AMBASSADOR WARNS HONDURAN MILITARY ON COUP RUMORS

id: 212871
date: 6/18/2009 17:17
refid: 09TEGUCIGALPA474
origin: Embassy Tegucigalpa
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 09TEGUCIGALPA465
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000474
 
SIPDIS
 
WHA/CEN DAS DAVE ROBINSON
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, HO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WARNS HONDURAN MILITARY ON COUP RUMORS
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 465 AND PREVIOUS
 
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reason 1.4 (B&D)
 
1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, hosted Honduran
Military Joint Chief Romeo Vazquez Velasquez and Deputy Chief
Miguel Garcia Padgett for breakfast on June 18 and conveyed
in the strongest terms USG concerns about rumors that the
military would move against the government if Honduran
politicians did not reach a consensus on the legality of poll
on a referendum for a constituent assembly to rewrite the
constitution (reftel).  The Ambassador told the two military
leaders that the &heavens would fall8 if the military made
any unconstitutional move, that the USG and international
community would condemn them and that democracy in Honduras
and the military as an institution would be set back for
years.  Vazquez assured the Ambassador that the military
would not make any move against the government, though
admitting that they had privately threatened to do so in
order to put pressure on politicians to reach a consensus.
 
2. (C) Rumors have been circulating for more than a week that
the military had threatened political leaders with action
&to restore democracy8 if an agreement was not reached on
the poll issue.  The military is under pressure on the issue
as President Manuel &Mel8 Zelaya has ordered them to
provide logistical support for the poll while an appellate
court has ordered the poll illegally, and threatened any
government agency that supports it with legal action.
Military leaders have therefore told senior politicians from
both of Honduras, two major political parties that if a
resolution is not found they may have to take unspecified
action against the  Zelaya government.  (Note:  Senior
Honduran military officers have told DATT that they would
consider creating an &administrative junta8 until elections
are held in December for a new president and congress.  In
these meetings we have also made clear that such action would
be totally unacceptable to the U.S.)

3. (C) Vasquez admitted to the Ambassador that these threats
had been made, but said that their purpose was to prod
politicians into reaching an agreement.  Vazquez described
the military's situation as intolerable, with being told by
their commander-in-chief to carry out an order while being
told by a court that order was illegal.  Nevertheless he
denied any intention to actually take action and assured the
Ambassador that the military would never do anything that was
not/not supported by the USG.  Besides telling Vasquez that
any unconstitutional action would be unacceptable, the
Ambassador urged patience, telling him that we were in
contact with Zelaya and senior Honduran politicians (to be
reported septel) and that there was a possibility of a last
minute compromise.  The meeting concluded with the Ambassador
and Vasquez agreeing to stay in touch.

4. (C) Comment: The military has found itself between a rock
and a hard place, being ordered by their commander-in-chief
to carry out an order ruled illegal by an appellate court.
They have decided to push back and insist that Honduran
politicians reach a consensus that removes the military from
this dilemma.  That they have made these threats is both a
sign of the severity of the situation.  Nevertheless, we do
not/not believe that military leaders have any intention of
actually moving against the legitimate government, at this
time.  We are actively engaged with all key actors and will
continue to monitor their situation while encouraging
Honduran politicians to reach an equitable solution.
LLORENS

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