Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10TEGUCIGALPA26
2010-01-12 18:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
POLITICAL AMNESTY DECREE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000026
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KDEM HO
SUBJECT: POLITICAL AMNESTY DECREE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 00016
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reason 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000026
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KDEM HO
SUBJECT: POLITICAL AMNESTY DECREE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 00016
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (SBU) Summary: A draft decree providing political amnesty
to all actors in Honduras' political crisis was introduced in
the Congress on January 11. The bill comprises actions
between January 1, 2008 and December 21, 2009 and covers
treason, crimes against the country's form of government,
terrorism, and sedition. It also includes related crimes
having to do with demonstrations as well as with
constitutional rights. President-elect Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo
is on the record as favoring political amnesty, but the more
radical elements among both coup supporters and opponents
oppose it. End summary.
2. (U) A bill for adoption of a decree providing political
amnesty to all actors involved in Honduras' political crisis
was introduced in Congress on January 11. The bill was
drafted by a congressional committee composed of four
congressmen from the Liberal Party of President Jose Manuel
"Mel" Zelaya and de facto regime leader Roberto Micheletti,
three congressmen from the National Party of president-elect
Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo, one congressman from the Social
Democratic Innovation and Unity Party (PINU),and one
congressman from the Christian Democratic Party. The draft
decree grants amnesty to all citizens who attempted or
carried out treason, crimes against the country's form of
government, terrorism, sedition, and all crimes defined as
political crimes according to the penal code. The draft
decree would also provide amnesty for related crimes having
to do with demonstrations and violent meetings and those
committed by government officials against rights guaranteed
by the Constitution as well disobedience, abuse of authority
and violation of duties by public officials. The time period
covered by the draft decree is January 1, 2008 to December
21, 2009. Specifically exempted by the draft decree are
crimes related to corruption such as illicit enrichment and
embezzlement of public funds.
3. (SBU) The hard right elements among de facto regime
supporters and opponents oppose political amnesty arguing
that only the other side is guilty of acts that require
amnesty. President-elect Lobo has said publicly that
political amnesty is important for the country. According to
press reports, Jose Alfredo Saavedra, who replaced Micheletti
as President of Congress after the June 28 coup, said that
political amnesty will not help reconcile and unify Hondurans
unless there is consensus by society on granting it.
4. (C) Comment: It seems unlikely that the Congress will pass
the political amnesty decree before its term expires on
January 21. President-elect Lobo has told the Ambassador
that if political amnesty is not approved in this session of
Congress, he will introduce it early on in the next Congress,
which takes office on January 25.
LLORENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KDEM HO
SUBJECT: POLITICAL AMNESTY DECREE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 00016
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (SBU) Summary: A draft decree providing political amnesty
to all actors in Honduras' political crisis was introduced in
the Congress on January 11. The bill comprises actions
between January 1, 2008 and December 21, 2009 and covers
treason, crimes against the country's form of government,
terrorism, and sedition. It also includes related crimes
having to do with demonstrations as well as with
constitutional rights. President-elect Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo
is on the record as favoring political amnesty, but the more
radical elements among both coup supporters and opponents
oppose it. End summary.
2. (U) A bill for adoption of a decree providing political
amnesty to all actors involved in Honduras' political crisis
was introduced in Congress on January 11. The bill was
drafted by a congressional committee composed of four
congressmen from the Liberal Party of President Jose Manuel
"Mel" Zelaya and de facto regime leader Roberto Micheletti,
three congressmen from the National Party of president-elect
Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo, one congressman from the Social
Democratic Innovation and Unity Party (PINU),and one
congressman from the Christian Democratic Party. The draft
decree grants amnesty to all citizens who attempted or
carried out treason, crimes against the country's form of
government, terrorism, sedition, and all crimes defined as
political crimes according to the penal code. The draft
decree would also provide amnesty for related crimes having
to do with demonstrations and violent meetings and those
committed by government officials against rights guaranteed
by the Constitution as well disobedience, abuse of authority
and violation of duties by public officials. The time period
covered by the draft decree is January 1, 2008 to December
21, 2009. Specifically exempted by the draft decree are
crimes related to corruption such as illicit enrichment and
embezzlement of public funds.
3. (SBU) The hard right elements among de facto regime
supporters and opponents oppose political amnesty arguing
that only the other side is guilty of acts that require
amnesty. President-elect Lobo has said publicly that
political amnesty is important for the country. According to
press reports, Jose Alfredo Saavedra, who replaced Micheletti
as President of Congress after the June 28 coup, said that
political amnesty will not help reconcile and unify Hondurans
unless there is consensus by society on granting it.
4. (C) Comment: It seems unlikely that the Congress will pass
the political amnesty decree before its term expires on
January 21. President-elect Lobo has told the Ambassador
that if political amnesty is not approved in this session of
Congress, he will introduce it early on in the next Congress,
which takes office on January 25.
LLORENS