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El Hogar Ministries eNewsletter
Special Edition - Update on Political Situation
July 15, 2009 |
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Introduction
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During this current period of relative quiet in Honduras, while we wait for talks to resume, after today we will not be sending daily messages but will resume once there is significant change or news to report, probably over the weekend.
Thank you for your concern for El Hogar and Honduras, and stay tuned for further developments. | |
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| July 15, 2009 |
Most of the day to day activities here in Honduras are now back to whatever "normal" is. The curfew has been lifted for a few days, the demonstrations have been much smaller, and although there is still increased security on the road, I have not been stopped by the police all this week.
Yesterday I went to the Institute and sat in on a teachers' meeting there. I was able to thank the teachers and staff for their faithfulness during this time. I think I have mentioned that the public school teachers have been on strike demanding the return of Zelaya. (While he has president, they were often on strike against him for not paying what he had promised. Go figure!) For over two weeks the children and young people of Honduras did not have classes. Yesterday a portion of them were able to return to the classroom for the first time. During all this turmoil, El Hogar has had only two mornings of delayed classes because of transportation problems. Teachers have had to make special provision to get to and from work, but they continue to show up and provide our children and young people with an education every day. That may not sound spectacular, but in a situation where all around us things are falling apart, it is a significant accomplishment. El Hogar continues to be a refuge.
Nothing is officially happening in terms of negotiations on the governmental level, but there is lots of action from both sides. Zelaya and Chavez continue to talk of Zelaya's imminent return, although this time not directly to Tegucigalpa. They also both talk about the right of the people to rise up against this present government. The U.S. spokespersons keep urging Zelaya not to set arbitrary deadlines, but to allow the process to unfold. Meanwhile, the government here is making sounds about compromise in terms of amnesty, but still insisting that Zelaya cannot return to office. They are also uncovering questionable and illegal practices of the former President. In one operation, the Investigative Police raided a house where neighbors had noticed people from Venezuela and Nicaragua congregating, and found a cache of government checks, some copies of the presidential seal, some firearms, a safe filled with jewelry, etc. The papers here are owned by folks that don't want Zelaya back, so one always has to be careful to take news with a grain of salt (sometimes with the whole box). But it doesn't sound very good. They also have found that out of 400 people on the payroll of the presidential palace, only 100 actually have jobs, and that the amount Zelaya claimed for paying salaries was only a third of what was actually paid out. It all means that, if he is to return, there are some things to work out first.
Saturday is the day scheduled for talks to begin again, so we have a brief respite. The weather has been beautiful, and everyone is looking forward to resolution and a lifting of the uncertainty about the future.
Many of our work teams have, understandably, canceled. We miss them! And some of the jobs we had planned are not getting done. But I am sure we will get through this crisis.
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| July 14, 2009 |
Yesterday was blessedly peaceful. Yes, there was a demonstration that blocked a major highway for two hours, but long before this present political turmoil developed demonstrations like that were common. The number of people involved in demonstrations on both sides has fallen in the last few days. If Zelaya were to try to return again, I am sure that would change, but with talks scheduled, and both sides giving at least passing lip service to their importance, the passions are not as high.
The teachers' unions met yesterday, and at least the primary teachers are now returning to their classrooms, after a two week absence. That is a wonderful thing for children and parents, but it also takes thousands of former demonstrators off the streets.
Most people are back to their routines, but there is still a sense of uncertainty and worry. Zelaya, in a broadcast yesterday, said clearly that if the talks did not soon allow him to return to the presidency with no conditions, he would declare them null and void, and return his own way. He went on to call for insurrection if that were to happen. Micheletti continues to insist that a return to office by Zelaya is out of the question.
In the meantime, both sides are making their cases. Zelaya seems to be traveling the hemisphere pumping up support for himself. The present government is digging into the records and books trying to strengthen their case against him. The latest revelation is that there were 300 "ghost employees", for whom checks were written each month, but who did not actually have jobs.
El Hogar continues to function as usual. A group from one of the universities who study clinic biology came yesterday and gave a workshop to our little kids about things like germs and parasites. This college has offered to do our lab work for us without charge, in order to give their students experience in doing tests. The outreach projects in the rural communities surrounding the Agricultural School are looking very good, with nice, healthy crops. Exams are over at the Institute, and the next semester of classes has begun.
So it seems Honduras is in a holding pattern, waiting to see what will happen next. In the meantime, we continue to try to do our work here to the best of our abilities. Thanks again for your prayers!
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| Past Articles |
| To read past articles, please visit our website at: www.elhogar.org. | |
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Sincerely,
Rev. Rich Kunz
Executive Director, Honduras | |
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