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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001221 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM HO
SUBJECT: TFH01: ELECTIONS SITREP 1600 HOURS 
 
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 1220 
     ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 1219 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) 
extended the closing time of polling centers from 16:00 to 
17:00.  Security forces used tear gas and water cannon to 
disperse anti-coup demonstrators in San Pedro Sula who 
allegedly threw rocks.  A Reuters cameraman was injured in 
the incident.  Embassy teams calling in continue to report no 
incidents.  End Summary. 
 
THE POLLS 
--------- 
 
¶2. (U) The TSE extended the closing time of the polling 
centers from 16:00 to 17:00 local time. Carlos Romero, who is 
in charge of logistics for the TSE, told Emboff that the 
extension was given in response to requests from voting 
stations due to the number of voters still waiting to cast 
their ballots. 
 
¶3. (U) According to the TSE, there are 18,313 Hondurans 
registered to vote in the six cities in the United States 
where voting will be carried out: Houston, Los Angeles, 
Miami, New Orleans, New York, and Washington, D.C. 
 
¶4. (U) Eighty-seven percent of domestic observers deployed in 
all 18 departments nationwide by "Hagamos Democracia," which 
received assistance from the National Democratic Institute 
(NDI) and funding from USAID, called in to their headquarters 
and reported no incidents as of 15:00.  Hagamos Democracia 
issued a communique as of 11:30 in which it stated they had 
received reports of only two incidents: one regarding abuse 
of authority in the department of Comayagua and the other 
regarding a clash between police and citizens in the 
department of Atlantida. 
 
¶5. (U) A relative of an Embassy employee reported that 
garbage and tires were set on fire in front of the polling 
center located at the Alfonso Guillen Zelaya school in the El 
Pedregal neighborhood of Comayaguela, which is adjacent to 
Tegucigalpa, causing people who were lined up to vote to run 
away.  Embassy reporting team deployed in Tegucigalpa 
reported that the re-location of polling sites from the 
Autonomous University of Honduras to an engineering school 
took place without problems (see reftel B). 
 
SECURITY 
------- 
 
¶6. (U) Security forces used tear gas and water cannon to 
disperse demonstrators gathered at the central park in San 
Pedro Sula allegedly after some demonstrators began to throw 
rocks (see reftel A).  The Special Prosecutor for Human 
Rights in San Pedro Sula told Emboff that three injuries have 
been confirmed and an unknown number of persons detained. A 
Reuters cameraman was injured.  The Special Prosecutor is 
investigating the incident and trying to determine the 
location or locations where the detained are being held.  . 
 
¶7. (U) A group of approximately ten "US Citizens for Honduras 
Self Determination" gathered peacefully in front of the 
Embassy around 15:00 and were interviewed by journalists. 
 
¶8. (U) Embassy reporting team in Santa Barbara said military 
found a ditch in a road outside Santa Barbara filled with 
road spikes, but removed them and filled in the ditch. 
Police in Santa Barbara told Embassy team that they arrested 
three persons who were in voting centers carrying weapons. 
 
¶9. (SBU) According to a report on Radio America, an 
improvised explosive device was found in the home of the 
mayor of the village of Yamaranguila, which is located in the 
municipality of La Esperanza in Intibuca department.  It was 
unclear whether someone had planted the bomb in the mayor's 
house or whether the mayor was allegedly in possession of the 
explosive device.  In any case, the police were reportedly 
able to defuse the bomb.  An Embassy staff member asked TSE 
officials in La Esperanza about the incident, but the TSE 
officials were not aware of it.  The Embassy staff member 
also visited Yamaranguila but heard nothing about the 
incident there.  According to another news story, unknown 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00001221  002 OF 002 
 
 
persons knocked down and electrical pole in Intibuca, but 
officials from the national power company were able to repair 
the damage. 
 
 
 
LLORENS