Improve the Rights of Disabled Adults in Nicaragua

No activities club for now

On Tuesday the 15 th of May the political situation in Juigalpa was so tense that we had to decide to close the activities club for the rest of the week.

There have been demonstrations in Nicaragua since 18 April in the wake of the Government’s decision to clean up the Institute in charge of collecting pension premiums and paying out pensions. The country went up in flames after many people were killed or injured as a result of the violence used to contain the protests. It was somewhat ground-breaking that many Nicaraguans who for years had tolerated the increasingly authoritarian and anti-democratic government, now took to the streets in protest.

The week after the situation was stable enough in Juigalpa, so that we were able to welcome our ‘compañeros’ again.

Juigalpa

On 15 May all shops closed and everybody, except for the protesters, stayed off the streets. The unrest that started in the capital a month ago had leapt to Juigalpa. The riot police were around and a confrontation with peaceful demonstrators seemed imminent, especially those who raised the barricades that had cut Juigalpa off from the rest of the country (there are about 10 places now were they have raised barricades). They only let pass the cars every 2 or 3 hours. Farmers in particular had raised barricades to stop traffic in and out of Juigalpa, to add strength to their demands for reform and for a halt to violence by police and paramilitary groups. They have the sympathy of a lot of people. Although it had a big impact on daily life, because shops were no longer supplied, and neither buses nor private vehicles were able to get in or out of the town. As in other towns, also in Juigalpa, Roman Catholic priests played a pivotal role in preventing violence. They were ready to negotiate and placed themselves between riot police and demonstrators. Although the riot police did not accept it just like that, the campaign of the priests was successful: no blood was shed.

For our community home we stocked up on emergency supplies of food and drink and candles etc. Jonathan, who is autistic, has had a difficult week as he is frustrated by not being able to go outside for his routine activities and by the fact I had to cancel our planned trip to Managua to stay with a friend there.

After

The 19^th of May the national dialogue started, led by the Roman Catholic Church. Many people were somewhat put out by the president’s starting position in the negotiations. After four meetings the bishop announced a pause because it was impossible to achieve some compromises between the government and the civil movements. Demonstration against the president are going on.

Nicaragua has disappeared from the headlines in the international press. But this doesn’t mean that the conflict has gone. Demonstrations still occur daily. Nicaragua is shaking on its foundations. Oh Nicaragua, Nicaraguita…….