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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000993 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2019 
TAGS: PGOV CASC MARR KDEM PHUM ASEC HO
SUBJECT: TFHO1: HONDURAS COUP SITREP #67 09/30/2009 AS OF 
15:00 LOCAL (17:00 EDT) 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 983 AND OTHERS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (b and d) 
 
---------------------------- 
Domestic Political Situation 
---------------------------- 
 
¶1. (C) Liberal party Congresswoman Argentina Valle told 
Poloff on September 29 that Congressional leaders decided to 
establish a commission that will examine the decree passed by 
the Executive Branch on September 26 that severely limited 
civil liberties (ref Tegucigalpa 989).  Earlier on September 
29 in a meeting with the Ambassador, Valle and 13 other 
anti-coup Honduran Members of Congress expressed concern that 
Congressional President Jose Angel Saavedra was stalling 
Congressional action on the decree.  The group pointed out 
that Article 187 of the Honduran Constitution clearly states 
that Congress must make a decision to ratify, modify, or deny 
the decree, not request the Executive Branch to reconsider it 
as Congress President Saavedra did.  Valle told the 
Ambassador that Congressmen Juan Angel Rivera Tabora, a close 
associate of Micheletti, told her that in reference to the 
delay in bringing the decree to Congress for a decision that 
&they had won an extra day.8  Congresswoman Valle told 
Poloff on September 29 that at Congress, next session on 
Monday October 5, she plans to present a motion calling for 
disapproval of the decree. 
 
¶2. (U) De facto President Micheletti has not yet revoked the 
emergency decree issued on Sunday, September 27. 
 
¶3. (U) Andres Pavon, the president of human rights NGO the 
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CODEH), filed a 
court complaint on September 29 with the Supreme Court asking 
the Court to void the state of exception decree.  Pavon,s 
complaint argued the de facto degree violated the freedom of 
press protected by Articles 72 and 73 of the Honduran 
Constitution and should be reversed.  The complaint also 
calls for the return of the private property seized by 
military during the closure of Channel 36 and Radio Globo. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Civil Unrest and Security Environment 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) A medium sized group pro-Zelaya supporters gathered 
outside the heavily guarded Radio Globo.  The protestors then 
began to march to Channel 36, but were dispersed by police 
tear gas before reaching the station.  (Note: Radio Globo and 
Channel 36 are pro-Zelaya stations which were closed on 
Monday, September 28 under the emergency decree). 
 
¶5. (U) Curfew was imposed yesterday, September 29 from 2200 
to 0500 local.  No new curfew has been announced for today, 
September 30. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Post has confirmed that the two Guatemalan 
journalists who were slightly injured during a scuffle with 
police outside Channel 36 on Monday, September 28, filed a 
police report and continue to operate freely as journalists 
in Honduras.  Post is still working to verify the reported 
abduction and beating of journalist Delmer Membreno on 
Monday, September 28. 
 
¶7. (SBU) By court order, Honduran National Police and members 
of the Honduran Armed Forces peacefully removed fifty-five 
pro-Zelaya supporters from the National Agrarian Institute 
(INA) in Tegucigalpa today, September 30.  The supporters, 
who are almost all members of the SITRAINA (National Agrarian 
Institute Worker,s Union), had been inside the Institute for 
approximately three months.  The protesters were arrested and 
will be taken to Penal Court later today where they will have 
a hearing on charges of  Sedition,.  An order was also 
given to remove any protesters from INA offices in Choluteca, 
but was not executed.  Government and police officials have 
decided to negotiate with demonstrators to reach an agreement 
for voluntarily leaving the seven other INA regional offices, 
but if unsuccessful will determine how to carry out the court 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000993  002 OF 002 
 
 
order. 
 
------------ 
Consular/ACS 
------------ 
 
¶8. (U) The Consular Section posted a revised warden message 
Monday, September 28 informing American citizens of the de 
facto government's emergency decree. 
 
------------ 
Media Update 
------------ 
 
¶9. (U) The Ambassador was interviewed live on Honduran 
National Radio yesterday September 29.  Four print newspapers 
and two online newspapers picked up the story in the 
afternoon yesterday, September 29.  Headlines included: 
 U.S. Supports Democracy,,  San Jose Accord is the 
solution,, 'Solving the political crisis is in Honduran,s 
hands,,  Calls for violence and human rights violations are 
not good for Honduras,.  Print media ran the Ambassador,s 
entire interview in newspapers today, September 30.  Radio 
and TV stations also played most of the Ambassador,s 
interview. 
 
¶10. (U) Most Honduran news stations reported that the United 
States and President Arias were urging both sides to dialogue 
and focus on the San Jose Accord to find a peaceful solution. 
 Honduran media acknowledged that the Ambassador was calling 
for a dialogue and not imposing a U.S. solution on Honduras. 
Honduran media highlighted that the Ambassador called on both 
sides in the conflict to avoid human rights violations and to 
avoid violence.  Some media also noted that the U.S. position 
has not changed and it sees the San Jose Accords as the only 
solution. 
 
------------------ 
Embassy Operations 
------------------ 
 
¶11. (SBU) An EAC meeting was held today, September 30 at 1400 
local (1600 EDT). 
 
¶12. (SBU) The termination letter for the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation to the de facto Honduran government will be sent 
today, September 30. 
 
¶13. (U) The Embassy is open today, September 30, and will 
remain open unless a curfew is imposed.  As of 1400 local 
(1600 EDT) no new curfew announcement had been made.  (Note: 
official announcements have been made minutes before imposing 
or lifting curfews since September 21.  End note) 
 
¶14. (SBU) Limited travel of mission personnel within Honduras 
is now permitted.  TDY travel into Honduras will be approved 
on a limited, case-by-case basis. 
LLORENS