only contemplating good governance

The country afuera del tiempo - outside of time- as a Mexican reporter is calling Honduras. Marches continue, the road to my community is blocked by small rocks and women with umbrellas protesting the heat and the takeover government. Two things occurred this weekend which fall outside my common Honduran experiences - stars and a cold nose. I was thinking of something which is also hard to come by: high in the mountains near the El Salvador border in a hammock swinging over banana trees swinging over coffee, I contemplated good governance.

Hondurans active in politics related to Mel Zelaya's forceful removal and transitional government appear to be fighting for a side not a better government.

Demands presented by protesters for Mel Zelaya: bring him back, what you did was illegal and he loves the people and we (speaking for all the poor) want him back.

Demands presented by protestors for Micheletti (new president): don't ever bring him back, what he did was illegal, he was hurting all the people and we want peace, all Hondurans want our peace.

Maybe my frustration stems from the signs that don't appear at Honduran road blocks (for multilayered reasons):

---

1. My son waited 2 months for a life saving amputation of his left leg because we couldn't afford the knife or anesthesia for the surgery. I demand social services that respect human dignity.

2. I borrowed 1000L ($50) from a coyote (middle man that buys products from farmers and sells them in the city for double the price) and lost my crop. My seven year son sells water on buses to recuperate the money. I demand that my right to earn a decent living from my work be respected.

3. If the United States government is serious about restoring the democratic process in Honduras, why is it still funding a military in charge of fear and intimidation? ---

In a statement shortly after confronting the Mexican government in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) declared its political intentions as an organization composed of marginalized peoples by political and economic powers:

"The EZLN does not seek the victory of one party or another. The EZLN seeks justice, freedom and democracy so that the people can choose whoever seems best to them and so that their choice, whatever it is, receives the respect and understanding of all Mexicans and of people in other countries."

(EZLN communique, 1/11/1994)

Afuera de victoria.