State of Exception Still in Effect
October 8, 2009
To: All American Citizens
From: American Citizens Services Unit, Consular Section
The U.S. Embassy advises all American citizens residing in and visiting Honduras that the State of Exception that was imposed by the defacto regime on September 27, 2009 is still in effect, despite announcements made earlier this week by the defacto regime that its abrogation was imminent. The Travel Alert issued on July 24, 2009 remains in effect and the U.S. Department of State continues to recommend that American citizens defer all non-essential travel to Honduras due to the unstable political situation.
The U.S. Embassy has advised its American personnel that they are not permitted to attend the Honduras/United States World Cup Soccer qualifying match in San Pedro Sula on October 10, 2009. This decision is due to the current political crisis and general security environment in Honduras. The Embassy recommends that all American citizens avoid this match and the area surrounding the stadium in San Pedro Sula on October 10th.
Barring a change in the security situation or the imposition of a daytime curfew, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa and the Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula will remain open to the public. Non-immigrant visa services remain suspended for all but emergency medical cases.
The U.S. Embassy continues to recommend that American citizens monitor television and radio reports for updates pertaining to the current political unrest, as well as possible curfew announcements and/or constitutional restrictions. The Embassy reminds American citizens that they should avoid large gatherings and that peaceful demonstrations can turn violent without notice.
The U.S. Embassy distributes its warden messages via email, and posts them on its website. Messages received via SMS to cell phones are not U.S. Embassy messages and do not reflect U.S. government travel advice.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet website, where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Americans living or traveling in Honduras are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Honduras. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
The U.S. Embassy is located on Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa; telephone (504) 238-5114, after hours telephone (504) 236-8497; Consular Section fax (504) 238-4357; E-mail: usahonduras@state.gov; Webpage: http://honduras.usembassy.gov
4 Responses to "US Embassy Personnel Not Allowed at Soccer Match"
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Being that the letter of notification would come from the USA Embassy it is no surprise that it would sound so scary, since we all know how the current ambasador, Mr. Llorens threw us under the bus with Obama & Clinton and now we are paying dearly since they can not back off because they would loose face.
Mr. llorens has the exact (well almost) proper name for what he did is making many Hondurans cry, either in pain or in anger.
Maria, unfortunally a normal life in Honduras has turned into a kind of very difficult one.
Very different from it was 30 years ago when I left the country after the Sandinistas took over Nicaragua and managed to destroy the economy of the region.
From what I hear from my Hondurans compatriots that visit more often than I do, the criminals are practically running the streets and the police force has become very ineffective against them.
The citizenship has to go home early at night, can not wear jewelry on the streets, you can not even walk around freely with a cell phone.
Normal like that is not a good normal and does not have to stay like that.
If you want to set up a business is like signing an aplication to be kidnapped and / or robbed.
Maria, as a proud Honduran that wants to go back and help develope the Tourism Industry in Honduras I would love for this to be the oportunity to take our country back from the gangmembers (mareros) and the common criminals.
If we can read of a criminal, law breaking president as Zelaya, we should be able also to yank the reins of power from those people also.
Honduras need to regain control of the country and show that we do not have to be a place described as “Go at your own Risk” on tourism letters and websites all over the world.
Along with that, lets begin a campaign to fight corruption at all levels, from the bottom up and viceversa.
This is when.
United States look the at tv to the soccer game United States vs Honduras and tell me if Honduras has no money, no food, no life. I do believe what Zelaya has said is all a LIE the soccer games tells ALL. Here the Honurans has a normal live.
What a shame that people can not travel to our country with out being warned that something bad can hapen to them.
The fact that this a fenomena that plagues many other countries as well does not make any easier to see Honduras listed as a dangerous place.
The common American should not be afraid of the common Honduran, most of us understand that Obama’s position is not necessarily that of all his nation, most Americans do not have leftist feelings or inclinations; We should make sure that we do not make them pay for Obama’s mistakes, that would be like punishing all Hondurans because of Zelaya’s mistakes. We all know he does not represent the majority of Hondurans.
Maybe it is time for Obama to reflect on what his amazingly surprising Nobel Prize means, and decides to stop suporting the animal of Zelaya who is instead calling for Hondurans to kill Hondurans, Mr. Obama, “you can not have your cake and eat it too”; you will have soon to choose if you really deserve that prize, because what Zelaya is calling for in Honduras has nothing to do with peace, not in the present nor in the future.