Managua, Nicaragua – On July 19, 500,000 Nicaraguans filled Managua’s Plaza de la Fe to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Popular Revolution and Nicaragua’s liberation from the U.S.-imposed Somoza dictatorship.

President Daniel Ortega, Vice President Rosario Murillo, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and international representatives electrified the crowd – many in attendance had traveled hours in packed caravans from all over the country – with calls for peace, continued economic and social progress, and the defense of Nicaraguan sovereignty in the face of U.S. aggression. Wearing their traditional rojinegro and waving the flag of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), the Nicaraguans in the Plaza de la Fe demonstrated to the United States and the country’s right wing their increased unity and strength born out of the FSLN government’s victory over the U.S.-designed coup attempt of 2018.

As members of the Sandinista Youth swayed behind her, Vice President Murillo opened the event by cheering, “No pudieron, ni podrán! (They couldn’t and they never will be able to),” the FSLN slogan referencing the failed coup. She then affirmed the sovereignty of Nicaragua and her country’s commitment to peace: “Nicaragua advances in peace, with effort and hope...Our people own their history and are the architects of their liberation.”

A theme of Vice President Murillo’s speech was thankfulness toward the historic Sandinistas who’d fought for the liberation of Nicaragua, like Carlos Fonseca, Tomás Borge, and Arlen Sieu as well as the government officials and international representatives in attendance. She also recognized Bismarck Martinez, a Sandinista activist who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the opposition during the failed coup.

Following Vice President Murillo’s introduction, a series of religious leaders from different denominations spoke before turning the stage over to international dignitaries from fraternal countries.

President Anatoly Bibilov of South Ossetia described Nicaragua as a “magnificent example for other peoples” as his hosts had “taught other peoples to be masters of their own destinies.” First Vice President of Cuba Salvador Valdés listed the progressive achievements of the current FSLN government and condemned the sanctions against Nicaragua being implemented by the U.S. Vice President Valdés concluded his remarks by quoting Fidel Castro’s words to the Sandinistas attending the 1979 celebration of the Assault on the Moncada Barracks, one week after their own revolution’s triumph. “The Sandinistas have given one more lesson about what the revolutionary spirit can do. Men of weak character never reach a goal. Weak souls will never get anywhere. The revolutionary spirit is capable of achieving the most incredible goals.”

Carrying “a hug from our president and leader, Nicolas Maduro” for President Ortega, Vice President Murillo, and the Nicaraguan people, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez roused the crowd during her ten minutes at the podium. Vice President Rodríguez first linked the “three-twinned revolutions” of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, describing how the youth of Cuba and Nicaragua’s victory over dictatorships had inspired the Bolivarian struggle in Venezuela. She then turned to the current moment as all three countries are threatened by the United States and its “criminal economic blockades.” As the Sandinista crowd roared, Rodriguez delivered “bad news” for Donald Trump “from the free Nicaragua that resists and wins, from the free Cuba that resists and is victorious, from the indestructible Venezuela” that “We will never be anyone's backyard again! Go away with your Monroe Doctrine, far away!”

Introduced by Vice President Rodríguez’s stirring defense of revolutionary struggle in Latin America, President Ortega rose to speak. His subject was simple: Nicaraguans want peace, “the fundamental condition” for prosperity. President Ortega said, “A people needs peace to work, to live...Nicaragua is our home and there must be peace.”

“It has been the same throughout history, the struggle of humanity, the struggle for justice, the struggle for peace in the midst of so many wars, in the midst of so much destruction, in the midst of so much exploitation,” said President Ortega. “[There have been] peoples fighting for peace and in these times, times when there are those who cheerfully beat war drums without thinking that by beating war drums they endanger the existence of themselves and their people, the peoples of the world, and I am sure that the U.S. people want peace, they want justice.”

Before addressing the United States, President Ortega thanked Brian Wilson, a veteran of the Vietnam War and “hero of peace.” In 1987, Wilson lost his legs while protesting U.S. involvement in Central America when a train carrying weapons bound for El Salvador and Nicaragua hit him as he laid on the railroad tracks. President Ortega then turned toward more contemporary injustices of U.S. imperialism: the violation of people’s right to migrate and economic sanctions. “These are times in which we must unite all of us, Nicaraguans, Central Americans, Mesoamericans, Latin Americans and Caribbeans, with the North American people, to fight for peace in all of our America,” he declared.

After this call for peace, President Ortega contextualized the 2018 attempted coup, disguised by the U.S. and Nicaraguan opposition as a “popular rising,” within the history of U.S. intervention in Nicaragua. The inaccurate, exaggerated media coverage of the attempted coup misled many activists in the U.S. President Ortega linked the Nicaraguan right to the same “traitors” that had worked with the “hand of the empire” to bring William Walker to Nicaragua in the 1850s, kill General Augusto Cesar Sandino in 1934, prop up the Somoza dictatorship, and threaten the Sandinista Revolution through the Contras.

Having outlined those who’ve historically betrayed Nicaragua, President Ortega invited all Nicaraguans to participate in the reconstruction of peace and the eradication of poverty in their country. Referencing the failed negotiations that the opposition used as a pretext to incite violence in 2018, he promoted a dialogue, “the only one that makes sense,” with “peasants, with workers, with small businesspeople, with artisans, with small, medium, and large producers, with all those who are willing to work for peace and for economic and social production in this country, in order to achieve economic and social development in this country.” President Ortega concluded his speech with a reference to the 2021 general election which the opposition has demanded be moved up and the need for the Nicaraguan people to defend their interests and rights through an FSLN victory.

Along with the hundreds of thousands of Sandinistas, international delegations from all over the world participated in the festivities at the Plaza de la Fe to show their solidarity with the FSLN government and the continuation of the Sandinista revolution. A group of the Friends of the ATC – a solidarity network that supports Nicaragua’s Asociación de Trabajadores del Campo (Rural Workers’ Association), which has organized Nicaraguan farm workers and small farmers since the insurrection against the Somoza dictatorship – were among the foreign allies invited by the FSLN to experience the proceedings from the stage.

From July 11 to July 21, the ATC and the Friends of the ATC hosted the “Solidarity with Nicaragua!” delegation based around the July 19 celebration. The Nicaraguan Revolution has inspired many Latinos in the U.S. to continue to fight for equality at home and stand in solidarity with the revolutionary struggles in Latin America. The Friends of the ATC believe that those struggling to change conditions within the U.S. can deepen their own analysis by observing and studying the efforts to build socialism in Nicaragua.

In the days leading up to the July 19 anniversary, the delegation visited historic sites and the Salvador Allende Port in Managua, the women-led Gloria Quintanilla coffee cooperative in Santa Julia, the Agroecological Institute of Latin America (IALA), which provides technical, political and ideological training to young peasants from Central America and the Dominican Republic, and the ATC-organized Marlon Alvarado community in Carazo. Throughout these visits, delegates conducted interviews with ATC organizers, students, and members as part of an ongoing testimony project that will be released in the coming months. The goal of these reports is partly to clarify the current Nicaraguan context for international audiences as the U.S. government has relied upon a coordinated misinformation campaign about the failed coup attempt in order to justify the imposition of sanctions against Nicaragua.

For more information on the ATC, Friends of the ATC, and their efforts to build internationalist solidarity with Nicaragua, please visit https://friendsatc.org/.

#ManaguaNicaragua #Managua #PeoplesStruggles #Sandinista #FSLN #Nicaragua #Americas

Claramente, ahora Nicaragua no tiene el socialismo pero mucha gente lo desea. Y además, no hay una posibilidad por socialismo en Nicaragua si los golpistas triunfaron a sus planes a quitar Ortega. Muchos Sandinistas saben que si ganan los ultraderechistas, un gobierno al placer de los EEUU se van a dominar su vida una vez más. Por esta razón, han luchado en la calle, en la media por su patria, por sus soberanía, por su libertad.

Por una comprensión, necesitamos a espigar la verdad de los hechos.

El Contexto

Es importante a entender el contexto históricamente de la situación actual en Nicaragua. Tenemos que reconocer la historia de intervención al parte de los EEUU en Nicaragua desde los 1920s. Después la lucha histórica del héroe nacional Augusto Sandino y su ejército de Los Hombres Libres, los EEUU han intentado a controlar el país de Nicaragua. El gobierno de los EEUU usaron la dictadura brutal de los Somozas por más que cuarenta años. En 1979, el Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional guió una lucha masiva a sacar el último Somoza. Pero, llegó al Presidencia de los EEUU Ronald Reagan quien comenzó una guerra sucia con los terroristas llamados Los Contras. A pesar de tantos actos violentos por los EEUU durante los once años de poder, La Revolución Sandinista logró muchos éxitos. En 2006, después 16 años de dos gobiernos en el servicio de los EEUU y el capitalismo neoliberal, Daniel Ortega una vez más triunfó la elección presidencial. En los años que siguieron, su gobierno ha logrado muchas programas sociales, levantó el nivel de producción económica, en frente de la cara del instituto de financia el Fondo Monetarios Internacional y los EEUU. Además, con estos éxitos, Ortega ganó la elección en 2016 con 72% de la vota.

Si creemos la narrativa de la prensa al lado del capitalismo, entendemos que todo estos éxitos económicos existen porque el Ortega es en el servicio del FMI y apoya neoliberalismo. Y explicamos que todos sus exitos políticas existen porque él, personalmente, ha consolidado todo el poder a su lado, como un dictador. Pero, la verdad se escapa la perspectiva en el servicio del capitalismo. Si examinamos los hechos sobre la economía de Nicaragua, aprendemos que el gobierno asegurado $400 millones (USD) hacia 60% de la economía que trabajan en el sector informal. Mucho de este apoyo financial resultó en 80-90% de alimentación producción nacional que ahora es autosuficiente y independiente del FMI. Además, se bajó la pobreza, subieron los salarios mínimos, y igualdad género en negocios se levantó hasta el duodécimo en el mundo. Una orientación al neoliberalismo no se puede a lograr eso. El neoliberalismo traiga más pobreza, más desigualdad, salarios bajados, servicios sociales acuchillados, y mas cosas malas. Entonces, el primer punto de la perspectiva que sirve a lado del capitalismo, del imperialismo está vencido por la verdad de los hechos. Segundo, El Centro de Democracia de Jimmy Carter siempre reconozca que los elecciones Nicaraguense estan limpios y justos. No es una dictadura de Ortega. En el reverso, la oposición y su agenda no esta popular con la masas.

El Comienzo

En Abril, el tripartito de los sindicatos, el sector privada, y gobierno eran en negociaciones sobre de los beneficios y la seguridad social. El FMI y el sector privada propusieron a bajar su contribución, levantar el edad a retirarse, y doblar cuantas semanas necesario a trabajar a sacar seguridad social. Los sindicatos, por supuesto, lo rechazó. El gobierno, propuesto a aumentar la contribución de los empleadores por 3.5% y la contribución de los trabajadores por 0.75%.Tambien, 5% de los pensionados a mover al su cuido de salud. Otro punto olvidado es el gobierno quiso a cerrar una escapatoria por los ricos a esconder su salario entonces se podrán a acceder beneficios de salud.

Después la prensa privada en Nicaragua, controlado por las familias más ricas, anunciaron una versión retorcida del presupuesto del gobierno con dato falso, y un grupo de estudiantes de la Universidad Técnica en Managua manifestaron. Esta misma prensa luego publicado noticias diciendo que La Policía Nacional han usado municiones actuales y le mataron un demostrador . Ahora, verdaderamente, sabemos que echaron puras mentiras en esos dias fragiles al comienzo. Después, algunas dias de las manifestaciones, Ortega lo retrajo el propuesto a demostrar su compromiso a respetar los deseos del estudiantes confundidos. Pero, la oposición, respaldada por los EEUU, ya activaron su planes de crear caos, confusión, y desestabilización.

La oposición, en control de la mayoría de la prensa en Nicaragua, comenzaron un gran plan de propaganda que es un parte del manual a cambiar el gobierno y pedir la intervención de los EEUU. Sus tácticas son: agarrar narrativa con mentiras y cuentas emocionales, manipular los imagens de violencia, y usar las palabras de “los expertos de ‘derechos humanos.’’ Tenemos que decir que esto manual ha usado en los países destruidos por los EEUU – Libya, Syria y los países que quieren destruir como Iran y Venezuela.

El manual usa manifestaciones en la calle, elementos delincuentes que usan armas a provocar la policía a usar sus armas, bloqueos de las calles, ruptura en la economía y servicios básicos, y la prensa reporta solamente el lado de la oposición que siempre quiere pedir los EEUU a ayudar. Eso es lo que pasó en Nicaragua. La oposición, como Venezuela, verdaderamente no es popular y tienen que usar elementos delincuentes y extranjeros a cumplir sus planes. Si muchos trabajadores y campesinos en Nicaragua no les gusta el Ortega y el gobierno porque están maltratados, porque no hay una huelga nacional? Porque los sindicatos no están llamando por una huelga? Tenemos que decir es porque ellos saben lo que los esperan se caiga el Ortega – un gobierno al servicio de los EEUU. Otro punto a aclarar, si el Ortega actúa en interés de los EEUU y el FMI, porque permiten todo este caos y daño a la economía? Ya se cayó otra mentira, otro punto falso que el Ortega sirve los EEUU y el FMI. Precisamente porque el Ortega y el FSLN han intentado, con la ayuda de otros países como Venezuela, de ser independiente del FMI y el control de los EEUU que el Ortega está el objetivo de su golpe suave.

La Ofensiva llamado Nicaragua Libre

Como una guerra psicológica, la prensa manipular fotos intentar que la policía nacional asesinar gente inocente o dirigentes del FSLN pintado como “paramilitares” a convencer la gente Nicaragüense que el gobierno es brutal y no les importa la sangre y violencia. Después mucha de esta marea de mentiras, muchos Sandinistas empezaron a tomar el poder patras. En lugares y barrios, Sandinistas normales organizó guardias de los barrios a cuidar sus calles y guardar por los delincuentes. Otra forma de la ofensiva a volver a tomar poder de su país, el esfuerzo a deconstruir los tranques, bloqueos de las calles. Estos tranques han dado tanto daño a la economía y las vidas Nicaragüense. También, son puntos a atrapar gente conectado al FSLN, a secuestrarlos e incluso torturar algunos. No se puede estar dicho tan alto que la deconstruir de los tranques significa momento gigantes a librar el país de la oposición y sus soldados de carteles delitos. Eso es porque mucha gente llaman sus ciudades y pueblos “Territorio Libre.”

Lastimosamente, un gran parte de la coordinación de la oposición incluye La Iglesia Episcopal. Sus iglesias han usado como sitios de tortura y a guardar las armas y mortars por la oposición ultraderechista. Esto revela el nivel alto de coordinación interiormente en Nicaragua con el sector privada y está financiado por los EEUU vía el National Endowment for Democracy. Hay mucha evidencia que los líderes estudiantil y los ONG han visitado con los políticos de los EEUU que escribieron y apoyan la Nica Act que castiga al Nicaragua y Ortega. El gobierno de los EEUU han dado $400millones (USD) en apoyo de la prensa que están hablando sobre del plan que se vaya el Ortega.

Pero, gracias a los Sandinistas leales, las fuerzas patrióticas, Nicaragua viva libre todavía. Las marchas masivas en las últimas semanas en respaldo del gobierno significa a la oposición que están vencidos. El frase “Patria Libre o Morir” hace eco de las montañas y las calles una veza más a decir finalmente al gran imperio: “Nicaragua Libre!”

#TucsonAZ #Sandinista #FSLN #Nicaragua #Americas

Typically, the gathering commemorates important events like the historic struggle that began back in the late 1920s with national hero Augusto Sandino’s army’s successful expulsion of U.S. Marines; the toppling of the vicious Somoza family dictatorship, and the inspiring accomplishments of the Sandinista era in the 1980s. Oftentimes, there are international guests, like in 2007, when the Sandinistas returned to power, attendees were then-Presidents Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Manuel Zelaya of Honduras. Ironically, at that gathering of an anti-imperialist political party like the FSLN, on stage with Daniel Ortega were a survivor a U.S.-coordinated coup d’etat in 2002, Hugo Chavez, and a future victim of a U.S.-supported coup, Mel Zelaya, in 2009. Since Zelaya’s forced removal, Honduras has had some of the highest levels of violence in the Americas that has driven many Hondurans to migrate to the U.S., only to face repression from ICE. And now, in 2018, it is Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega who is under threat from a U.S.-supported ‘soft coup.’

Like the rescue of Venezuela President Hugo Chavez from the hands of the golpistas in April 2002, it is the masses who are the primary actor in the maintenance of Nicaraguan sovereignty amid a U.S. -backed ‘regime change’ push. Since mid-April, the country has been embroiled in violence created and maintained by opposition forces seeking the removal of democratically-elected President Ortega. One of their tactics has been the use of tranques (roadblocks) in order to create chaos and disorder through economic and social destabilization and provoking the National Police into shootouts.

Amid this disorder is the opposition media that manipulates imagery and stories in order to make it appear that the National Police are responsible for heavy-handed, bloody repression. Then, they make the call for President Ortega to step down and for the U.S. to intervene if necessary. This resembles the U.S. intervention playbook from Venezuela 2002 and 2014, when the corporate-controlled media manipulated imagery and messaging to make it appear the leftist government is ‘authoritarian’ and ‘unpopular.’

Despite the claims that Ortega is ‘unpopular,’ although he was re-elected with 72% of the vote in 2016, it is clear the opposition and, specifically their violence, is unpopular. For example, the opposition has used gang members from not only Nicaragua, but also from El Salvador as foot soldiers to carry out their violent political mission, because they cannot find ordinary Nicaraguans willing to destroy their own country. Second, since the character of the violence by the opposition has had a very clear, very vicious political character, attacking regular, rank-and-file Sandinistas, there has been a massive demonstration of support for the FSLN and President Ortega in the last few weeks, culminating in the weekend’s festivities.

The FSLN, its many organizations, and rank-and-file members have started to combat the opposition’s two fronts of struggle: the tranques and social media. In town after town, city after city, Nicaraguans have demonstrated their resolve and commitment to a peaceful, sovereign country by running off the delincuentes, disassembling the tranques, and rebuilding the roads. The heightened political level of this ‘soft coup’ is not lost on proud, patriotic Sandinistas who call their reclaimed city or town ‘liberated territory.’ All of these stories are promoted through a counter-offensive on social media by popular, revolutionary forces because the corporate-controlled, pro-opposition media does not report them on the whole. That media instead manipulates images of two different people and yet shares the story that the person was abducted and tortured by the National Police and paramilitaries. False narratives like this dominate the landscape and its impact is disastrous.

It is clear that despite the level of coordination from the comprador bourgeoisie in Nicaragua and the U.S. government, the opposition and their wave of violence is unwanted and unpopular. Whatever political opportunism they attempted after students protested a Social Security proposal by Ortega, has been lost in their bid to undemocratically decide who rules Nicaragua. The tide has turned back in favor of La RojiNegra (FSLN colors red and black) because the call for “Nicaragua Libre!” wasn’t just an 80s thing, it’s here to stay.

#Tucson #AZ #Imperialism #Americas #Socialism #Nicaragua #Sandinista #FSLN