Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s Episcopal Conference has announced that it will meet with President Daniel Ortega today at Casa de los Pueblos, the old presidential palace, in Managua, in order to discuss issues relating to “justice and democracy”, so as to assess whether the National Dialogue process can be resumed or not.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega accepted a request from the bishops of the Episcopal Conference to meet on Thursday to address the future of dialogue, the Catholic Church body informed today in a statement.

The director of the Institute of Economic Studies and Public Policies (IEEPP), Felix Maradiaga, rejected accusations by the Nicaraguan National Police that linked him to “a dangerous criminal gang that has dedicated itself to sowing terror, murders … and other crimes”, in Managua.

In the face of Daniel Ortega’s government’s abuses against the Nicaraguan people, “the only way out” left to us “are the streets,” said Medardo Mairena, an anti-canal rural leader and member on the now suspended National Dialogue.

Terror and violence shook the city of Granada on Tuesday, the main colonial and leading tourist city of Nicaragua, where alleged paramilitaries attacked anti-government protesters, one of whom died, and burned City Hall, reported the Red Cross and the Government.

Although the massacre perpetrated by the Government of Nicaragua in April and May was not included on the official agenda approved for the 48th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) that opened this Monday in Washington, OAS sources assured that on Tuesday a “declaration” on Nicaragua will be discussed.

The Mormon Church announced on Monday that it is pulling out its remaining missionaries in Nicaragua due to the prolonged violence in the Central American country.

The OAS General Assembly, the most important annual meeting of the organization that brings together the countries of the Americas, began Tuesday its second and final day in Washington, where it will discuss a draft resolution that could initiate the process of suspension of Venezuela as well as resolution regarding Nicaragua.