By Brenda Lopez Romero
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America desk
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Last Saturday afternoon, estimates of over 40,000 people demonstrated against and for the government and the bid for reelection President Daniel Ortega. Local press reported that at least one person died and unknown number was injured when the opposing demonstrators meet each other on the streets.
Rafael Anibal Luna Ruiz, Sandinista supporter, died in the northern city of Ciudad Dario from wounds when he was hit with stones thrown by Liberal supporters. The secretary of the Liberal opposition party reported that three of its members were injured when two buses were attacked by alleged Sandinista stone-throwers and indicated she would file a complaint with the police.
The opposition is party members of the Sandinista and Liberal groups. They marched to support their position in favor or against Ortega. The Liberal party demonstrators say they protest the harassment of the current Sandinista government and the Nicaraguan Supreme Court order that will permit Ortega to run for reelection in 2011. Dora Maria Tellez, former Ortega organizer but now lead the opposition said, “the only way for the government to change, as it has been shown in all these years, is for the people to go to the streets.” On the other side Sandinistas marched to celebrate the judicial victory and their party’s election victory in the midst of allegations of fraud. Sandinista supporter insist the Ortega government is acting on country’s behalf.
Ortega served as president from 1985-90, after leading the guerrilla movement that ousted Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. Then, he had three unsuccessful campaigns until he won the presidency again in 2006.
For more information, please see:
Voice of America News – Thousands March in Rival Nicaraguan Rallies – 25 November 2009
CNN – Thousands march for, against Nicaraguan government – 22 November 2009
Latin America Tribune Herald – One Dead, Several Injured in Nicaragua Protests – 22 November 2009
