Is it still a state of siege? Yes, but...

We’re still under the restrictive measures imposed by the Micheletti regime. But this afternoon he stated that he was open to rescinding them, but has to check with the council of ministers that approved it. Everything should be worked out by the end of the week, he intimated.

Why the change? It appears that members of the Congress who had appointed him president after they threw out President Zelaya had deep reservations about the decree and some deputies (congressmen) asked him to rescind the decree.

In the meantime the decree is still in effect. Radio Globe and television station Cholusat Sur were forcibly closed today at 5:30 am. People were prevented from joining the anti-coup march today.

Meanwhile the US ambassador to the Organization of American States called the return of Zelaya “irresponsible and foolish” and also criticized the Micheletti regime’s "deplorable" actions barring entry of an OAS mission and declaring a state of siege on Sunday.

On the church front the diocese of Santa Rosa de Copán continues to be the one church voice opposing the coup. However, the chancellor of the Tegucigalpa archdiocese, Father Carlo Magno (that is, Charlemagne), compared those who are calling for “insurrection” with the devil and called them “false prophets.” I wonder what that had to do with the lectionary reading from the letter of James?

In his homily he also called on the people not to pay attention to the calls of those who promote division in the country.

But demonizing the opposition is not a way to promote unity.

Furthermore, as Bishop Luis Alfonso Santos of Santa Rosa has said many times, the division has been here in Honduras for many years. It has not been caused by the crisis.

The divisions we see here have deep roots - a system that keeps economic and political elites in power and preserves inequality and lack of participation.

Sad to say the current situation has intensified divisions and created a polarization that will require many years of efforts for healing if and when the crisis is resolved.