Tens of thousands march for peace, justice in Nicaragua

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans joined a march for “Peace and Justice” called by the Catholic Church on Saturday, the second massive demonstration in less than a week following a wave of deadly protests against social-security reforms.

The two marches in Managua came after protests and looting last week that Nicaragua’s Permanent Commission on Human Rights said left at least 63 people dead, 15 missing and more than 160 wounded by gunfire. The government of President Daniel Ortega has not confirmed or denied the casualty figures.

Ortega, who began his third five-year term in office last year, withdrew the social-security overhaul that sparked the social convulsion last Sunday and agreed to meet with different sectors of society. The rescinded changes would have imposed higher contributions by workers and employers and required retirees with pensions to give up five per cent of their cheques for medical care.

But the protests, which have been largely led by university students, had expanded to include broader anti-government grievances. Protesters at times were met with police repression and attacks from Sandinista youth and motorcycle-riding thugs.

On Monday, Nicaragua’s private business sector organized a march calling social peace and an end to repression that drew tens of thousands of participants, marking the largest demonstration seen against Ortega’s Sandinista government.

Saturday’s march called by the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua also drew tens of thousands, including students, representatives of the private sector and opponents of the construction of an interoceanic canal.

“We are going to march for peace so that there is justice. We Nicaraguans need a better country and we will achieve it,” said Silvio Baez, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Managua.