US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1439

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001439 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/CEN, DS/OP/WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, ASEC, ELAB, PHUM, SOCI, PREL, HO 
SUBJECT: TEACHERS' PROTEST FAILS TO SHUT DOWN HONDURAN 
CAPITOL AS TENSIONS RUN HIGH 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 1434 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Palmieri; 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: On June 24, approximately 5,000 striking 
Honduran teachers temporarily blocked the four main arteries 
connecting Tegucigalpa with the rest of the country, bringing 
traffic to a standstill and disrupting commerce.  Teachers 
also blocked traffic in other parts of the country, primarily 
near San Pedro Sula.  The teachers' strike is entering its 
fourth week and tensions are running high.  Honduran police 
and military units, deployed to all four locations, moved 
against one group of protesters blocking the southern 
entrance to the city, launching tear gas to disperse the 
protesters.  Police opened all entrances to the city by 
mid-day.  This action marked the first time the Government of 
Honduras (GOH) has moved forcefully against protesting 
teachers blocking highways during the month-long work 
stoppage.  Preliminary reports indicate there were no 
injuries.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) On June 24, approximately 5,000 striking Honduran 
teachers blocked the four main arteries connecting 
Tegucigalpa with the rest of the country, temporarily 
bringing traffic to a standstill and disrupting commerce. 
Teachers were also blocking traffic in other parts of the 
country, including highways connecting Puerto Cortez and La 
Lima to San Pedro Sula.  POLOFFs visited all four locations 
in Tegucigalpa to meet with protesters and local 
police/military units.  While three of the four 
demonstrations we witnessed were peaceful, POLOFF was present 
when police decided to launch tear gas against protesting 
teachers to open the southern route out of Tegucigalpa. 
Chaos ensued as protesters fled the scene.  Police then 
opened the road.  POLOFF did not witness any violent 
confrontations between protesters and police/military units 
and preliminary reports indicate that no injuries occurred. 
Protest leaders, in communication via cell phone, apparently 
decided to disband the group blocking the Tegicigalpa-San 
Pedro highway after learning of police action against their 
colleagues in the south.  The other two groups, (which were 
also the largest) marched toward the center of the city with 
the intention of converging on the Casa Presidencial.  Police 
condoned off access to the Casa Presidencial as of 1600. 
Post understands the teachers will seek to protest tomorrow 
at the Casa Presidencial during a meeting between union 
leaders and the GOH, when President Maduro apparently will 
make another offer to resolve the wage dispute. 
 
3. (U) The teachers' strike, now entering its fourth week, 
has the GOH concerned (reftel).  The teachers' unions have 
alienated much of Honduran society and little sympathy exists 
among the populace in support of their demands which are 
deemed excessive.  Although it appears they do not enjoy much 
popular support, they remain a powerful special interest 
group.  Other groups, primarily doctors/nurses, are following 
the GOH's response to their demands closely.  They could also 
call a general strike if they perceive the teachers were able 
to coerce the GOH into meeting their terms. 
 
4. (C) The GOH also remains nervous about the March for Life 
(Marcha por la Vida) that commenced June 24 (reftel).  The 
March's organizer, Father Andres Tamayo, a Salvadoran 
Catholic priest who resides in Olancho and heads the Olancho 
Environmentalist Movement (MAO), estimates that eventually, 
ten thousand people will participate in the march.  The march 
was organized to draw attention to the GOH's inability to 
protect Honduras' environment; however, there are indications 
that participants may also demand President Ricardo Maduro's 
resignation.  As it did on June 24 with the teachers, it 
appears the GOH may take a more aggressive approach toward 
further disturbances in Tegucigalpa. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  While disruptive, the Embassy believes these 
protests will not destabilize the government.  However, if 
these movements are able to coalesce, and draw from the 
overall general discontent with Maduro's administration, the 
political situation could begin to worsen for the GOH.  End 
Comment. 
Palmer