More on the Political situation

Here is an update on my view of the Honduran political situation.   It's difficult to interpret the Honduran newspaper reports at times and it takes ages to translate the Spanish version into English but it's a big incentive to improve our Spanish when it's something we want to know about.   

Mel Zelaya, flaunting his white cowboy hat and dashing moustache is still having a wonderful time in the Brazilian embassy where he has been allowed to talk to his supporters through the fence and give them the thumbs up to riot and loot at their will.  However the Honduran military were very mean and used  tear gas to quieten down the rioters outside the embassy, which unfortunately went inside causing some discomfit to the the inhabitants and Mel.    Somehow the power and electricity got cut off as well.    It's such a pity as the Brazilian embassy had been so kind giving  Mel a home in Honduras when he needed it.   (all 'tongue in cheek' of course)    Politics, particularly in Latin America definitely works in strange ways.

The newspapers tell us that Brazil doesn't support the behaviour of the present president, Micheletti but continues to keep its Honduras embassy open.

El Salvador was also very kind to Mel by giving him a ride from Nicaragua to El Salvador in its private jet so that it would be easier for him to get a chauffered drive across the border through customs and then into Honduras without anyone knowing about it.   Apparently he had to walk for about an hour, surely he didn't need the exercise!  (  Again 'tongue in cheek'!)

Meanwhile Micheletti, is doing his best to keep everything peaceful, by continuing with curfews at night after 9pm and closing down several television and radio channels and some schools, which are openly supporting Zelaya and encouraging violent demonstrations.

We had a very interesting chat with our friends at Grissy's hotel.   They were very well informed people, and one of them had had strong connections with the red party, the strong Liberal team through which the ex-president launched his socialist platform.  Like all Hondurans we have spoken to, they strongly support the actions of their new president.    They don't want to become another Cuba or Venezuela. They reminded us of the plane, loaded with American dollars that was mysteriously left stranded at the airport at Tegucigalpa earlier in the year for nearly a week.   There was  strong belief that it was money sent from came Chavez in Venezuela.   Soon after the plane was taken away from the airport, American dollars were circulating though the businesses in huge numbers even though the tourist numbers were well down.  They told us many examples of how Mel Zelaya had acted not only undemocratically, but illegally, misusing government money for his own purposes.

Our friends also told us how difficult it was for Honduras to maintain democracy with so many other countries interfering.   They were very hopeful the elections in November would restore order but they uncertain on how it was going to work out.   We were impressed with the views because they explained how difficult it was for the present president to have open talks with Mel and maintain order in the country.  He is going to all extremes to avoid civil war.

Meanwhile the tourist industry in down almost to zero, especially in Copan Ruinas and the Bay Islands, the main tourist places in Honduras.   However, to keep everyone's minds at rest, there is absolutely no unrest in Tela, school is going on as normal and everyone is going on with their everyday tasks as though nothing is happening.    We will certainly not be travelling anywhere near Tegucigalpa where Zelaya is having his holiday at Brazil's expense!