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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000595 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #18 07/14/2009 AS OF 1600 
LOCAL (1800 EDT) 
 
REF: A. A) TEGUCIGALPA 590 AND PREVIOUS 
     ¶B. B) TEGUCIGALPA 589 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000595  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
 ------------------------------------------ 
More Demonstrations Today and Rest of Week 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶1. (U) At approximately 9:21 local (11:21 EDT) 
approximately 700 Zelaya supporters gathered at the 
National Pedagogical University.  By 10:14 local (12:14 
EDT), Zelaya supporters began marching and grew to 
approximately 4000.  At 11:41, Zelaya supporters arrived at 
the Embassy.  The demonstrators yelled for the U.S. to 
support the "immediate restitution of Manuel Zelaya" and 
demanded "compliance with the recommendation of the 
OAS that Mel Zelaya return."  One speaker, a representative 
of feminist groups, thanked President Obama, Secretary 
Clinton, 
and the Ambassador for their support of the deposed President. 
Other speakers were less positive, wondering at the 
Ambassador's 
"silence" and describing the Arias talks as "a failure."  One 
protester held a sign saying the U.S. was behind the coup. 
At 
approximately 12:45 local (14:45 EDT), another separate 
group including First Lady Zelaya and approximately 600 
more Zelaya supporters, marched to the Embassy and joined 
the larger group and peacefully dispersed at 13:35 local 
(15:35 EDT).  The First Lady (who had spoken to supporters 
at a different location earlier demanding Zelaya be allowed 
to return to confront those accusing him of misdeeds) 
did not address the group at the Embassy and 
was not present when the earlier negative comments were 
made before the group. 
 
¶2. (U) A reliable source reported that today, July 14, a 
pro-Zelaya protest closed a section of the CA-5 highway 
between Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula near Comayagua 
starting at approximately 10:45 local (12:45 EDT).  The 
demonstration dispersing peacefully at approximately 14:00 
local (16:00 EDT). 
 
¶3. (U) Post continues to receive reports that various 
protestors, including the teachers unions still on strike, 
met yesterday to plan their next move.  Zelaya supporters 
announced late yesterday that Friday July 17, they would 
"take to the streets."  Additionally, Honduran National 
Police contacts said they heard rumors that on Wednesday 
July 15, pro-Zelaya demonstrators plan to "take" factories 
and fast food establishments in San Pedro Sula.  There is 
also a rumor that pro-Zelaya demonstrators plan to march 
tomorrow, July 15, from the National Pedagogical University 
to the national Liberal Party headquarters and "burn it," 
as a signal of their displeasure with the Liberal Party 
faction that supports the Micheletti regime.  Post is 
attempting to confirm these rumors, but they are 
consistent with reports from various sources within the 
pro-Zelaya group that state they will move to "other 
measures," given that peaceful demonstrations have not 
worked. 
 
¶4. (U) Reports indicate that parents of school-aged 
children are considering a demonstration tomorrow, July 15, 
to demand that public school teachers return to the 
classroom.  (Note: As of Tuesday, almost all primary 
schools are back in session in defiance of the 
primary-level teachers' union call for continued strikes, 
but most secondary schools remain closed due to teacher 
participation in pro-Zelaya demonstrations.  End note.) 
 
¶5. (U) Violent crime continues unabated in Honduras (Ref B) 
as reports surfaced of the assassination-style killing of 
five members of a family in San Pedro Sula early Monday 
July 13.  Unconfirmed reports indicate these killings could 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000595  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
be linked to the July 11 killing of 5 prison escapees involved 
in gang activity who broke out of a San Pedro Sula jail on 
June 17. 
 
¶6. (U) The curfew remained lifted indefinitely throughout 
the country. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Infrastructure and Communications 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Toncontin Airport remains open and has been 
operating since Tuesday afternoon, July 7.  Continental, 
Delta, and American Airlines have all resumed normal 
operations.  San Pedro Sula airport remains open for 
international flights, and American, Continental and Delta 
Airlines continue to operate flights as usual to and from 
that destination.  All land borders are reportedly open to 
both private and commercial traffic. 
 
¶8. (U) As of Tuesday afternoon, there are no reports of 
abnormal public utility outages in the country. 
 
------------------------------- 
Consular and Embassy Operations 
------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) The Embassy remains open for all regular consular 
services today, July 14.  Barring a change in the security 
situation, the consular section plans to be open for 
regular consular services until further notice. 
 
¶10. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive sporadic 
inquires from AmCits regarding the political situation. 
Post issued an updated Warden Message on Monday with new 
information about the lifting of the curfew.  The Consular 
Section continues to regularly update ACS information on 
the Embassy website. 
 
¶11. (SBU) JTF-Bravo continues to be on lock down.  All 
regular military-to-military contact has been suspended per 
the no contact policy.  With the daily permission of 
the Ambassador, JTF-Bravo has resumed 
training flights on a case-by-case basis.  The purpose of 
these 
flights is only to maintain the minimal training 
requirements for the flight crews and requires no/no 
contact with Honduran military counterparts. 
 
¶12. (SBU) The next EAC will take place Wednesday July 15, 
at 1400 local time (1600 EDT). 
LLORENS