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 -------------- DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITY -------------- ¶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. -------------- Infrastructure and Communications -------------- ¶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. -------------- Consular and Embassy Operations -------------- 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