HONDURAN COUP: SITREP #4 06/29/09 AS OF NOON LOCAL (14:00 EDT)

id: 214493

date: 6/29/2009 20:53

refid: 09TEGUCIGALPA514

origin: Embassy Tegucigalpa

classification: SECRET

destination: 09TEGUCIGALPA507

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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 000514

 

SIPDIS

 

FOR OPS CENTER, WHA/CEN AND CA/OCS

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2019

TAGS: PGOV, MARR, CASC, HO

SUBJECT: HONDURAN COUP: SITREP #4 06/29/09 AS OF NOON LOCAL

(14:00 EDT)

 

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 507 AND OTHERS

 

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

 

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One Protest Spot, Business Resuming

-----------------------------------

 

1. (U) Minister of Security Jorge Rodas reported to

Ambassador on June 28 at 16:00 local (18:00 EDT) that there

had been virtually no incidents of violence or unrest in the

country Sunday, save for those isolated small cases already

mentioned in Sitrep #2.  The ruling regime called a

21:00-06:00 curfew late Sunday evening, effective for 48

hours, until 06:00 local June 30.

 

2. (U) As of noon local today (June 29), the only point of

significant protest or street action remains the area

directly outside the Presidential Palace; crowds have reached

3000 at that location, and have blocked street access to the

Palace.  Approximately 1000 military personnel and 200

anti-riot police with a water-cannon-equipped vehicle have

been posted within the Palace grounds as a precautionary

measure.  Roberto Micheletti, whom Congress proclaimed as

President yesterday, arrived at the Palace at 10:00 local

(noon EDT), which apparently led to the increased street

activity and security posture.  Micheletti issued a statement

that the protesters were free to express their opinions, but

warned any obscenities or threats ("groserias") would not be

tolerated.  While the protesters have blocked street access

to the Marriott Hotel next door to the Palace, individuals

are being allowed access to the hotel.  The shopping mall two

blocks away is open again and customers have been seen coming

and going from all entrances.  All indications so far are

that in most parts of the country, people have resumed their

work week.

 

----------------------

Political Developments

----------------------

 

3. (C) Virtually all Embassy contacts continue to assert that

all the actions against President Zelaya were done legally,

including Supreme Court President Rivera Aviles and members

of Congress from both the opposition and the President,s own

Liberal Party.  (Note: acting President Micheletti is himself

a member of the Liberal Party.  End note.).  Human Rights

Commissioner Dr. Ramon Custodio spoke at length on the radio

this morning in favor of the actions taken so far.  The newly

appointed Foreign Minister, Enrique Ortez Colindres, did the

same on television.

 

4. (C) The Honduran political elite and the bulk of the

general population have displayed a high degree of naivete

over how the coup would be perceived by the international

community.  Virtually all political elites and personal

contacts have expressed surprise and dismay at the USG

response, stating that they feel abandoned by the USG.

Contacts are baffled by our expressions of concern about

President Zelaya,s actions in the days before the coup

followed by our strong response condemning the coup

afterward.  They are currently showing no signs of backing

down from the removal of Zelaya, and continue firm in their

belief that they acted in defense of their constitution.  The

currently acting authorities and their supporters appear to

be getting prepared to ride out the storm of international

condemnation and opposition to the coup until scheduled

elections are held November 29.

 

5. (C) In a meeting with three senior Honduran business

leaders June 28, the Ambassador condemned the coup against

the Zelaya government.  The three, Antonio Travel, Emilio

Larache and Emin Barjum, accepted that the coup was illegal

but argued that there was no choice but to accept the current

regime and wait until November elections for the restoration

 

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of constitutional government.  The Ambassador rejected this

idea and argued that the only solution was for Zelaya to be

restored to power.

 

6. (C) In a meeting with former President Ricardo Maduro and

Tegucigalpa Mayor Ricardo Alvarez, both National Party

members, on June 29 the Ambassador again condemned the coup.

Maduro and Alvarez expressed amazement that the coup took

place at all and their strong disagreement with it.  They

agreed that the move had seriously damaged Honduran democracy

and isolated the country from the world community.  They

argued that the problem now was that most of the population

supported the coup.  Most of their political allies looked at

the issue as a question between "patriotism or Mel" and were

unwilling to accept that the coup was illegal.  They

suggested that the Micheletti regime would use this support

to withstand international pressure and play out the clock

until the November elections, and restoration of

constitutional government in January of next year. The

Ambassador made clear that there would be great international

pressure put on the illegitimate Honduran authorities.

 

7. (C) The Executive Director of the Cortes Chamber of

Commerce phoned EconCouns from a videoconference in which he

was participating, where he said the Honduran Private

Enterprise Council (COHEP) was planning demonstrations in

support of the coup.  The Executive Director agreed with the

USG position that Sunday's action was inappropriate and

thought the business community was acting irrationally.

 

8. (U) The acting government has announced the following

cabinet assignments:

     - Foreign Minister Enrique Ortez Colindres

     - Finance Minister Gabriela Nunez

     - Defense Minister Adolfo Leonel Sevilla

     - State telecom company (HONDUTEL) director Jorge Aguilar

     - current Security Minister Jorge Rodas Gamero has been

asked to remain.

 

9. (C) The Embassy is maintaining a no-contact policy with

the Micheletti regime.  (Note: We will seek Department

guidance on restricting our development, and security

activities in the country.)  We will remain in contact with

members of the Congress, who have not taken positions in the

regime, but will keep a low profile in all contacts.

 

10. (S) DATT sources have reported rumors that President

Zelaya may attempt to re-enter Honduras overland from

Nicaragua and approach the Presidential Palace.  There are

also internet rumors that the Nicaraguan military is

mobilizing.

 

11 (C) DATT has been contacted by former Executive VP

Mejia,s wife noting that she does not feel secure at her

current  location, as it is surrounded by troops.  While she

has not made any decision to leave the country yet, she would

seek her usual Embassy assistance if she does.  (Note:

Mejia,s five-year-old son,s name is close to that of a

person on no-fly watch lists, so she receives Embassy

assistance any time she plans to travel outside the country.

End note.)

 

12 (C) The Ambassador has been in close contact with

President Zelaya,s family and offered our support.  He has

spoken by phone with the First Lady, who is in the

countryside in Olancho as well as with the president,s older

son, who is in Tegucigalpa.  The president,s younger son and

family moved to the ambassador,s residence Sunday night.  We

have passed on President Funes, offer to send a plane to

bring them to El Salvador, and offered to transport them to a

plane.  As of now, there preference is to remain in Honduras

out of fear of having their property confiscated.  Leftist

radio and television host Eduardo Maldonado, who feared

arrest, is staying at the DCM,s residence.

 

 

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Infrastructure and Communications

---------------------------------

 

13. (U) Toncontin airport remains open for international

flights, and American, Continental and Delta airlines

continue to operate flights as usual.  Flights are arriving

and departing with minimal delays, and the airport road is

open and clear.

 

14. (U) Landline telephones have been restored, as have

electricity, Internet access and many television stations.

Those local stations associated closely with Zelaya and his

&Citizen Power8 movement are still off the air, although

Channel 11, run by the Rosenthal Family, which long backed

Zelaya, is back on.

 

-------------------------------

Consular and Embassy Operations

-------------------------------

 

15. (U) The Embassy is open only for emergency services to

Amcits only June 29, and Post will determine operational

status for June 30 at a scheduled 15:00 local (17:00 EDT) EAC

meeting.  Because the USG does not recognize the Micheletti

regime, the Embassy will not send diplomatic notes until

further notice.  Due to the Marriott hotel,s proximity to

the Presidential Palace and its difficulties providing

customer services, the Embassy will move all

temporarily-housed personnel out of the Marriott.  The

Embassy has canceled the official National Day event

scheduled for July 2 at the Ambassador,s Residence, but will

hold an informal event limited to employees and family later

that day instead if security conditions remain the same.  At

present, the planned celebration for Mission personnel and

the broader Amcit community for July 4 at the Panamerican

Agricultural University in Zamorano is still on.

 

16. (U) The Consular Section has received welfare and

whereabouts calls on 200 Amcits to date via telephone and

email.  Post is preparing a new warden message to be issued

as soon as it is cleared.  Consular Section continues to

regularly update ACS talking points on the Embassy website.

LLORENS

 

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