VZCZCXRO3661
OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT
RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHTG #0573/01 1902337
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 092337Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0091
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE
RUEAHND/COMJTF-B SOTO CANO HO IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA IMMEDIATE 0219
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RUEAHND/CDRJTFB SOTO CANO HO IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RULGPSU/COMSOCSOUTH  IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 1094
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUMIAAA/USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000573 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #15 07/09/2009 AS OF 1500 
LOCAL (1700 EDT) 
 
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 564 
     ¶B. AND PREVIOUS 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000573  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
------------------------------------- 
Demonstrations move out of Tegucigalpa 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶1. (U) As of 1040 local (1240 EDT), there are 2,500 Zelaya 
supporters blocking traffic on the highway between Choluteca 
and the El Salvador and Nicaraguan borders near the Germania 
bridge.  This demonstration again confirms pro-Zelaya 
demonstrators' statements on Tuesday of plans to change their 
strategy and move their activity out of Tegucigalpa and onto 
the highways.  Two other roadblocks, near Comayagua and Copan 
Ruinas, have been reported as well.  Unconfirmed reports 
indicate pro-Zelaya demonstrators plan to create a roadblock 
tomorrow, Friday July 9, on the main CA-5 highway to San 
Pedro Sula. 
 
¶2. (U) Reports indicate that Honduran military appear to be 
pulling soldiers from various government buildings in 
Tegucigalpa, where they have provided security since June 28. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The curfew for tonight is from 23:00 to 04:00 local 
(01:00 to 06:00 EDT).  Honduran National Police (HNP) report 
that 128 arrests were made on Wednesday night, July 8, for 
curfew violations.  Police contacts report 4 Nicaraguan 
nationals were detained crossing the Honduran border at a 
location other than a port of entry near Tizatillo. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Political Developments; Public Opinion 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) On Wednesday afternoon, Post released a press 
statement explaining that a substantial amount of U.S. 
foreign assistance to Honduras has been suspended, and that 
much more is under review.  The press release 
also noted the U.S. Embassy,s support for the talks in Costa 
Rica, and urged the Honduran people to seek consensus. 
 
¶5. (U) Local press published a letter from the Government of 
Nicaragua denying overfly permission to representatives of 
the de facto regime for their trip to Costa Rica.  Post 
learned that as of this morning, the issue was resolved and 
the Micheletti delegation attended talks as scheduled today 
in Costa Rica. 
 
¶6. (U) A CID-Gallop poll released  Wednesday and reported in 
the press today found that a plurality -- but not a majority 
-- of Hondurans thought that the June 28 coup was justified 
and that Zelaya had intended to use his proposed opinion 
survey and referendum on constitutional reform to remain in 
power beyond January 2010.  A strong majority -- 63 percent 
-- were opposed to a public "consultation" on convening a 
constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution -- the issue 
that led to Zelaya's removal -- with only 22 percent 
favoring; 47 percent thought Zelaya intended to use it to 
stay in power.  As for whether this justified his removal 
from office, 41 percent said yes, 28 percent said no and 31 
percent had no opinion. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Infrastructure and Communications 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Toncontin Airport is open and operating as of Tuesday 
afternoon, July 7.  Continental Airlines resumed 
flights into Toncontin on Wednesday July 8.  Delta Airlines 
indicate they will resume flights to Toncontin today, July 9, 
and American Airlines will resume full operations tomorrow, 
Friday July 10 or Saturday, July 11.  San Pedro Sula airport 
remains open for international flights, and American, 
Continental and Delta airlines continue to operate flights as 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000573  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
usual to and from that destination.  All land borders are 
reportedly open to both private and commercial traffic. 
 
¶8. (U) As of Thursday morning, there are no/no reports of 
abnormal public utility outages in the country. 
 
------------------------------- 
Consular and Embassy Operations 
------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Until commercial flights at Toncontin Airport have 
fully resumed, the Embassy's Management office continues to 
support official air travel via San Pedro Sula and provide 
over land transportation to Tegucigalpa. 
 
¶10. (U) The Embassy is open for all regular consular services 
today, July 8.  Barring a change in the security situation, 
the consular section plans to be open for regular consular 
services until further notice. 
 
¶11. (U) The Consular Section has received welfare and 
whereabouts inquiries on more than 650 Amcits to date via 
telephone and email.  Post issued a new warden message last 
night and barring any major changes in the security 
situation, discontinued the practice of daily warden 
messages.  The Consular Section continues to regularly update 
ACS talking points on the Embassy website, and has advised 
Amcits to abide by the curfew and monitor the 
Embassy website for updates. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Another EAC will take place tomorrow, Friday July 
10, at 1300 local time (1500 EDT). 
LLORENS