Nicaragua's Lawmakers Back To
Work After Protests, Crisis Continues
MANAGUA - Nicaragua's legislature has
resumed work after two days of disturbances
in the capital city of Managua that has
prompted concern from the international
community, as supporters of president Daniel
Ortega broke windows in the legislative
building, by throwing stones and homemade
bombs.
The protest had brought the legislative assembly
to a stand still.
The protests are being attributed to
opposition lawmakers, who although denying
intimidation by the Sandinista government,
returned to the benches.
On Thursday, after the protest calmed down,
lawmakers approved a law that would allow
the government to borrow us$48 million
dollars from foreign lenders.
The opposition said they voted in favour of
the law not out of fear of the bombs, but
out of conviction.
For the leader of the Sandinista party in
the legislature, Edwin Castro, Thursday's
vote was a victory for the people, who
forced the opposition lawmakers to take
their seats and stop the delays.
Although there is still more controversy
brewing in Nicaragua, mainly the approval of
the controversial decree passed in January
that extends the term in office of several
public officials, including judges, without
consultation of the legislature.
The crisis prompted the Organization of
American States (OAS) to make comment,
provoking a response by Daniel Ortega for
the Secretary General of the OAS not to
meddle.
The Ortega warning came following
Wednesday's comments by Jose Miguel Insulza
who said in a press release he had deep
concerns for the violence in Nicaragua,
violence promoted by Ortega supporters.
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