TFHO1: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION POST-COUP UPDATE 6

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000763 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019 TAGS: PHUM HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION POST-COUP UPDATE 6 REF: TEGUCIGALPA 687 Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The human rights situation in Honduras remains tense as mostly peaceful protests of 1,000 to 5,000 continue across Tegucigalpa for the fourth straight day. Tuesday,s violence is being attributed to small elements of youth within the protests who have responded to police counter measures by setting fire to vehicles and a fast-food restaurant, throwing rocks, etc. Human Rights groups allege that intimidation by security forces is preventing them from properly investigating violations. Two Congressmen (one pro-regime and one anti-regime) were injured, although not critically, near the Congress building on August 12. End Summary. -------------- THE PROTESTS -------------- ¶2. (U) Mostly peaceful anti-regime protests of 1,000 to 5,000 individuals continue in Tegucigalpa and to a lesser extent in San Pedro Sula. Protesters from all over the country convened in Tegucigalpa and have marched mostly near the Presidential Palace, the Congress and the Attorney General's offices. They have based their operations out of the Pedagogical University and the STYBYS union headquarters. Leaders of this series of protests claim they will not stop until there is progress on the negotiations for the return of President Zelaya and have mentioned Saturday, August 15 as a deadline. ¶3. (SBU) Human rights groups claim that STYBYS was shut down and surrounded by approximately 300 military and policemen on August 12 from early afternoon early morning on August 13. The President of STYBYS is the Independent Presidential Candidate Carlos H. Reyes who is currently recuperating from injuries sustained in the violence that followed a July 30 protest (reftel). -------------- THE VIOLENCE -------------- ¶4. (C) A small element of masked male youth have taken advantage of the heightened tensions and committed acts of violence such as setting fast-food restaurants, buses and cars ablaze; smashing windows; and hurling rocks at police officers in response to their attempts to break up road blocks and marches. Media reports indicate that 13 Molotov cocktails and six explosive candles were found by police on August 12 where many protesters are based in the Pedagogical 
University. The de facto government alleges that these miscreants are either paid "gang members," or "foreign infiltrators," but have not provided corroborating evidence to either claim. ¶5. (C) Human rights groups claim that 36 protesters arrested on August 12 were taken to military installations rather than police stations and remain unaccounted for. (Note: We are investigating, but, so far, have been unable to collaborate. End Note.) -------------- HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WORK PREVENTED -------------- ¶6. (U) Human Rights organization worker Alex Matamoros was detained by the police after intervening in the arrest of student Jose Elcer Sabillon at 17:00 hours on August 11 at the Pedagogical University. Police ignored Matamoros's credentials as a "human rights defender" and refused to release him to a delegation of human rights lawyers and representatives later that evening. Matamoros was subsequently released uncharged at 3 a.m. on August 12, along with nine other detainees. ¶7. (U) Two human rights workers, Dina Meza and Leyla Elisa Diaz allege they were physically and verbally assaulted by members of the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF) while investigating human rights violations at the Congress on August 12. Diaz claims she was hit by a baton, thrown to the ground and had her hair pulled moments after she had been filming the arrest of a protester. According to human rights groups, both incidents demonstrate the difficulties they face while defending the human rights of the pro-Zelaya protesters. -------------- TWO CONGRESSMEN HURT TEGUCIGALP 00000763 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Third Vice President of the National Congress, 71-year old Christian Democrat and outspoken pro-regime legislator Ramon Velasquez Nazar, was pushed and verbally insulted by protestors when he exited the Congress on August 12, but was not seriously injured. Poloff contacted Nazar who indicated he was not hurt badly and shrugged it off as hardly an incident worth mentioning on August 13. ¶9. (C) Shortly thereafter on August 12, Democratic Unification pro-Zelaya legislator Marvin Ponce, who has helped to coordinate the protests, was more seriously injured in subsequent clashes between the police and protestors, and was undergoing surgery on his arm at the Hospital Viera. Allegedly beaten badly, Ponce is said to have suffered a broken arm and two other notable injuries, but is expected to recover fully. Human Rights groups report that Ponce was attempting to provide "political protection" to protesters from HNP officers who responded aggressively towards the protesters at the Congress after the Nazar incident. HENSHAW