Since Saturday, the Nicaraguan Army keeps its distance from President Daniel Ortega, saying that it “will not repress” the population that is demonstrating against the government.
We believe that dialogue is the solution”
to solve the current crisis, said Army spokesman Colonel Manuel Guevara, about the widespread demonstrations and roadblocks that plunged the country into a crisis and left 51 dead.
Guevara said that the position of the armed forces in this crisis, which has been in place for almost a month, is attached to the constitutional mandate to
protect vital objectives for the functioning of the country.”
The president of the association of breeders, Giovanni Caprotti, revealed that on May 4th he held, at the request of the military command, a meeting with General Oswaldo Barahona, chief of operations of the IV military region comprising the departments of Rivas, Granada, Carazo and Masaya. Caprotti said, in declarations to TV channel 15, that Barahona reiterated that the performance of the army is limited to fighting drug trafficking, the protection of border areas, natural reserves and safeguarding the strategic assets of the country.
Ortega’s government faces the worst protests in 11 years, which started on April 18th in rejection of a social security reform, which spread throughout the country in the face of the anger caused by the repression and to demand democracy and freedom.