Latest on the current problems in Honduras from Rev. Kunz, Director of El Hogar Childrens Ministries in Honduras

11 August, 2009
Today I got caught briefly in traffic backed up because of a demonstration. I was able to wind through some dirt roads and get to my apartment. I gave a call to Raul to warn him to stay away from Blvd. Fuerzas Armadas. He answered and thanked me and then said, "Too late! I am already stuck here!" I was trying to repay him for his warning two days ago not to go near the university, where a violent confrontation between police and demonstrators was breaking out. These little warnings from friends, coworkers, taxi drivers, and neighbors have gotten to be a regular part of coping with the continuing unrest here in Tegucigalpa. If we know where the demonstrations will be, we can pretty much avoid them, and go on with our regular work.

There does continue to be disruption here in Honduras. In my experience, most people just want to go on with life, but there is a core of people who are becoming increasingly aggressive in making sure things do not go back to normal. They continue to block roads, deface buildings (including churches), break windows, throw rocks, and even burn cars. Yesterday they targeted one of the cell phone companies. One of the unions involved has called a strike which will last indefinitely and involves the hospital for the poor. The military is now helping staff that hospital and protect those who are seeking care there. A group of nurses has announced that they will defy the strike and continue to take care of patients. (I still do not understand the logic of denying medical care to the poor as a political weapon for someone who claims to be their advocate.)

Claudia had to go to court the other day regarding one of our students. She told me she had talked with one of the teachers who was demonstrating. The teacher told Claudia that she did not want to be there, but that if she did not show up, she would lose her job. I suspect she is not the only one involved in these daily marches that is less than enthused.

Adding to the burden on parents, who have seen their children miss much of the past month of classes because of the striking teachers, the health department has closed all classes for eight days as a response to the spread of H1N1.

Meanwhile, as daily demonstrations continue, there are some people marching both toward Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Tuesday is the day they anticipate arriving, and large demonstrations are planned. Apparently the groups marching are not as large as the demonstrators had hoped, but there is still a significant number.

The small union of weather forecasters for the airports (90 employees) has also announced a strike in support of Zelaya's return. Flight regulations prohibit flights over a certain size from landing without a current weather report, so this has temporarily grounded all international flights into and out of Honduras.

Meanwhile, the "peaceful militia" Zelaya was forming in Nicaragua has pretty much disbanded. Zelaya, after announcing that he was staying in Nicaragua to be with "his people" and help train this force, has left the area. He recently traveled to Mexico, and now also has trips scheduled to Ecuador and Brazil.

In an interesting development, the United States, which had avoided calling this situation a "military coup", which would have automatically put sanctions into place, has decided that it does not qualify as a "coup", and humanitarian aid will not be stopped. In addition, in a letter to Senator Lugar, the State Department stated that it was not supporting any one individual, but only a return to democratic order. Both Zelaya and Chavez are angry about this statement, and very critical of the Obama administration because of it.

In another interesting move, the Organization of American States has agreed to send a delegation to Honduras to meet with representatives of society here and work for a peaceful and negotiated resolution. Up until now, no foreign body has been willing to engage with this current government, arguing that they were not legitimate, and therefore could not carry out negotiations. This is, I believe, a step forward.