TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #55 09/21/2009 AS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000945

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO
SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #55 09/21/2009 AS OF
16:00 LOCAL (18:00 EDT)

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 944 AND OTHERS

Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (U) At 1300 local (1500 EDT),President Zelaya appeared on
a balcony before a crowd of over 5,000 supporters who had
gathered outside the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, but
made no statement. Earlier via radio and television channel
36, Zelaya publicly stated he was ready to sign the San Jose
Accord, reiterated his support for the creation of a
verification commission and called for mediation by the
international community to facilitate the signing.


2. (U) Before Zelaya's public confirmation that he had
returned, de facto regime president Roberto Micheletti
broadcast a statement that if Zelaya was in Honduras, "the
arrest warrants are ready."


3. (C) Post believes the presence of Zelaya in Tegucigalpa
increases the prospect for violence, and we have urged
representatives of all sides to maintain the peace. While
Post has not received any official reports, Post anticipates
the de facto authorities will reinstate a curfew and possibly
highway road blocks to minimize travel of additional Zelaya
supporters into the capital overnight. A curfew was
announced from 1600 to 0700 local (18:00 to 09:00 EDT).
Zelaya's daughter Pichu informed the Ambassador by telephone
that the First Lady was with the President at the Brazilian
Embassy, and that his son was with the crowd outside. She
said she and her sister, Zoe, were headed to the Brazilian
Embassy, as well.


4. (C) The Ambassador spoke with OAS Secretary General Jose
Miguel Insulza and discussed his planned visit to
Tegucigalpa. Insulza confirmed that he planned to arrive
Tuesday with his OAS political director Victor Rico, Arias
advisor John Biehl, and possibly Costa Rican Foreign Minister
Bruno Stagno. The Ambassador and Insulza discussed the
possibility of Insulza bringing two foreign ministers,
possibly Panamanian Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela and
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa. Insulza said he
would call both of them in New York, but expressed doubt on
whether their heads-of-state would allow them to leave the
UNGA. The Ambassador told Insulza that he would greet him at
the airport and that the Embassy would provide support and
logistics. The Ambassador also spoke with National Party
presidential candidate Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo to discuss the
situation. Lobo said he planned to issue a public statement
asking both sides to maintain the peace and seek
reconciliation. Lobo said he was shocked by the recklessness
of Zelaya's decision to return. The Ambassador encouraged
Lobo to reach out to both sides and urge them to support the
San Jose accord. The Ambassador also told Lobo that Insulza
would be arriving Tuesday and that he would try and arrange a
meeting between Insulza and the presidential candidates.
Lobo welcomed the visit of Insulza and said any and all
international assistance was urgently needed.

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Infrastructure and Communications
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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.

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Consular and Embassy Operations
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8. (U) The Embassy is open for normal business on Tuesday,
September 22, with a liberal leave policy in effect for any

TEGUCIGALP 00000945 002 OF 002


employees unable to come in due to civil unrest or road
blockages. The Consular Section was closed to non-emergency
nonimmigrant visa (NIV) services on Wednesday, August 26, but
remains open to American Citizen and Immigrant Visa services.



9. (SBU) All Mission employees and dependents have been
instructed to remain within Tegucigalpa. No non-essential
travel, either personal or official is authorized until
further notice. All TDY travel into Honduras has been
suspended for the remainder of the week.


10. (U) Post issued a revised Warden Message today, September

21. The Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS
information on the Embassy website.


11. (SBU) An EAC meeting was held at 1400 local (1600 EDT),
to be reported septel. The next EAC will be held Tuesday,
September 22 at 1400 local (1600 EDT).
LLORENS