Striking Transport
Workers Clash With
Police in Nicaragua
Nicaraguan transport
workers clashed with
riot police Tuesday in
Las Maderas town, 45 km
east of the capital
Managua, as the national
transport strike entered
its ninth day.
Police retaliated with
tear gas bombs and
rubber bullets after the
workers allegedly burned
two cars on the northern
Pan American highway.
"We as policemen are
complying with our
duties and the
constitutional mandate,"
said the head of
Nicaragua's National
Police (PN) in a press
conference prior to
traveling to Las Maderas
to evaluate the
situation.
The transport workers
demand that the
Nicaraguan government,
headed by President
Daniel Ortega, freeze
the price of diesel at
40.50 cordobas (about
two U.S. dollars) per
gallon, down from the
current price of 90
cordobas (about five
dollars). However, the
government has rejected
the proposal.
Many people, including
passersby, suffered
injuries in the riot
police’s operation,
local reports said.
Fifteen people were
arrested.
The intended 30-day
national transport
strike, called by the
National Transport
Coordinator (CNT), has
been on since May 5. The
CNT affiliates include
cargo, inter-urban, taxi
and urban transportation
operators.
Negotiations on Sunday
and Monday among the
government, CNT and
transport workers allied
to the Sandinista
government have failed,
as the parties were
unable to reach an
accord.
Transportation Minister
Fernando Martinez once
again proposed a 0.30 US
dollar discount per
gallon of diesel or
gasoline, and an
increase in passenger
fees, but the strikers
found the measures
unacceptable.
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