Update on the political cauldron in Honduras. The situation changes daily, and progressively worse. (Someone from the states wrote to say that they were glad that the situation is improving. I responded by asking them what they have for sources, because NOTHING is improving here.) The ex-president (who has at least 18 criminal counts awaiting him if he returns) and his puppeteer, the president of Venezuela, have manipulated the national union of teachers to be in favor of the return of the ex-president. The teachers are divided as to their sympathies. Those with more power in this group being in favor of the return (even though he will be tried and imprisoned for his criminal actions), and these more influential ones in the teachers group threatening the rest with permanent loss of employment if they hold classes. Some teachers are holding classes in homes (mud houses) and telling the students NOT to wear their uniforms, so that if someone arrives
looking for teachers holding classes, they will be less conspicuous. There hae been now three weeks without classes. The ex-president and his puppeteer wisely affected all families by influencing the teachers.
The nightly curfew is in place again , as it was the first week of this unrest. Strictly enforced. If you are outside after nine, you get to sleep in the jail.
All of this turmoil is propelled by the drug trafficking (Honduras is a major passage (air and sea), the depth of the corruption, and the unlawfulness of the ex-presidnet (and his recent and not-so-recent stealing of enormous amounts of money (including that from foreign aid). The cutting of foreign aid Honduras does not affect the lower class. It affects all of those from the higher eschelons who skim it all off and pass it around before it ever gets to those for whom it was intended. Seriously.
The third major propulsion for this turmoil is the long-term interference by the president of Venezuela (oil and drug money) to buy his way along the road of influence and power.
I have no suggestions for resolving this. A majority (not small) of the Honduran people are united against this corruption and long for peace. Their greatest challenge is by the portion of the teachers group.
Peter, in Honduras