Nicaraguan bishops decry Sandinista violence against US embassy

November 04, 2009

Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes Solórzano and Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega of Managua have decried violence at a recent protest against the US embassy in Nicaragua. US Ambassador Robert Callahan had criticized the nation’s Supreme Court for overturning a constitutional provision that would have barred Sandinista President Daniel Ortega from seeking a second term. In a separate incident, the president’s supporters threw firecrackers at Ambassador Callahan, forcing him to seek refuge in a Jesuit university’s classroom before being rescued by police.

“I believe that violence in all its forms must be eradicated,” said the auxiliary bishop. “Here everyone has the right to express his opinion and to protest, but there are peaceful ways. In a democratic society, ideological pluralism is part of the foundation. There is not need to damage buildings, burn tires, beat people. There are other more civic ways.”

 

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Further information:

• Nicaragua Bishops Decry Violence in Anti-US Protest (Zenit)
• US envoy defiant on leaving Nicaragua (AFP)
• Nicaragua police evacuate US ambassador to safety (DPA)