcast by local media for
Tegucigalpa from 22:00 on August 11 to 5:00 on August 12.
The Embassy Warden Message urges AmCits to consult television
and radio announcements each night in case a curfew is again
imposed.

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Infrastructure and Communications
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7. (SBU) Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa (TGU)
and San Pedro Sula airport remain open.


8. (U) Apart from the police and military control of the Las
Manos border crossing (Reftel),all other borders remain open
and operating as normal.


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

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Consular and Embassy Operations
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TEGUCIGALP 00000738 002 OF 002




10. (U) The Embassy is open for normal business on Wednesday,
August 12. Barring any changes in the security situation,
the Consular Section will remain open for regular consular
services until further notice.


11. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive sporadic
inquiries from AmCits regarding the political situation.
Post circulated a Warden Message Thursday, August 6. The
Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS
information on the Embassy website.


12. (SBU) The next EAC meeting will be held as needed.
LLORENS