Afraid to Protest

“People are scared.” “People are afraid.” This has been the refrain on everyone’s lips on our island this past week.

Quiet mornings and nights on the island

The fear comes from uncertainty. The fear comes from a sense that trouble is imminent. The fear comes because things seem out of their control and there doesn’t seem to be any justice or recourse for change.

Our short-termer asked us if there are often protests and strikes on the islands. Our initial response was, “Yes, strikes and protests are common.” But then we started to think about it… not recently.  Before, there were strikes a lot and protest marches happened. But things have changed. The current government has cracked down. People disappear. Journalists are arrested. There was supposed to be a general strike over all sectors a couple months ago, but word came from the government that people who didn’t come to work would lose their jobs. People were scared and went to work.

Crowd for village English certificate ceremony

Now for a long time, May 26th has been talked about as the “final day”. The day after which trouble would begin. Some islanders used the word for “war/battle”— and that May 26th was when it would all start. So the island woke up scared on the 26th. The roads were quiet. Many schools didn’t open, people stayed home. But after a couple hours of quiet, people started to trickle out of their homes. A few taxis started driving around. By 8:30am, the city was gearing up for a semi-normal day. The next morning was the same— people hesitating before going out. Schools getting started late. Everyone waiting to see if something was going to happen before they committed to leaving the safety of their homes.

In the meantime we hear about arrests. We hear about soldiers going into homes and causing havoc to people’s belongings and taking people into custody.

People are scared. They don’t know what the opposition will do and when. They don’t know what the government and military will do and who they might arrest next. They don’t expect justice. They don’t expect it to be fair. Most are unhappy with how things are, but they are too afraid to stick their heads out for fear of getting hit. Peaceful protests would seem to be the answer— those strikes and marches that we remember from previous years. But now people are too afraid that protests like that would lead to violence or that participating in one would paint a target on them or their family.

I don’t think I ever appreciated the right to protest before. I usually saw the frequent strikes and marches as a sign of dysfunction and a personal annoyance.  But without them, what can islanders do in the face of a government that is taking advantage of its people?

Tom's teacher training class

Some may choose violence and the rest are just afraid. We share with our island friends about our prayers for peace, our prayers for justice, our prayers for freedom from fear and hear in return a loud- Amen!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our short-termer’s orientation went well and he made it safely to the small island (where he will be while we travel). The islands stayed peaceful through the much anticipated May 26th. Tom’s intense teacher-training finished well! Last we gave thanks for a new island brother, this week it is for a new island sister and another story of islanders hearing and accepting good news from other islanders (not foreigners)! Very encouraging. Another group has been working for a long time to bring some story book sets translated into the local language to the island. This week they finally got the first sets— we’re excited to use them and for our island brothers and sisters to be able to use them with their families and children.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We are glad that the islands have been peaceful so far, but we are disconcerted by the fear and arrests on the rise— these are not signs of a healthy or just country. Pray for the islands. We are traveling to Kenya this week to renew passports— pray for negative COVID test results and for all the logistics. When we first get to Kenya we will participate in some meetings for team leaders— pray that they would go well and that our participation would be a blessing to us and others.  Pray that Megan’s back would stay strong amidst the travels and strange beds. Pray for the new island brother and sister from the past two weeks—may new resources be used to help them grow and understand the journey they have begun.