Super Sunday Honduras Rumors

Zelaya: He's wearing pajamas, it must be a coup!

Just a few of the titillating rumors that I've been hearing lately. The rumors that I'm including come from sources who have close connections with many of the active members of the current Honduran government.

1) Rumor has it that a video exists, taken on the morning of June 28, showing soldiers packing Zelaya's suitcase, and later showing Zelaya, fully dressed (!), being politely escorted to the airplane which eventually took him to Costa Rica, as he requested in lieu of being arrested. Even better − I hope this is true − the video was shown to the OAS representatives who visited in August, including "observer" (heheheh) Secretary General José Insulza. Insulza has definitely toned down the rhetoric since that meeting and there definitely seems to be less mention of pajamas these days.

2) Rumor has it that a certain attractive former assistant minister was hiding under the bed of Zelaya on the morning of June 28.

3) Rumor has it that the (Washington, D.C.) US State Department's endearing nickname for Latin America is "The cockroach district".

4) Rumor has it: At the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa, after the US condemned Honduras with sanctions, visa denials etc, in a staff meeting with all the employees, the Honduran workers all wore white but said nothing. This greatly angered the US officials, who called another meeting to discuss this 'incident'.

5) Thomas Shannon of the US State Department was told in February 2006 that Mel Zelaya was going to try to stay in power with the help of Hugo Chávez. Rumor has it his response was basically, "live with it."

6) Rumor has it that payments to pro-Zelaya marchers has risen to L.3,000! (US $159) Heck, I'm available for marches for L.3,000. Does lunch come with that? None of that tire burning or rock throwing for me, though.

7) Two low-flying planes flew over my house the other night around 9:30 p.m., headed for Tocoa. Rumor has it that they were drug planes delivering cash to the former first lady who was supposed to be in Tocoa that night. There are no scheduled flights that go over my house, ever.


Again, keep in mind that these are rumors only.

In the news: Meddling and intervention from all sides

Zelaya and Chavez: "We talk, they listen"

Some recent Honduran headlines (translated from Spanish):

Proceso Digital: Obama continues to push for San José Accord − on Univision.

La Tribuna: Hillary Clinton to meet with Arias (Costa Rica) to examine the Honduran situation next week.

La Prensa: Honduras, theme in agenda between Zapatero (Spain) and Obama

La Prensa: Asked for surgical measures against Honduras − State Department and El Salvador talk about the need to adopt specific measures against Honduras.

Great diplomacy. Let's talk to everyone EXCEPT Honduras about the Honduran 'problem'.

More pressures against the candidates:

El Heraldo: Both the US and G-16 are going to be meeting with Honduran presidential candidates. Can we expect threats of isolation or bribes of increased aid or both? What other country in the world would permit this outside influence against presidential candidates?

Why is the whole world so intent on restoring a corrupt criminal with narcotrafficking ties to the presidency of Honduras for four months? Does anyone read Spanish? Zelaya has indicated he plans to violate the San José Accord in numerous interviews. Why should Honduras agree to something that Zelaya will not abide by and which violates the constitution of their country?

Meanwhile, US making amends with Nicaragua:

La Prensa: US returns visas to Nicaraguan politicians − Visas revoked in 2002-2007 for acts of corruption or other aspects of the Patriot Act were returned to Electoral Magistrate, Supreme Court Judges, and others with apologies from the US.

And making enemies with Honduras:

La Tribuna: US violently raids the Los Angeles Honduran Consulate Office − Hmm, what happened to diplomatic immunity? The Honduran Foreign Ministry called the incident "despicable and illegal" and reported that it included physical violence against consulate employees. The US Embassy in Honduras denies that US government security officials were involved.

These are diplomats who were appointed by Zelaya but have chosen to remain loyal to their country rather than one person. Most of Zelaya's diplomatic officials in the US and several other countries have been removed for refusing to sign a statement of loyalty to him personally. Last month while they were trying to register people to vote in Los Angeles, Zelaya's people were busy trying to sabotage that.

Just in case government intervention isn't enough:

La Tribuna: Actor Danny Glover to come to Honduras to support resistance students − Does everyone have to meddle in Honduras? Students have protested a couple of times against the new mandatory military draft. What's wrong with that, you ask? There IS NO new mandatory military draft − it is just another lie told by unethical resistance leaders to get students' support.

The tentacles of Chávez are everywhere. Actor Danny received US $19.7 million from Hugo Chávez in 2007 (in English). How much since then and how long do carbon 'Chavez credits' last? I hope the students tell him that their grades depend upon participating in marches and faithful regurgitation of the resistance teachers' propaganda. Glover should be standing on the side of the brave students and parents who are refusing to put up with this abuse.

Now this is diplomacy:

In one bit of good news, Rotary Clubs from several countries realize that democratic elections are the answer AND are willing to help to see that it happens. Members of Rotary Clubs of El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, US, and Mexico have offered their services as election observers. What a great way to help Honduras prove that its elections are free and fair. Please check with your Rotary Club − maybe a trip to Honduras could be in your future!

Buy Honduran Vegetables

Honduran avocados

The other day El Jefe stopped at his favorite vegetable stand to buy avocados. He asked for the Mexican (Hass) avocados that we usually buy. The vendor said, "No! Buy Honduran!"

El Jefe thought for a split second and said, "You're right. We need to support our own farmers." The vendor said, "Yes, we aren't going to buy those Mexican ones anymore."

So El Jefe bought these strange looking elongated avocados (about 10 inches long, 25 cm.). Most of the Honduran avocados that I've seen are the huge oval avocados with a large seed. The fruit is usually more bright yellow than green and has a slightly sweeter taste.

See Holy Mole! Guacamole! for a photo which shows the size and color of common Honduran avocados compared to Hass, and my most excellent guacamole recipe. (Yes, I used to have a life before June 28.)

I wasn't sure what to expect with these, but when I cut the first one open, it was absolutely beautiful. Perfect creamy texture. Not a blemish.

The taste was virtually like Haas but the bonus was that one avocado yielded as much as two of the small Mexican varieties for only L.2 more (L.10 vs. 8, or US $ .53 vs $ .42). This big plateful of slices sprinkled with lemon juice and salt is the fruit from just one of the avocados.

Yum. I'm sold on these! In fact, I planted the seeds. We'll see what happens.

If you live here in Honduras, look for Honduran veggies at the markets. I've mentioned in the past that a lot of the vegetables and fruits in the grocery stores (at least here in La Ceiba) are (or were) imported from Guatemala. Let's do what we can to help local Honduran producers.

I don't know if these particular avocados are exported, but I do know that a lot of Honduran veggies are exported to the US and I believe that Walmart groceries stores import a lot of Honduran produce. You can help Honduras by looking for that Honduras veggie sticker. You might even ask your grocer to stock more Honduran produce.

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Honduran bananas, pineapples, coffee, shrimp and tilapia are some of the common products exported to the US. Even though bananas and pineapples primarily come from big companies like Dole and Chiquita, they provide a lot of jobs in Honduras.

I'm sure that many Hondurans in the US miss some of their favorite Honduran food products. Here are a few sites which sell Honduran food and coffee products:

Food and other Honduran products:
The First Honduran Online Mall
Planeta Catracho
Catracholandia (in Spanish)

Coffee only:
Café Honduras (Welchez coffee)
Café Copán
Honduras Coffee Company
Brew Organic (be sure to select Honduras)


Thanks to Suzanne for finding most of these links.

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If you can help me out with more suggestions that I can give to readers about Honduran products and where they might find them, please let me know. I will be doing another article about other types of Honduran products sold in the US.

The Honduran economy is really hurting right now − more from the after effects of US economic crisis than the current political crisis, except in the areas of tourism and voluntourism, which are suffering tremendously from the unwarranted, politically motivated US travel advisory.

Tourism provides a lot of jobs in Honduras. So one of the best and most fun ways that you can help Honduras is to come to visit, whether it is as a tourist or a volunteer. Spend your tourist dollar in Honduras! Many of the hotels have great deals right now. (More on that later, too.)