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El Hogar Ministries eNewsletter
Special Edition - Update on Political Situation
July 22, 2009 |
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Introduction
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We are continuing to send updates as new information becomes available.
Thank you for your concern for El Hogar and Honduras. | |
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| July 22, 2009 |
At our staff meeting yesterday, the directors were joking that last week there were only three educational institutions open in all of Honduras; El Hogar, St. Mary's Institute, and the Agricultural School. It is not so far from the truth. The teachers' unions here in Honduras have devoted themselves in the past few weeks to demonstrating on behalf of the deposed president, and have provided much of the person-power for those demonstrations. Many people here feel that it is one thing to strike for better pay or educational conditions, but a very different thing to strike in order to press a political position. They feel that the children and young people of Honduras have been used as pawns in a political power struggle. Our teachers have shown their dedication and resourcefulness in the last few weeks, consistently showing up and providing an education for our students. I have talked with some of them, and their political opinions cover the full range, but whatever their individual views, they are following through on their commitment to our children and young people.
This week, for the first time, we are suspending some classes. The Institute is located off of one of the main roads in Honduras, and that road has been shut down repeatedly by demonstrators. Those organizing for the return of Zelaya have announced a general strike and a shutdown of the country for Thursday and Friday this week. We decided together that we do not want to put either teachers or young people at risk by trying to get them to the Institute those days. This afternoon, when classes have finished, those students who live close by will go to their homes for the weekend. Those who live far away will stay at the Institute with a skeleton staff. A few who have nowhere to go will come and stay at El Hogar. At El Hogar, the teachers that need to travel are being invited to temporarily move into the volunteer house, so they do not have to be out on the streets. Classes there will continue as normal. We are still in discussion about the best course for the Agricultural School. They are more isolated, and the teachers stay there anyway, so it is not as much of an issue. But we do not want anyone having to travel during this time.
It is hard to say what the next few days will bring. The general strike and shut down which has been announced is of concern. I have heard from a few people to avoid going out on the streets during such a strike, as the potential for violence is real. This is especially so if, in fact, outside agitators have been brought in to provoke confrontations. So far, the military and police have been remarkable restrained in their responses to protests. I have seen them circulating through the crowds, greeting people, smiling, and enjoying snacks they bought from the local vendors. One thing that Hondurans are clear about is the right to peaceful protest, and this present government, although under great pressure from within and without, has pledged to preserve that right. (This is in contrast to what Zelaya continues to tell the world - that there s currently a repressive bloodbath going on in Honduras.)
There are conflicting reports about whether negotiations are on or off, whether Zelaya is returning today or Friday or once there is a settlement, and about almost everything else. Lots of posturing is taking place by both sides. I think the one certainty is that there is a lot of talking going on behind the scenes. Late last night the current government approved a budget (something never produced by Zelaya), which I take as a good sign. I think Zelaya will be eventually returned to office, but under constraints, such as having to conform to the budget which has been approved.
Zelaya continues to indulge in colorful rants. He claimed yesterday that he would return today, by a route he would not divulge. He said, "Only God can stop me now, and he will not, because He is not on the side of the coup mongers! God is on my side, and my return will be spectacular!" He is also claiming that the full sized statue of himself, and the twice-life-sized oil portrait, were not his doing, but were gifts. There was an interview with the artist who did both, who affirmed that Zelaya was, in fact, the one who commissioned both works, but that he still owed money on both.
Humor is starting to catch up with this situation. One email is a proposed farewell tribute, thanking Zelaya for what he has accomplished. It mentions, among other things, that before him most Hondurans had never read the Constitution, and now they have. It also thanks him for bringing together, for the first time, the Roman Catholic and Evangelical churches, who put out a joint statement in opposition to his policies.
After our staff meeting we stopped by some of the El Hogar classes. The Prep students were working on learning mechanical drawing as a way to teach angles. Jose Arturo had his English class learning to tell time. Another teacher had her spelling classes out on the sidewalk, divided into teams, writing the words she called out with sidewalk chalk. Also, yesterday was the birthday of Dona Tona, who has been the cook at El Hogar for 30 years. We took her out for some good Chinese food.
Please cherish, and do not take for granted, the peace you enjoy in the US and Canada! And keep us in your prayers.
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| July 20, 2009 |
No villain need be. Passions spin the plot,
We are betrayed by what is false within.
George Meredith
As we enter the fourth week of the political struggle here in Honduras, there is still no resolution in sight. The weaknesses and oversights and self-interest of all sides are becoming more obvious as time goes on. The present government, of course, was wrong to simply remove the president by force in such a theatrical way, without affording him due process. This method of confronting his illegal actions cost them the support of the world community. The Organization of American States and other world bodies were wrong to cast this as just another military coup, and demand Zelaya's unconditional restitution, as if he could simply step back into office as if nothing had happened, and as if Zelaya held no responsibility for the actions leading up to his ouster. Their stances had less to do with the welfare of Honduras than with their own political fortunes. Much better if, at the beginning, there could have been a more measured response, calling both sides to account for their violations of due process.
You have probably read that the talks broke down yesterday with no agreement reached. Arias had presented a proposal. Apparently some good discussion came out of this, but without an agreement being reached. Zelaya's side claimed that he agreed to the proposal, although in a news conference he himself rejected two key conditions:
that he form a "reconciliation" government made of participants from all sides, and that he desist from trying to change the constitution. The present government has rejected Zelaya's return to power with amnesty for all political crimes committed. They want him either out of power, or willing to be put on trial for what he has done. They also want any agreement to go through both the supreme court and the congress, since what is at stake is the constitution. They argue that an extra-constitutional process is not the answer to a constitutional crisis.
Arias has asked for three days to meet with the present government's delegation, and hopes to restart bilateral talks on Wednesday. Zelaya's delegation has declared that the talks are over, and that he is planning his return to Honduras regardless.
His supporters in Honduras are meeting today to plan their strategy for the week. Their announced intent is to block roadways, paralyze commerce, and "shut down" the country on Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, investigations continue to uncover misuse of funds, etc. by Zelaya's government. I must admit that in a country where one out of four children is suffering from malnutrition, and the hospital has not been able to pay its electric bill, it breaks my heart when I read of the millions of dollars spent illegally. I have a huge pothole in front of my building (David Letterman jokes about a pothole so big it has its own convenience store.) which has grown in size and depth for months. (The neighbors have piled large, brightly covered objects in it to warn oncoming motorists! I recently found out that also in my neighborhood there was a phone center set up to push the illegal referendum. This operated for over a year with government monies supplies illegally, and had fifteen full time employees making calls. A tiny fraction of that money could have bought some asphalt to fill our pothole.
Perhaps the funniest thing to be uncovered so far is the life-sized fiberglass statue of Zelaya that he himself commissioned to be set with four other similar statues of great Honduran heroes.
Although people are trying to live their lives as normally as possible, and there are times I have to shake myself to remind myself all this is real, the stress is wearing people down. The demand for psychiatric services has tripled since this began. This has been disruptive enough that business owners are suffering, and people are in turn losing their jobs or seeing decreases in their incomes. Parents are struggling to take care of children that would normally be in school. (That includes the El Hogar staff, many of whom have children in the public school system.)
Our classes have been disrupted because teachers cannot get to their jobs. Our volunteer program, which provides relationships for our children and teachers, valuable person-power, potential new sponsors, and financial support, is on hold. We are eager for a resolution, but live with anxiety because it is so close to turning violent.
So, each day we set out to do as much as we can on that day. Young Cristian, who had surgery just a week ago, is back in class, looking very hardy and healthy. On Saturday, I stopped and saw some of our students helping some of their elders to learn to read as part of our adult literacy program. Other children were playing soccer, or launching homemade parachutes made of plastic bags with sticks tied to them. Others were listening to an impromptu guitar concert by one of our teachers. Some of the children were able to go out to a park yesterday, since demonstrations were on hold for a day.
I ask your continued prayers for us in the week ahead.
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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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