Dozens of Nicaraguan women migrants, exiles and exiles from their homeland integrated this March 8 march for International Women’s Day, convened in San José, Costa Rica. Along with thousands of Costa Ricans and other nationalities, the Nicaraguans took over one of the main avenues of the Costa Rican capital to denounce the violations of their rights. “Ortega rapist, murderer and oppressor!”, was the slogan that was heard the most in the demonstration.
The Nicaraguan bloc denounced the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo as directly responsible for human rights violations in Nicaragua. As well as implanting a macho and oppressive regime that is merciless against women who challenge it, that is negligent in the face of gender violence and is headed by Ortega, accused of rape by his stepdaughter Zoilamérica Ortega Murillo.
For some of the Nicaraguan participants, having returned to the streets to march on March 8 was a milestone, especially since many arrived in Costa Rica a few days ago, after the stripping of their nationality and illegal confiscation imposed by the regime on 94 Nicaraguans. opponents. One of them is the constitutionalist and feminist lawyer Azáhalea Solís, who shared her joy at being part of the march, despite the pain of forced exile.
“In 2015 it is the march that I remember that they put riot police on us (in Nicaragua) and then they prevented us from marching. Now it’s great marches here. I have 17 days of having arrived in this country and it is wonderful to be marching in freedom with young people”said.
He added that it is essential to maintain the denunciation of crimes against humanity against the Nicaraguan population committed by the presidential couple in Nicaragua and a chain of command.
Cacerolazo in the name of the unique citizenship that cannot march
A group of unique women brought pots to the protest to make noise and remember the “saucepans” that Nicaraguan citizens carried out during the April Rebellion, as part of the civic expressions that demanded the departure of the Ortega Murillo regime in 2018.
“In Carazo, on June 12 there was a huge saucepan, at three in the morning the women took to the streets during an attack (by the Police and paramilitaries) against one of the roadblocks (of the citizens)”recalled Claudia Vargas, originally from Jinotepe and now in exile in Costa Rica.
The march was also attended by young members of the Las Volcánicas Collective. “We march for our migrant sisters. We demand access to our rights, justice and decent wages. We denounce the decrees (of the Executive branch) that violate and make refugee applicants more vulnerable”said Lidia Peña, referring to the tightening of the Refuge policies ordered by President Rodrigo Chaves in November last year.
Aimee Chávez, a member of the newly formed Nicaraguan Feminist League of Political Refugees, read a proclamation summarizing her mission, which is to work under safe political spaces, influence decision-making, organize, and offer political training for members in Nicaragua and Costa Rica .
The different generations of Nicaraguan feminist women reaffirmed their commitment to the search for equality and democracy for Nicaragua. “The feminist agenda is universal, we fight for freedom, justice, equality and democracy, with different nuances in each country, but I don’t feel strange in any march, anywhere in the world”said Azáhalea Solís.
