AMERICA/NICARAGUA - National dialogue: need to talk about democracy, freedom, independence of powers

Wednesday, 2 May 2018 human rights democracy bishops students youth

Twitter/LaPrensa

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Matagalpa (Agenzia Fides) - The democratization of the country and the real independence of the powers of the State should be topics to be addressed in the national dialogue in which several Catholic Bishops will act as mediators and witnesses: this was stated by the Bishop of the diocese of Matagalpa, Mgr. Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, in a note sent to Agenzia Fides.
Presiding over the religious solemnity of Saint Joseph in the parish of San José Obrero in El Tuma, one of the main urban concentrations in the municipality of El Tuma-La Dalia, Mgr. Álvarez recalled yesterday that the situation in the country "is very complicated".
"You know that, as Bishops of Nicaragua, we have embarked on a difficult path, a path in which there are many thorns, there are many risks and dangers, because the situation in Nicaragua is very complex", said Mgr. Alvarez in his homily to the faithful.
According to the Bishop, dialogue must involve "the broadest representative sectors of the Nicaraguan population, and each one has his own approach, his point of view". It is often difficult for us to be at the center and seek conciliation, act as a bridge and a channel of communication between the parties, to be able to find a path that will lead us all to a consensus", reads the note.
Nicaragua is going through a crisis that has lasted for two weeks, with massive demonstrations against President Ortega, which began after the announcement of a draconian provision to cut pensions.
Agitation continued although the president revoked his decision, after the numerous victims caused by the repression of the police.
The population now demands the resignation of Ortega and his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, because they consider them to be corrupt, violators of human rights, civil rights and public freedoms.
In all this affair, the Catholic Church has played a leading role, because it took to the streets to defend young Catholics who peacefully called for justice for the elderly in the country.
The international press noticed Nicaragua when thousands of Nicaraguan people from all over the country took part in the march "to show faith in God and love for Nicaragua" organized by the Episcopal Conference (See Fides 28/04/2018).
Since the protests began, the violent clashes that have taken place in Nicaragua have caused at least 42 deaths and a total of 48 missing, according to the Center for Human Rights of Nicaragua (Cenidh), while other humanitarian organizations report that this figure reaches 63 victims. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 2/05/2018)