A national strike began in Honduras on May 30 protesting a series of reforms announced by the government. The strike was called in response a series of decrees signed by the president on May 28 aimed at restructuring the health and education sectors. The demonstrations, which continued into the next day, suffered brutal police repression. It is a scenario repeatedly seen during the administration of President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH). According to the teachers and doctors who called the strike, the restructuring would lead to massive layoffs and privatize these essential sectors. In 2010, central government spending on education was 32.9 percent of the total budget; today it is only 19.9 percent. In public health, the figures were 14.3 percent in 2010 and are 9.7 percent today. (Prensa Latina, May 31) Despite strong police repression of demonstrators, the president was forced to declare that there would be neither mass layoffs nor privatization, and the presidential de