Honduras Travel Hold Lifted

Dear EWB-USA Chapters with projects in Honduras,

After careful consideration, EWB-USA has made the decision to lift the travel hold for programs in Honduras . We strongly encourage chapters planning travel to Honduras to carefully monitor the situation in Honduras via the International SOS and Department of State websites.

Additionally, we advise chapters to call International SOS before traveling to Honduras for an updated analysis. After speaking with ISOS, we recommend that each chapter does their own travel security and safety analysis. Chapters should also ensure they have adequate and complete travel insurance coverage.

ISOS Phone: 1-215-942-8226
EWB-USA ISOS Member Number: 11BCPA000270

We will continue to monitor the International SOS and Department of State travel and security advice and we will make any future decisions regarding travel holds based on these resources.

If your chapter is planning to travel to Honduras in the next month, please contact me immediately, so that we can process the approval.

Please read the following information from ISOS:

ISOS Travel Advice (as of December 3, 2009)

* Travel can continue; however, be aware that airports and land borders are subject to further closures with little or no notice.
* Exercise heightened caution and consider restricting activity to business and necessary movement only while tensions remain elevated.
* Personnel in major cities should keep abreast of and observe any curfews. When a curfew is in effect, the government changes the exact curfew hours daily.
* The most current information on curfew timings is broadcast on local television and radio stations.
* Avoid the vicinity of buildings that may be the focus of protests. These include the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, government ministries, the Legislative Palace located on Avenida Juan-Ramon Molina and the new Presidential Palace located north of the intersection of Boulevard Supaya and Boulevard Miraflores, just south of Boulevard John Paul II (this should not be confused with the Old Presidential Palace, which is now a national museum and located about 0.5 miles (0.8km) north of the Legislative Palace).
* Monitor developments closely; register with your embassy and all relevant warden networks and monitor the local and international media.
* Avoid all political gatherings; do not stop to watch or photograph them. In the event of unrest occurring, return to your accommodation immediately and remain there until the situation stabilizes.
* Be aware that localized bouts of unrest with the potential to result in temporary restrictions on local movement are possible. Ensure that you have safely stored adequate supplies of basic goods, including food, water and medicine, for such an eventuality.
* Be aware that in the event of deterioration, temporary power, telecommunication and media blackouts are possible; these should not cause undue concern.
* Personnel (particularly those not very familiar with the country and their local environs) are advised to use a private vehicle and driver during this period of heightened tension.
* We continue to advise personnel against all unaccompanied travel on foot after dark; travelers in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula should restrict travel on foot in daylight hours to central business districts.

ISOS Comment and Analysis (As of December 3, 2009)

Congress on 2 December voted against reinstating ousted president Manuel Zelaya for the remainder of his term, which expires on 27 January. Security was tight for the session; the centre of the capital Tegucigalpa was cordoned off and the police deployed in five concentric circles around the congress building, located on 1A Street, in an effort to maintain order. Several hundred pro-Zelaya activists gathered in front of the building to demand his reinstatement. After a debate lasting almost ten hours, 111 of the 128-member Congress rejected Zelaya’s reinstatement.

The decision does not alter the security situation and widespread unrest remains unlikely. Nevertheless, further protests by pro-Zelaya activists are possible in the coming days, especially in Tegucigalpa, as they continue to demand he be reinstated to serve out the remaining weeks of his term. Pro-Zelaya gatherings are most likely to occur in the vicinity of the US embassy on Avenida La Paz or the Brazilian embassy on Calle Republica del Brasil in the capital, where Zelaya has sought refuge since his return to the country on 21 September. Precedents indicate that the police will not hesitate to use robust measures, such as tear gas, water cannon and batons, against protesters; personnel in the vicinity of such disturbances risk indirect exposure to violence. Meanwhile, heightened security measures implemented prior to the 29 November presidential elections are likely to remain in place over the coming days to mitigate the risk of disturbances associated with the outcome of the polls and the congressional vote. Tight security should be anticipated at key locations, including Toncontín International Airport (TGU), which serves Tegucigalpa , and Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) in the north-western city of San Pedro Sula . These measures could cause minor travel delays.

Despite the relatively calm election on 29 November, the situation is expected to remain tense and there is continued potential for politically motivated attacks, similar to those seen in the run-up to the polls. Three separate grenade attacks on 27-28 November targeted a radio station in the capital, a commercial area in San Pedro Sula and a polling station in the western town of Lepaera (Lempira department); the attacks did not cause any casualties, and suspects were subsequently apprehended. Such incidents pose only a limited incidental risk to foreign business visitors.

The decision by Congress effectively eliminates Zelaya’s chances of returning to power. Although several members of the Organization of American States (OAS) said that they would not acknowledge the outcome of the polls unless Zelaya was first restored as president, Congress’ decision and US acceptance of the election results leaves the ousted president increasingly marginalized. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced on 29 November that Porfirio ‘Pepe’ Lobo of the opposition National Party had won the presidential elections, securing around 56% of the votes. Elvín Santos of the ruling Liberal Party, Lobo’s closest rival, received 30% of the vote. Lobo is scheduled to take office on 27 January 2010. A good proportion of eligible voters participated in the elections, indicating falling support for Zelaya, as the public tires of the political deadlock. Despite this, the ousted president has threatened to remain in the Brazilian embassy and is likely to attempt to cause difficulties for the current and future administrations.

Warm Regards,

Colleen

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Colleen O’Holleran
Chapter Relations Manager,
Mountain Region & Nevada

Engineers Without Borders – USA
4665 Nautilus Court, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: 720-204-3197
Fax: 303-772-2699