After yesterday’s national work stoppage, my trip to
Diriamba this morning was an odd mix of eerie calm and unsettling evidence that
the town has been transformed into a fortress. The death three days ago of a
15-year-old boy there, and continuing reports of attacks on tranques and
ordinary civilians by the camionetas –
small white pickup trucks carrying armed paramilitary thugs who shoot to kill at no discernible provocation– has caused many
people to simply remain at home. Roads that lead from the center of town into
neighborhoods have been closed to vehicular traffic to discourage the camionetas. Somewhere, there are
stretches of newly unpaved roads, as the paving stones have been ripped up and
used to build the barriers. In consequence, the motito that brought us to
Diriamba had to take lengthy and circuitous detours to get us safely to the mercado.
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| Photo from La Prensa |
The usual crowds of shoppers and vendors have thinned out.
Many stores are closed, and although local farmers are selling their produce,
the usual bounty that comes from the wholesalers in Managua cannot be
delivered. There was rice today at the supermarket, but little else. No milk,
cheese, eggs, meats, pasta, beans, canned goods – nada. Beer aplenty, and
scotch—say no more, say no more!
And what has become the new normal: lines of semi
tractor-trailers, simply standing idle on the main thoroughfares. I noticed a
number of propped up engine hoods, and wondered how many of the big rigs simply
die in place, or run out of fuel while idling for hours on end.
My plans to join my siblings in Canada for a week are in
jeopardy. The early morning flight I hope to take in a week has been canceled
for several days by American Airlines, citing security concerns. My secret
theory is that there are too many unsold seats lately, and by suspending a
regular flight for a few days, a sold-out plane will result. Anyhow, they say
rescheduling will not cost more, if another flight can be arranged. Fingers
crossed. Hell, just getting to the airport is questionable.
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