US embassy cable - 03TEGUCIGALPA2231

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TEGUCIGALPA 002231 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR DS/DSS/ITA, DS/OP/WHA, S/CT, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2013 
TAGS: ASEC, HO, PGOV, PTER 
SUBJECT: SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ) 
 
REF: A. 03 STATE 249843 
 
     B. 03 TEGUC 02102 
     C. 03 TEGUC 912 (SEPQ 04/15/03) 
     D. 03 TEGUC 01144 (POPULAR REVOLUTIONARY FORCES INFO) 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Roger Pierce, Reason 1.5 (C) 
               and (D). 
 
(U) The following responses are keyed to the Security 
Environment Profile Questionnaire contained in Reftel (A) and 
were discussed by EAC Reftel (B). 
 
POLITICAL VIOLENCE 
 
1. (SBU)  Demonstrations: 
 
(1-A.)  Yes.  Additionally, there are a number of 
organizations and groups under the loose collective 
leadership of (and affiliated with) the Bloque Popular that 
have been carrying out anti-American demonstrations, as well 
as demonstrations targeting local issues.  The following 
organizations have been involved in anti-American political 
activities to varying degrees.  They are listed in 
alphabetical order, utilizing Spanish acronyms where 
applicable (Updated list follows): 
 
ARTISTAS DE LA UNAH 
Artists of the National Autonomous University of 
Honduras (UNAH) 
 
BLOQUE POPULAR 
Popular Bloc 
 
COCOH 
Farmers' Cooperatives Union 
 
CODECOH 
Honduran Consumer Protection Committee 
 
CODEH 
Honduran Committee for Human Rights 
 
COFADEH 
Honduran Committee of Family Members of the Detained 
and Disappeared 
 
COHAPAZ 
Honduran Committee for Action for Peace 
 
COLPROHSUMA 
A small Teachers' Union 
 
COMPA-H 
People of the Americas Convergence Movement 
(COMPA)- Honduras 
 
COPEMH 
Honduran Association of Secondary School Teachers 
 
COPINH 
Civic Council of Popular Organizations and 
Indigenous Groups of Honduras (also appears as COPIN) 
 
COPRUMH 
Professional Association Teachers' Union 
 
CGT 
General Coordinator of Honduran Workers (the largest of 
Honduras' three national labor confederations) 
 
CTH 
Confederation of Honduran Workers (the strongest of the 
three National Labor Confederations) 
 
CUTH 
United Confederation of Honduran Workers (the most left of 
the three National Labor Confederations) 
 
FPR 
Popular Revolutionary Forces, A shadowy alleged 
revolutionary group.  See Reftel D for details. 
 
FUTH 
United Federation of Honduran Workers (the largest 
component of CUTH, above) 
 
FSM 
Feminist Movement (details needed) 
 
FUR 
University Revolutionary Front 
 
FUTH 
United Federation of Honduran Workers (the largest 
component of CUTH, above) 
 
GRUPO LOS NECIOS DE LA UNAH 
UNAH Fools Group - Activist group in UNAH that "cheerleads" 
and motivates demos 
 
MEH 
Honduran Student Movement 
 
PARTIDO DE LOS TRABAJADORES DE LA FACULTAD DE PEDAGOGIA 
DE LA UNAH Teaching Faculty Workers' Party of UNAH 
 
RADIO GUALCHO 
Leftist/Activist radio station (1510Mhz) that works 
closely with Bloque Popular and is actively involved in 
most demonstrations 
 
REPRESENTANTE DE FRENTE Y REFORMA DE LA UNAH 
Reform Front Representative of UNAH 
 
SERUNAH 
New UNAH coalition group, like Bloque Popular 
 
SETROINFOP 
Details Needed 
 
SITRAINA 
National Agrarian Institute Workers' Union 
 
SITRAIHSS 
Institute of Social Security Workers' Union 
 
SITRAUNAH 
UNAH Workers' Union 
 
SITRAUPEN 
A Workers' Union (details needed) 
 
STIBYS 
Beverage and Associated Industries Workers' Union 
(plays a key organizing and logistics role for many 
demos) 
 
SITRAPANI 
Child Welfare Association Workers' Union 
 
UD 
Democratic Unification Party (remnants of the Communist 
Party of Honduras and other former Marxist parties; 
represented in the National Congress) 
 
UNAH 
National Autonomous University of Honduras 
 
URP 
Revolutionary People's Union 
 
 
NOTE: The most anti-U.S. groups are: MEH, URP, UD, Bloque 
Popular, STIBYS, COPINH and COMPA-H. 
 
(1-B.) Yes.  There have been more than seven demonstrations 
in Tegucigalpa since December 2002, either at the Embassy or 
nearby locations.  Demo dates:  12/5/02, 01/25/03, 01/30/03, 
02/15/03, 03/8/03 and 03/27/03. 
 
(1-C.)  Over half of the demonstrations have taken place at 
or near the Embassy. 
 
(1-D.)  The size of anti-American demonstrations at the 
Embassy varies from twenty to over three hundred 
participants.  The larger demos usually consist of supporters 
from six to more than twelve different organizations, which 
operate as a loosely structured coalition under the guidance 
of Bloque Popular. 
 
(1-E.)  While there are demonstrations based on local issues, 
such as civil service salaries, privatization, IMF 
requirements, etc.  U.S. actions in Iraq and the Central 
American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) have become the current 
focus.  The following statements/demands have been made 
repeatedly during past demos at the Embassy:  No to war in 
Iraq, No to war, Stop plan Colombia, Pro-Human rights, World 
Peace, Stop Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), 
U.S. Forces out of Honduras (Soto Cano AB), Burning US flags, 
U.S. Military out of Cuba, U.S. destroy your WMD, Stop 
intervention in Venezuela, Stop Standard Fruit exploiting the 
indigenous people, No to CAFTA, No to privatization. 
 
(1-F.)  Generally peaceful, but demonstrators have burned 
U.S. flags, painted slogans on Mission outer perimeter walls 
and utilized homemade mortars to detonate large fireworks 
charges that are propelled high into the air before exploding. 
 
(1-G.)  N/A. 
 
(1-H.)  N/A. 
 
(1-I.)  Yes. 
 
(1-J.)  Yes.  Occasionally they will pass by the Embassy. 
 
(1-K.)  The size varies from a few hundred to 5-10 thousand 
people. 
 
(1-L.)  Generally peaceful but fences, grillwork and windows 
have been destroyed near the National Congress and many tires 
burned.  At times suspected plain-clothes police have been 
held and beaten by hard-core protestors within the 
demonstrations. 
 
(1-M.)  N/A. 
 
2. (SBU)  Macro Conflict Conditions: 
 
(2-A.)  NO. 
 
(2-B.)  N/A. 
 
(2-C.)  N/A. 
 
(2-D.)  N/A. 
 
3. (SBU)  Host Country Capabilities: 
 
(3-A.)  No. 
 
(3-B.)  Yes.  Training by US Border Patrol(BorTac) Teams 
good, but GOH security infrastructure needs major 
improvements. 
 
(3-C.)  Yes. 
 
(3-D.)  No.  However, GOH intelligence units have an 
institutional awareness of and a modest capability of 
penetrating indigenous radical groups. 
 
(3-E.)  Yes. 
 
(3-F.)  No. 
 
(3-G.)  Yes. 
 
(3-H.)  Average/Below Average. 
 
(3-I.)  Average/Ineffective. 
 
(3-J.)  Average/Ineffective.  A new unit within the Ministry 
of Public Security called the Frontier Police has been 
established to handle border patrol duties.  The unit is 
making positive steps towards border control but lack of 
funding and manpower are limiting the effectiveness of the 
unit. 
 
4. (SBU)  Indigenous Terrorism-Anti American Terrorist 
Groups: 
 
(4-A.)  No. 
 
(4-B.)  N/A. 
 
(4-C.)  N/A. 
 
(4-D.)  N/A. 
 
(4-E.)  N/A. 
 
(4-F.)  N/A. 
(4-G.)  N/A. 
 
(4-H.)  N/A. 
5. (SBU)  Other Indigenous Terrorist Groups: 
(5-A.)  No. 
(5-B.)  N/A. 
 
(5-C.)  N/A. 
 
(5-D.)  N/A. 
 
(5-E.)  N/A. 
 
6. (C/NF)  Transnational Terrorism-Transnational Terrorist 
Indicators: 
 
(6-A.)  No.  However, there are rumors that there are Basque 
Fatherland and Liberty (ETA), IRA, and Chiapas (Zapatistas) 
sympathizers in Honduras who could be involved in advising 
indigenous groups.  Some Hondurans are studying in Cuba and 
also conceivably could be receiving training in subversion 
and terrorism, although it is more likely they are being 
indoctrinated as agents of influence.   As this Cuban program 
for Hondurans is in its infancy, there have been no 
indications that such training is taking place. 
 
(6-B.)  N/A. 
 
(6-C.)  N/A. 
 
(6-D.)  N/A and NO. 
 
(6-E.)  N/A. 
 
(6-F.)  The only known hostile intelligence presence of note 
is Cuban.  While the Cuban mission appears to have extensive 
contacts with leftists and indigenous groups, there is no 
indication they are planning or supporting terrorism. 
 
(6-H.)  There is no shortage of weapons in Honduras.  It 
would also not be difficult for hostile terrorist elements to 
import weapons and/or explosives from neighboring countries. 
PIERCE