TFH01: HONDURAN COUP POLITICAL WRAP-UP 08/26/09

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000832 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL HO SUBJECT: TFH01: HONDURAN COUP POLITICAL WRAP-UP 08/26/09 REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 798 AND OTHERS ¶B. 08 TEGUCIGALPA 931 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Simon Henshaw, reasons 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) Summary: This is another in a series of round-ups of political news in the aftermath of the June 28 forcible removal and exile of President Manuel Zelaya from Honduras. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Representatives of the G-16 donor community met at the World Bank office on August 26 to discuss the OAS Foreign Ministers visit to Tegucigalpa. More in depth information on this meeting and the OAS visit will be reported septel. ¶3. (SBU) National Party (NP) presidential nominee Porfirio "Pepe" Lobe commented to the press on August 24 that he does not recognize the Micheletti regime and that any meetings between Micheletti and NP president and Tegucigalpa Mayor Ricardo Alvarez are of a personal nature. Some Embassy contacts have remarked that there is a rift forming within the NP between the two figures (who are party rivals) regarding Alvarez's support for pro-coup marches and his apparent close ties with Micheletti. ¶4. (C) The Micheletti regime released USD millions in past due funds to municipalities shortly after the coup, most notably to Tegucigalpa. However a pro-Zelaya contact informed Poloff this week that these funds were released selectively only to mayors perceived as pro-coup, and a group of mayors left out have prepared a formal complaint throughthe association of municipalities. ¶5. (SBU) On ugust 25, National Party Congress Member Carlos attan introduced a motion to consider the possibilty of Honduras withdrawing from the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) treaty. Presidnt Zelaya signed onto ALBA in August, 2008, and he treaty was ratified by the Micheletti-led Conress the following October. Zelaya endorsed Miceletti's candidacy for president shortly before the ratification (Ref B). HENSHAW