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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000537 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN COUP SITREP #11 (UNCLASSIFIED) 07/05/09 
AS OF 1600 LOCAL (1800 EDT) 
 
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 535 
     ¶B. STATE 69221 
     ¶C. TEGUCIGALPA 533 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000537  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Protest Focused on Anticipated Zelaya Return 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶1. (U) Overnight, the pro-Zelaya protesters from outside 
Tegucigalpa remained camped out at the Pedagogical University 
in the capital.  Their Sunday demonstration began there, and 
grew to a crowd of 5,000 by 11:00 local (13:00 EDT), when 
they began to march to Toncontin International Airport. 
Chants of "Mel arrives at 12:30 and we'll be there to meet 
him" rolled through the crowd.  By 13:00 local, the crowd had 
reached the airport and grown to approximately 12,000 to 
15,000 and were demanding to be allowed into the premises. 
Anticipating Zelaya's arrival at approximately 16:00 local, 
some members of the group attempted to enter the south end of 
the runway, and security forces deployed tear gas to stop 
them.  Sources at the scene report three protesters were 
killed by security forces.  A plane carrying President Zelaya 
flew over Toncontin Airport, but did not attempt to land, as 
military vehicles were deployed on the runway.  As of 1830, 
the runway is clear of protesters, and soldiers remain on the 
tarmac, but demonstrators, numbers are estimated at at least 
20,000.  They are predicted to be spending the night at the 
airport, which is now closed until further notice.  No 
pro-coup demonstration has materialized today as of 18:30 
local.  There have been no reports of further disruptions at 
land border crossings today. 
 
¶2. (U) Honduran police (HNP) confirm two unidentified men on 
a motorcycle broke a window and threw a grenade into the TV 
Channel 11 offices Saturday night.  The grenade exploded, but 
the station did not cease broadcast and no 
injuries were reported. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The curfew start time was moved to 18:30, through 
05:00 (20:30 to 07:00 EDT) Monday morning.  HNP report making 
18 arrests nationwide for curfew violations overnight. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Political Developments; Public Opinion 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Honduras, Cardinal 
Oscar Andres Rodriguez, in a televised "cadena" repeated 
multiple times Saturday, expressed a firmly pro-coup message 
and implored President Zelaya not to return, for the good of 
the country.  At noon local today, The Reverend Oswaldo 
Canales, head of Honduras' main evangelical coalition CEH 
called for peace and reconciliation of all sides, noting that 
"we are all sinners" on a televised "cadena." 
 
¶5. (SBU) Post is adhering to Washington guidance regarding a 
no-contact policy (Ref B) with the Micheletti regime, while 
continuing to seek back-channel progress through non-regime 
contacts.  We will report these discussions in greater detail 
through classified channels (Ref C). 
 
¶6. (U) At approximately 14:00 local, de facto President 
Micheletti gave a televised press conference, accompanied by 
de facto regime's Foreign Minister Enrique Ortez Colindres, 
Vice Foreign Minister Maria Alvarado and former Callejas 
Administration Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez Contreras, who 
is serving as an advisor to the regime.  Micheletti stated 
concern over unconfirmed reports that Nicaraguan troops were 
amassing at the border, but then backed down from his claims 
when pressed by reporters for evidence.  He called on 
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuelan President 
Hugo Chavez, however, to respect Honduran sovereignty. 
Reporters also challenged Micheletti on his claim that he was 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000537  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
"legitimately elected," which Lopez explained meant he had 
been elected by Congress, itself elected by the Honduran 
people. 
 
¶7. (U) Alvarado announced that the de facto government would 
set up a working-level delegation to engage in 
dialogue with the OAS.  One reporter asked how, if Micheletti 
reaffirmed that the ouster of Zelaya was irreversible and he 
did not recognize the OAS resolution suspending Honduras, the 
diplomatic commission could accomplish anything.  Lopez 
responded that they did have fundamental differences with the 
OAS, but that they were 
seeking an open dialogue to address those differences. 
 
¶8. (SBU) While all indications are that the coup continues to 
have strong popular support, even with rural and poorer 
citizens, Post has seen cracks in the resolve of the 
political class with regard to the legality of the coup and 
the legitimacy of the Micheletti regime.  In addition to 
public statements by members of Congress reported previously 
(Ref A and others), media are now reporting the Public 
Ministry is investigating whether the military overstepped 
its bounds by removing Zelaya from the country and the 
Constitutional Hall of the Supreme Court, the same 
five-magistrate panel that had ruled Zelaya's poll was 
illegal, has now asked the Armed Forces to explain the 
circumstances that motivated them to remove Zelaya from the 
country and agreed to hear arguments about the 
constitutionality of the curfew imposed by the de facto 
regime. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Infrastructure and Communications 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) While Toncontin International Airport was officially 
open today, American, Delta and TACA airlines 
canceled their flights.  Continental's flight arrived and 
departed roughly on time.  Toncontin is now closed until 
further notice.  San Pedro Sula airport remains open for 
international flights, and American, Continental 
and Delta airlines continue to operate flights as usual to 
that destination.  Pro-Zelaya television Channel 36 
returned to the air Saturday evening. 
 
------------------------------- 
Consular and Embassy Operations 
------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (U) Embassy employees were instructed to remain in their 
homes for the day in anticipation of increased 
protests, but by 18:00, the only unrest remained at the 
airport.  The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the EAC, which 
determined to keep visa and non-essential ACS services closed 
on Monday, July 6.  A liberal leave policy will be in effect 
for Embassy staff.  The EAC also agreed to review civil 
unrest tripwires to aid in determining the need to request 
authorized departure. 
LLORENS