Country news

I read in the morning newspaper that there is a national strike planned for Monday. more info What usually happens when there is a strike, is that there is no public transportation, and everything is closed. But then, most of the strikes are called by the transportation people. Any driver who dares to work that day runs a very slight risk of getting a molotov cocktail thrown into his vehicle. Most stores do not dare to open either, although sometimes the little local stores will sell on the sly out the back door.

It's a good day to stay home, because strikes always have the potential to become violent. Almost all here have some violence, but on the whole the strikes of recent years are fairly peaceful. The few incidents that happen are overreported, so people become more frightened about it all. The populace really has little choice; they are forced participants. That is the saddest part of all.

There have been protests in the capital this past week by a sector that is demanding water and electricity for their area. They have been lacking adequate water supply for weeks. What they have done is block off a main road going out of the capital, causing serious traffic jams.

Meanwhile, on the home front, I have not had any more problems since the garbage can was stolen and a day later when a guy was seen inside my locked gate. Except of course--where to put the garbage now!