US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA493

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000493 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/EPSC, WHA/EX, WHA/PPC, EB/OIA/IFD 
TREASURY FOR DDOUGLASS 
STATE PASS AID (LAC/CAM) 
STATE PASS USTR: ANDREA MALITO 
GUATEMALA FOR COMMAT:MLARSEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, ECON, PGOV, HO 
SUBJECT: HONDURAS RATIFIES CAFTA 
 
 
1. At approximately 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3, the 
National Congress of Honduras ratified the Central American 
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).  The vote count has not been 
finalized, but Congressman Jose Toribio Aguilera, member of 
the CAFTA Committee, told EconChief that the vote was only 
four opposed, with over one hundred in favor. 
 
2.  A final vote count must await the certification of the 
vote, a formality that normally immediately follows the vote 
itself but was interrupted today when protesters stormed the 
Congressional Hall.  The protesters, members of the 
Association of Public Employees (ANDEHP), had been gathered 
outside the Hall to protest for wage increases.  However, 
when it became clear that a vote on CAFTA was to be held, 
members of the minority far-left Democratic Union (UD) party 
reportedly mobilized the protesters and encouraged them to 
storm the Hall to halt the vote.  They did not succeed in 
halting the vote, but the session has been suspended until 
police can clear out the protestors. 
 
3. When the session resumes, Congress must certify the vote 
(\"ratificacion del acta\").  The ratified agreement will then 
be transmitted to President Maduro for his signature, likely 
on Monday.  The signed document will then be sent to the 
Government Ministry for publication in the Gaceta (the 
Federal Register equivalent.)  Upon publication, the 
ratification takes effect.  (CAFTA has also already been 
ratified by El Salvador, but does not enter into force until 
the U.S. Congress also ratifies it.) 
 
Palmer 
Palmer