Okay I think this is a personal record for posts in one day but after reading an article from the Wall Street Journal "Behind the Honduran Mutiny" I had to write something.The complete article can be found here online. But here is a quote:
"Mr. Zelaya is a product of Olancho, a violent, macho state in central Honduras that is dominated by pistol-packing landowners who run huge estates. His family, involved in logging and ranching, has been one of the dominant forces in Olancho for decades... Jose Manuel, was put on trial for helping army officers torture and murder 14 rural activists, including two priests. Convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison, Mr. Zelaya's father served little more than a year before being freed in a general amnesty"
Let me clear up a few things Okay violent, yeah- as with the rest of the country.
Dominated by landowners who run huge estates? Ehh really? All the rich families I know have a business and with that money they might have a farm, for something to do. The families with money generally speaking are not ranchers. The families with huge estates at one point possibly had money but now they are generally trying to sell that land to get money.
The last one that usually gets the best looks when I ask Hondurans if the Zelayas have been a dominant force in Olancho. This is a big fat NO the Zelayas have not been a dominant force. The truth of it is if the Zelayas had been a dominate force in Olancho Zelayas dad would not have served one day in jail, heck the police would have not have not found who killed the people, because the police would be to afraid to arrest him.
I am just saying if you are doing an article lets try to stop scaring your audience into thinking that Honduras/Olancho is a big bad scary place. I am glad they did report about Mels dad killing the priests, but lets stop exaggerating.
8 comments:
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about!
My wife comes from Olancho and I have been there many times to visit relations so I think I know a bit more about Olancho than you do.
The unofficial department motto is:
"Enter if you want, leave if you can" which just about sums it up!
Wow strong statement Pete.
My spouse is also from Olancho and I live here. The statements I wrote did not just come from me they were also said by the Hondurans here in Olancho, where I live. Olancho is not as dangerous as Tegus nor San Pedro. There are no gangs here, the problems that haunt Olancho are generally family or drug related.
If you have any further question about the validity of my statements I have a few Honduras that would gladly back up my statements
The Wall Street Journal makes Olancho sound like the cartel headquarters or something! Wow! I agree that it can be dangerous in Olancho if you have enemies, if you like to piss people off, or if you are wealthy and are a target for theft, but I think you are right Ranay, San Pedro and Teguc are much scarier.
Actually this is a huge part of Olancho..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5saXF4EJJA
I made this last night to represent my thoughts and soul...
welcome to Juticalpa..my husband grew up in Barrio La Hoya in Juticalpa..right next door to Pepe Lobo. Juticalpa is a much safer place than San Pedro Sula
I have been doing mission work in Olancho for 7 years and it is A LOT safer than SPS or Tegucigalpa. Yes you may see people carry guns but most people don't have guns. Most people don't even have water or electricity. The only places that may be dangerous are the bigger cities of Catacamas and Juticalpa, but if something happens to you, you were more or less asking for it. People don't randomly shoot people. If you treat people well, they treat you well. If you are drunk who goes around offending people, if you steal from someone, if you try to have an affiar with someone's wife... well then, it's your own fault if something happens to you.
The people of olancho are humble and giving. I have traveled to so many places in Honduras I can't even count now, and the most peaceful and relaxing place by far has been in Olancho.
I heard today alot of people were murdered in Catacamas and Juticalpa today, and the bodies were 'left for the dogs and the birds'. On the other hand my friends get robbed regularly in Tegus. I can't say much about sps because I've only spent a short time there, but on the whole most places were pretty dangerous if you weren't careful. In Catacamas two men tried to force their way into our car but we were able to drive off. I would like to see alot more CCTV systems installed around Honduras, but I know that sort of thing costs money.
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