Asked for his assessment of the situation, he said, “They will lose. They will give up claims over the government and be content only with being a gray eminence. They must. This can’t continue. As it is, they’ve threatened to forcibly conscript young, able-bodied men into troops. But these are the ones who easily slip into the jungle at every turn. It’s all going to come crashing in on them.”
Many businesses are shuttered, as typically happens during tense military actions, to which the locals have grown accustomed.
Only smaller family shops remain open to serve the community’s needs. Street vendors and hawkers have either volunteered to leave the vicinity or have been forced out of the area by the military. The Catholics among them glance furtively at the high walls surrounding the Cathedral compound.
“Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. I don’t know if anyone will be allowed to go to the Holy Mass,” said one concerned parishioner. “These people are crazy. You cannot expect rational words or actions from them.”
“Prior to the coup last year, the military already had too much power. They forced us to give them concessions with our parliament in 2010 but that wasn’t enough to appease them,” added the man’s wife, speaking through an interpreter.
“The military already owned all gold, silver and jade mines in the country. All cigarette companies and sales. All beer breweries and whiskey distilleries. They even owned a fast food chicken chain and a popular donut chains, but it wasn’t enough for them,” she said.
Join Our Telegram Group : Salvation & Prosperity
