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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000738 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO
SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #41 08/12/2009 AS OF 
15:00 LOCAL (17:00 EDT) 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 733 AND OTHERS 
 
--------------------------------- 
DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITY 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Tegucigalpa: Pro-Zelaya demonstrations on August 11 
were large (over 5,000 people).  The largest march into the 
city was led by Padre Tamayo who led a group of marchers from 
Olancho.  Protestors first congregated at the Clarion Hotel 
where they heard speeches from First Lady Xiomara de Castro 
Zelaya and other members of the First Family.  Protestors 
then moved a few blocks east toward the Presidential Palace 
where they encountered the police/military line.  At around 
14:15 local time (16:15 EDT), police gave protestors a 
one-hour ultimatum to move away from the police line.  By 
15:30, most of the protestors had moved away.  While leaving, 
the protestors damaged fast food restaurants with stones in 
the vicinity of the Clarion Hotel, then continued to march 
south toward the University. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Later in the afternoon, near the Pedagogical 
University, an individual who had been passing by on his 
motorcycle was shot in the ankle.  (Initial reports that a 13 
year old boy was killed were incorrect.)  Police indicate 
that the individual suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound and 
was transported to the hospital where he is receiving 
treatment.  According to local media, a bus also hit a 
protestor (who was not killed, NFI on whether s/he was 
injured).  The clashes that ensued culminated with protesters 
setting fire to the bus and a Popeye's fast-food restaurant. 
A 26 year old male employee at the Popeye's was said to have 
sustained injuries while escaping the fires. 
 
¶3. (SBU) After the disturbances, most protestors returned to 
the Pedagogical University, although there was not enough 
room to hold all protestors.  Others stayed at the National 
University of Honduras. 
 
¶4. (SBU) As of 13:00 on August 12, police/military and 
demonstrators were clashing in the vicinity of the National 
Congress downtown.  As of 14:40, the police/military had 
disrupted the demonstration at the National Congress and 
demonstrators who were not arrested fled the area in various 
directions. 
 
¶5. (SBU) San Pedro Sula:  On August 11, a medium-sized crowd 
gathered at the Central Park.  There were no acts of 
violence.  Protestors spent the night in different local 
schools.  As of 10:00 on August 12, a police commissioner 
says that the situation is calm.  The police suspect that 
demonstrators will attempt to prevent the Honduras Costa Rica 
soccer match. 
 
¶6. (SBU) A curfew was broadcast by local media for 
Tegucigalpa from 22:00 on August 11 to 5:00 on August 12. 
The Embassy Warden Message urges AmCits to consult television 
and radio announcements each night in case a curfew is again 
imposed. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Infrastructure and Communications 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa (TGU) 
and San Pedro Sula airport remain open. 
 
¶8. (U) Apart from the police and military control of the Las 
Manos border crossing (Reftel), all other borders remain open 
and operating as normal. 
 
¶9. (U) There are no reports of abnormal public utility 
outages in the country. 
 
------------------------------- 
Consular and Embassy Operations 
------------------------------- 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000738  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶10. (U) The Embassy is open for normal business on Wednesday, 
August 12.  Barring any changes in the security situation, 
the Consular Section will remain open for regular consular 
services until further notice. 
 
¶11. (U) The Consular Section continues to receive sporadic 
inquiries from AmCits regarding the political situation. 
Post circulated a Warden Message Thursday, August 6.  The 
Consular Section continues to regularly update ACS 
information on the Embassy website. 
 
¶12. (SBU) The next EAC meeting will be held as needed. 
LLORENS