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Protest march in Nicaragua

ViaNica.com | Jun 24, 2008

View of people congregating near Metrocentro for the march of June 20
  • Ex comandante guerrillera en huelga de hambre
    • The hunger strike against the government by ex-guerrilla Dora María Téllez, which took place between June 4 and June 16 in Managua, provoked a new initiative. Various political and civil figures have started expressing their opinion through protest marches in the city. The first such marches took place this Friday, June 20, with the next one planned for the 27 of this month.

    Dora María was on hunger strike because of the suspension of the legal status of the party she belongs to, the Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (MRS). The hunger strike was also a form of protest against the lack of attention that the current government of president Daniel Ortega is paying to certain areas of national interest.

    The Supreme Electoral Council of Nicaragua, directed by officers with known political belligerence of the parties Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN, directed Daniel Ortega) and the Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC, led by ex-president Arnoldo Alemán) canceled the legal status of the MRS and the Partido Conservador (PC) on June 11. After this decision was made, Dora María announced that she would continue with her hunger strike, because her protest was aimed at increasing the attention of the population for the abuses and problems caused by the government and its allies in the PLC.

    The deteriorating health, doctor's recommendations, and requests from those who see her as their leader, were the reasons for the ex-guerrilla and minister to stop her hunger strike, according to the national press. The strike ended on June 16, after which Dora María was temporarily admitted into a hospital in the city. She expressed her view that the strike was a first step, to be followed by protests in the streets.

    Four days later, on June 20, the first protest march took place in Managua. The march was led by the parties MRS and PC. Coming from different directions, the participants congregated around the roundabout near Metrocentro, where several speeches were given. Singer and songwriter Carlos Mejía Godoy talked about his plans to start an international lawsuit against the government for using his songs during official events. Mejía Godoy, open opponent of Ortega, announced days before that he prohibited the FSLN party to use his songs.

    The Movimiento Por Nicaragua, a civil organization, has called for a march "por la democracia”, to take place in Managua on Friday, June 27.