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

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

 

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

VIRGINIA, United States – For the past sixteen months the federal Department of Education has been investigating allegations that policies and procedures at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) are discriminatory. The probe began over a year ago and will determine whether certain practices are sexist and hostile to women.

The Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as an all male higher educational facility that is partially supported by government money. It is known for its highly regimented and military atmosphere. In 1996, the United States Supreme Court ruled that VMI had to admit females into the school or it would lose its government support. In 1997 VMI admitted its first female students.

The recent investigation of VMI’s policies and procedures centers around a range of issues. The complaint asserts that there is an overall hostile environment to women, that the physical standards are unfair to women, and that the promotion and tenure polices discriminate against women. The Department of Education also is investigating whether the school’s marriage and parenthood policies discriminate against women. Currently, VMI expects those cadets that marry or become pregnant to resign from the school. Promoting this policy, the school wrote that “the responsibilities of parenthood are deemed to begin upon a cadets learning that a child has been conceived.” In regards to the allegations of discriminatory promotion practices, VMI stated that it takes in account teaching ability, scholarly engagement, professional citizenship and contributions to the development of the cadets.

Since VMI admitted women, one hundred and fifty nine females have graduated from the institution. Also, about twenty two percent of current full and part time faculty are female. This past year VMI dropped its fitness requirement of five pull-ups to one pull-up for women. VMI received one hundred and sixty nine female applications this year and admitted fifty females.

Some women at the institution were surprised by the investigation. Senior cadet Elizabeth Dobbins stated that there “was no male model here.” She believed that the school was so open that any mistreatment would be noticed. Professor Mary Ann Dellinger also stated that there was no discrimination in promotion practices. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education awarded VMI its top honor for recruitment this past June.

For more information, please see:

Inside Higher Ed – Education Department Probes Allegations About VMI – 24 November 2009

MSNBC – Virginia Military Institute Faces Sexism Accusations – 22 November 2009

Roanoke Times – VMI is Subject of Sexism Probe – 8 August 2009

 

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

VIRGINIA, United States – For the past sixteen months the federal Department of Education has been investigating allegations that policies and procedures at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) are discriminatory. The probe began over a year ago and will determine whether certain practices are sexist and hostile to women.

The Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as an all male higher educational facility that is partially supported by government money. It is known for its highly regimented and military atmosphere. In 1996, the United States Supreme Court ruled that VMI had to admit females into the school or it would lose its government support. In 1997 VMI admitted its first female students.

The recent investigation of VMI’s policies and procedures centers around a range of issues. The complaint asserts that there is an overall hostile environment to women, that the physical standards are unfair to women, and that the promotion and tenure polices discriminate against women. The Department of Education also is investigating whether the school’s marriage and parenthood policies discriminate against women. Currently, VMI expects those cadets that marry or become pregnant to resign from the school. Promoting this policy, the school wrote that “the responsibilities of parenthood are deemed to begin upon a cadets learning that a child has been conceived.” In regards to the allegations of discriminatory promotion practices, VMI stated that it takes in account teaching ability, scholarly engagement, professional citizenship and contributions to the development of the cadets.

Since VMI admitted women, one hundred and fifty nine females have graduated from the institution. Also, about twenty two percent of current full and part time faculty are female. This past year VMI dropped its fitness requirement of five pull-ups to one pull-up for women. VMI received one hundred and sixty nine female applications this year and admitted fifty females.

Some women at the institution were surprised by the investigation. Senior cadet Elizabeth Dobbins stated that there “was no male model here.” She believed that the school was so open that any mistreatment would be noticed. Professor Mary Ann Dellinger also stated that there was no discrimination in promotion practices. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education awarded VMI its top honor for recruitment this past June.

For more information, please see:

Inside Higher Ed – Education Department Probes Allegations About VMI – 24 November 2009

MSNBC – Virginia Military Institute Faces Sexism Accusations – 22 November 2009

Roanoke Times – VMI is Subject of Sexism Probe – 8 August 2009

 

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

VIRGINIA, United States – For the past sixteen months the federal Department of Education has been investigating allegations that policies and procedures at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) are discriminatory. The probe began over a year ago and will determine whether certain practices are sexist and hostile to women.

The Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as an all male higher educational facility that is partially supported by government money. It is known for its highly regimented and military atmosphere. In 1996, the United States Supreme Court ruled that VMI had to admit females into the school or it would lose its government support. In 1997 VMI admitted its first female students.

The recent investigation of VMI’s policies and procedures centers around a range of issues. The complaint asserts that there is an overall hostile environment to women, that the physical standards are unfair to women, and that the promotion and tenure polices discriminate against women. The Department of Education also is investigating whether the school’s marriage and parenthood policies discriminate against women. Currently, VMI expects those cadets that marry or become pregnant to resign from the school. Promoting this policy, the school wrote that “the responsibilities of parenthood are deemed to begin upon a cadets learning that a child has been conceived.” In regards to the allegations of discriminatory promotion practices, VMI stated that it takes in account teaching ability, scholarly engagement, professional citizenship and contributions to the development of the cadets.

Since VMI admitted women, one hundred and fifty nine females have graduated from the institution. Also, about twenty two percent of current full and part time faculty are female. This past year VMI dropped its fitness requirement of five pull-ups to one pull-up for women. VMI received one hundred and sixty nine female applications this year and admitted fifty females.

Some women at the institution were surprised by the investigation. Senior cadet Elizabeth Dobbins stated that there “was no male model here.” She believed that the school was so open that any mistreatment would be noticed. Professor Mary Ann Dellinger also stated that there was no discrimination in promotion practices. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education awarded VMI its top honor for recruitment this past June.

For more information, please see:

Inside Higher Ed – Education Department Probes Allegations About VMI – 24 November 2009

MSNBC – Virginia Military Institute Faces Sexism Accusations – 22 November 2009

Roanoke Times – VMI is Subject of Sexism Probe – 8 August 2009