The government of Daniel Ortega will declare April 19 as “National Day of Peace”, just when the five years after the protests began against the president that were violently repressed, leaving at least 300 dead and thousands of exiles, according to human rights organizations.
Ortega’s wife and also vice president, Rosario Murillo, announced in the official media that the decree will be issued in the coming days during a special session through the National Assembly and said that with this “they seek to safeguard peace in all its forms.” .
“This month of April we have decreed as the month of peace, harmony, tranquility, security, stability and progress against poverty,” said the official who was sanctioned by the United States, which accuses her of having led the repression in Nicaragua in April 2018.
Opposition will hold demonstrations
The opposition has scheduled a series of demonstrations next weekend precisely in memory of the date. With this they assure that they will ask for justice for the victims of state repression in the Central American country.
In Miami, the diaspora announced at least two demonstrations on Sunday, the same as in San José, in Costa Rica. In Mexico, Canada and Spain there will also be vigils and concerts alluding to April 2018.
Ortega, who has been in power for more than 15 consecutive years, has branded the protests that arose in Nicaragua as an attempted coup and has said without evidence that they were sponsored by the United States and the international community.
The president has also launched a crusade against critics and 222 Nicaraguan opponents they were exiled to the United States and their nationality was revoked, including seven people who aspired to compete in the 2021 presidential elections, branded as “a farce” by much of the international community.
Nicaragua is experiencing its worst political and social crisis in the last 30 years as a result of Ortega’s repression. The US has imposed sanctions on a dozen officials close to Ortega for that reason and maintains Nicaragua as “a threat to national security.”
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