Tomorrow could be interesting

For a few days last week the de facto government of Roberto Micheletii was touting the imminent visit of foreign ministers of countries associated with the Organization of American States. It was supposed to happen tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11.

The de facto president, Robert Micheletti, was trumpeting this visit as a great step forward. Then he decided that he wouldn’t receive it since the head of the OAS would be a part of it and he called José Miguel Insulza “intransigent.” (Takes one to know one?) Now the delegation is on – since Insulza will only be an “observer.” When they will come is not sure.

Things might be complicated if they tried to come tomorrow.

There has been an increase of nonviolent opposition to the coup. The meteorologists at the airport were on strike for a bit. So were taxi cab drivers in some cities last Friday. The most interesting video I saw was of taxi drivers on a main street in Tegucigalpa going about five miles an hours and stopping the traffic.

In addition people are walking from about seven points in the country and converging on the capital, Tegucigalpa, and the second largest city, San Pedro Sula, the industrial capital of Honduras.

How many will arrive I don’t know and I won’t try to play the numbers game. But among the marchers is Father Andrés Tamayo, a priest from the department of Olancho who has been at the forefront of the efforts to stop the indiscriminate cutting of forests in that region. I do know that Father Fausto Milla, a retired priest in his eighties, has helped gather provisions for them. He proudly spoke of that at Mass this Sunday in the nearby chapel of San Martín here in Santa Rosa. He also spoke of the priest in Quimistán who helped provide food and shelter for the marchers as they passed along.

Feeding the hungry is a work of mercy – but it can also carry political ramifications. I am proud that the diocese of Santa Rosa de Copán responded to a call from the first lady, Xiomara de Zelaya - to provide food for the people trapped at the border trying to greet the exiled president Zelaya - and sent a truck with provisions.

Pray for peace – but a peace based in justice.