When asked about her political perspective, Azucena Garcia states, "If Mel brings peace, let him come, if Micheletti brings peace, let him stay." Azucena does not care who stays in office, she just wants the crisis to end and life to go back to normal. All the others in the Miramar assembly in La Ceiba agree with her.  Another member of their community, Julia Ramirez, sells cosmetics, but says that right now nobody is buying. People want to keep their money rather than spend it because they do not know what is going to happen next.  
 

Last Monday, deposed president, Manual Zelaya, shocked the country when he snuck back in and took up residence in the Brazilian embassy.  Almost immediately, chaos ensued as the acting government issued a nationwide curfew less than an hour before it was set to go into effect.  Shopping cart jams formed in the supermarkets and traffic jams in the streets.  The initial curfew lasted forty hours and shut down the country for almost two full work days.  Interim president, Roberto Micheletti, lifted the curfew at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday after widespread concern was expressed but nationwide evening curfews have continued since, interfering with commerce and transportation.  Protests, primarily in the capital of Tegucigalpa, have resulted in violence and vandalism.  Conflicting media information and varying rumors have caused fear and confusion.  For a better sense of the reality of the situation, we spoke directly with clients for their personal perspective. 

Devlin Posadas sells baleadas (a typical Honduran food, consisting of a flour tortilla filled with beans and cheese).  She sells them in the street, at the billiard halls, and to some established clients. Last week, she made a hundred baleadas, a reasonable amount based on what she usually sells.  But nobody wanted to buy even one baleada becausethey did not have any money nor would they buy on credit because they didn't know when they would have any money.  Devlin also works occasionally as a mariscera (a person who cleans seafood for export). There has not been any work lately because no boats have been coming in to port.  Her husband works as a waiter at a hotel restaurant. Due to the curfew, he is not making his usual salary, but being paid hourly when the restaurant is open.  His employer has even insisted that he come to work despite the curfew because the hotel had clients.  Consequently, as there was no public transportation available, he had to walk all the way there - an hour journey - while avoiding the police and fearing being caught and thrown in jail. 
 
The assembly members discussed solutions to the crisis, primarily to hold the upcoming November elections and democratically elect a new individual to office.  While Devlin nods in agreement, she says, "No voy a votar. I'm not going to vote.  Even though I have always voted in the past, I am disillusioned by the whole situation. Mel was elected by the people and they took him out, so what's to stop them from doing it all over again?  The police would have to make me vote. Otherwise, I'm not going to bother."

 

 

The group speaks in general about their desire for the situation to end, and for their kids to be back in school - classes have been sporadic - as public school children have basically missed three months of classes.  Some feel that local crime has increased as the police focus on the political situation. They also humorously predict that due to the curfew, there will be a baby boom nine months from now.    
 
Regardless of the politics, it is with your help that the Adelante Foundation continues to serve these women in a very difficult time in Honduran history. Thank you for your continued support.