TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #43 08/14/2009 AS OF

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000755 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #43 08/14/2009 AS OF 14:00 LOCAL (16:00 EDT) REF: TEGUCIGALPA 744 AND OTHERS -------------- DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Tegucigalpa: On August 14, a medium-sized (1000-5000) group of pro-Zelaya followers gathered at the Pedagogical University. As of 11:00 local (13:00 EDT), demonstrators entered the Colonia Kennedy neighborhood south of the university, then proceeded along the city's ring road to the National Autonomous University (UNAH),where they demonstrated until approximately 14:00 local and then dispersed without incident. ¶2. (SBU) The daughter of President Zelaya contacted the Embassy alleging that police were attacking pro-Zelaya demonstrators on the bridge outside the southern city of Choloma. Post is investigating these claims. ¶3. (SBU) During the August 13 pro-Zelaya demonstration at the Public Ministry, march organizers made statements that no protestors were allowed to cover their faces and they would not tolerate violence in association with their march. Police and military followed the crowd and also prepositioned units along the route ostensibly to prevent vandalism. After protesting at the Public Ministry, calling for the release of demonstrators arrested the previous day, the demonstrators marched to Radio Globo. At Radio Globo, pre-positioned military units along the route re-deployed around the demonstrators at Radio Globo and a military colonel gave the demonstrators a few minutes to disperse; demonstrators complied rapidly. ¶4. (SBU) At present, there is no curfew in place in the country. The Embassy Warden Message urges AmCits to consult television and radio announcements each night in case a curfew is again imposed. -------------- Infrastructure and Communications -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa (TGU) and San Pedro Sula airport remain open. ¶6. (U) Most of Honduras' land borders with Guatemala and El Salvador are currently open to commercial and private vehicles. The borders between Honduras and Nicaragua have been closed intermittently since Friday, July 24. ¶7. (U) There are no reports of abnormal public utility outages in the country. -------------- Consular and Embassy Operations -------------- ¶8. (U) The Embassy is open for normal business on Thursday, August 14. Barring any changes in the security situation, the Consular Section will remain open for regular consular services until further notice. ¶9. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive sporadic inquiries from AmCits regarding the political situation. Post circulated a Warden Message Monday, August 10. The Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS information on the Embassy website. ¶10. (SBU) The next EAC meeting will be held as needed. Embassy employees have been instructed to limit out-of-town road travel to areas within day-trip range and overnights to Soto Cano airbase in Comayagua. HENSHAW