CURFEW IGNORED IN LA CEIBA

This afternoon (Sept.21, 2009) I joined an ad-hoc CAR-CARAVAN in La Ceiba (Honduras), to CELEBRATE the long awaited RETURN of the ELECTED PRESIDENT MEL ZELAYA to Honduras. We started with about 50 cars at 4pm at the ''Francisco Morazan'' school, home of the RESISTANCE MOVEMENT in La Ceiba. This was about the time the curfew officially started. MANY CARS JOINTED along the way. My estimation is that there were ABOUT 200 CARS in total. There was NO POLICE INTERFERENCE except on one crossing where they stopped other traffic to let us continue our ride! In another case we saw that that police spotted my camera and turned away their heads, not to be recognized. I also noticed a police car that was weaving along the route, via parallel streets, probably to keep an eye on the manifestation. There was NO MILITARY anywhere to be seen. The caravan caused MAJOR TRAFFIC JAMS. We first circled in the center, then a larger circle and after dark we went to the outer areas. There won't be many people in La Ceiba who haven't noticed the caravan. Many people aside the road were supporting us. Some stopped cars and jumped in the back. Our car was fully-loaded, about 10 people. People we singing and shouting "!!Se oye, se siente !! Mel esta presente'' !!! We heard it!! !! We feel it!! Mel is present!! urge mel!!" etc. As the video shows, many MIDDLE-CLASS people were in the caravan (that is, people with nice middle class cars). We also received thumbs-up from big-ass-car drivers too. The idea that the resistance is only SUPPORTED by the poorest people is not true, it goes VERTICALLY THROUGH the SOCIETY. The problem for the upper class is that it is hard for many of them to speak out as they are dependent for their businesses etc. Halfway the video it is clear to see that most people obey the curfew. The streets are empty, shops are closed, street vendors gone. But PEOPLE SUPPORTED US from their homes as we drove through the city and the residential areas. You can see that we were still driving after dark, DENYING THE CURFEW from the defacto "government" (or whatever they call themselves). The caravan ended where it started at about 7pm. We brought some people back to their homes. One of them told me she was a teacher at the BI-LINGUAL SCHOOL in La Ceiba. She was FIRED because she is active in the resistant movement. This is just one person that feels the consequences, there are thousands more. I also spoke with employees that do NOT WANT to work for their GOLPISTA-EMPLOYERS. But what can they do? Having a paid job is an important thing in a country without any SOCIAL SECURITY. No work means no money means no food, as simple as that. We got back to our home at 7:30pm, just before the rain started and way AFTER THE CURFEW STARTED. On our way back home we crossed 2 police road blocks but they let us through without stopping us. The roads were absolute empty in Ceiba, even the 24x7 bars in the Zona-Viva were closed. I call this car caravan a GREAT SUCCESS because there were MANY CARS involved and we got GREAT RESPONSES from people along the road. This despite proper preparation and time to organize. ----------------------