TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP 68 10/01/2009 AS OF

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000999 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP 68 10/01/2009 AS OF 14:00 LOCAL (16:00 EDT) REF: TEGUCIGALPA 983 AND OTHERS -------------- Diplomatic Process -------------- ¶1. (U) The OAS announced that an advance team led by Victor Rico, OAS Secretary for Political Affairs, will arrive in Honduras on October 2 to prepare for the arrival of the delegation of Foreign Ministers and OAS Secretary-General Insulza on October 7. ¶2. (U) A delegation of Brazilian Congressmen arrived in Honduras on September 30. The Congressmen emphasized that they were not officially representing Brazil, nor where they acting as mediators. They met with members of Congress, the Supreme Court, political party leaders, human rights organizations, and the Brazilian community in Honduras. They asked that the integrity of the Brazilian Embassy be respected and emphasized that they hoped to contribute to the easing of tensions. -------------- Domestic Political Situation -------------- ¶3. (U) De facto regime leader Micheletti has not yet revoked the emergency decree issued on September 26, which restricts freedom of speech and assembly. ¶4. (U) Archbishop of Tegucigalpa Juan Jose Pineda has announced a proposal for negotiations entitled the Tegucigalpa Agreement, which he said is an effort to find a Honduran solution to the crisis. The proposal consists of bringing together up to three representatives from each side and two mediators, one Honduran and one foreign. Mediation will be based on the San Jose Accord. -------------- Civil Unrest and Security Environment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Approximately 150 pro-Zelaya demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy for about one hour today, October 1. The Honduran National Police asked them to leave by 1200 local (1400 EDT) and the protestors left marching towards downtown at 1150 local before dispersing. The protesters announced they would protest outside the Embassy at 0800 local (1000 EDT) tomorrow, October 2. ¶6. (U) There was no curfew on September 30. No new curfew has been announced for October 1. -------------- Consular/ACS -------------- ¶7. (U) The Consular Section posted a revised warden message on September 28 informing American citizens of the de facto government's emergency decree. -------------- Embassy Operations -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The termination letter for the Millennium Challenge Corporation to the de facto regime was not sent on September 30, but will be sent October 1 or 2. ¶9. (U) The Embassy is open today, October 1 and will remain open unless a curfew is imposed. As of 1400 local (1600 EDT) no new curfew announcement had been made. (Note: official announcements have been made minutes before imposing or lifting curfews since September 21. End note.) ¶10. (U) Limited travel of mission personnel within Honduras is now permitted. TDY travel into Honduras will be approved on a limited, case-by-case basis. LLORENS