NICARAGUA-CLASHES/ELECTIONS Opposition protest erupts in violence in Nicaragua amidst calls for clean elections

Record ID: 148025

  • Title: NICARAGUA-CLASHES/ELECTIONS Opposition protest erupts in violence in Nicaragua amidst calls for clean elections
  • Date: 9th July 2015
  • Summary: MANAGUA, NICARAGUA (JULY 08, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS STANDING BEFORE LINE OF RIOT POLICE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS PUSHING BARRICADES ONTO RIOT POLICE RIOT POLICE HITTING PROTESTERS WITH BATONS RIOT POLICE AND OFFICERS RUNNING AMONGST PROTESTERS PROTESTERS CLASHING WITH POLICE RIOT POLICE DRAGGING AWAY MAN OFFICERS DRAGGING AWAY PROTESTER VARIOUS OF OFFICERS CARRYING AWAY U
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nicaragua
  • Country: Nicaragua
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8AWEIVBWM4QGNA2RO2FZLJWR8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: ****CORRECTION: PLEASE NOTE THE TEXT OF THE SCRIPT WAS CHANGED TO REFLECT A CALL FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS AS THE REASON FOR THE PROTEST/CLASHES. THE CLASHES WERE NOT OVER THE CANAL AS THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT SAID *****
    Dramatic scenes in Nicaragua's capital of Managua on Wednesday (July 08) as opposition protesters clashed with riot police in the capital to demand fair elections ahead of a 2016 national election that is expected to give President Daniel Ortega his third consecutive term in office.
    Protesters forced barricades against a line of riot police and officers hit demonstrators with batons as authorities struggled to maintain law and order over the rowdy protest.
    A number of arrests of opposition figures from the Liberal Independent Party were reported with protesters accusing officers of using heavy-handed tactics.
    Protesters are demanding a change in electoral rules which opposition supporters say favour Ortega's leftist Sandinista party.
    Eduardo Montealegre from the Liberal Independent Party told media that protesters will not relent on their demands, calling on protesters to learn from the Somoza family's four-decade dynastic rule of the Central American country.
    "We're all going to be here to tell Nicaragua that this is an abuse of power and sooner or later the people of Nicaragua will realise this. As I was saying to these young men here, learn from what happened with the Somozista Guard (national guard of ruling Somoza dynasty of Nicaragua," he said.
    Opponents of Ortega have long said he has bent the rules to win continuous re-election, pointing to a ruling by the Sandinista-controlled Supreme Court in 2009 to overturn a ban on consecutive terms. They want a change in the country's electoral body to provide for a more transparent vote.
    Armando Herrera of the Liberal Independent Party accused Ortega of muting civilian democratic voice in the country, dubbing the president a "dictator".
    "The only (person) responsible is called Daniel Ortega for closing off civic action, the process of democracy. This is not a president, he is a tyrant, he is a dictator," said Herrera.
    Ortega, 65, has moderated some of his socialist policies since regaining the presidency five years ago and he has won praise for letting private businesses operate freely even as he pushed policies aimed at combating poverty.
    Helped by financial support from oil-rich Venezuela, Ortega put money into health and education programs, provided loans for small businesses and gave aid to farmers. The policies won widespread support in largely agrarian Nicaragua.
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