The situation in Nicaragua is full of tension again. Last Wednesday, the Episcopal Conference was “forced” to suspend the plenary round table of National Dialogue after an introductory meeting and three sessions. President Daniel Ortega, representatives of the civil society, students and the Nicaraguan Church took part in the Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima, Managua. The Nicaraguan Church accepted the task of mediator and observer. However, last Wednesday, the proposal presented by entrepreneurs, students and farmers (“Civic Alliance for Democracy”), based on international investigation on the repressions occurred in the last few weeks, and on a real democratic achievement in the country, ratified by the new Constitution and new elections, was not accepted by Ortega, who even spoke about “coup d’Etat”. The Nicaraguan Church proposed “the setting up of a joint six-person committee, three for each side, with the aim of finding agreement and overcoming the impasse”. In that case, the Episcopal Conference would be ready to re-start the round table, resuming mediation service.

Bishops said: “We remind everyone that peace in our country and in the lives of Nicaraguans largely depend on this decision and on the opportunity to continue dialogue”.

Yesterday, lots of citizens, young people and students, above all, were back in the streets of the capital. New clashes occurred in the city of Leon: a young man was killed; he was shot in the head; following ecclesial sources in touch with SIR, one parish was threatened with fire, and a group of 11 young people trying to help the injured were pulled over by the police. Moments of fear and tension amid students in the capital: today, in Managua, there will be a demonstration promoted by religious women and by Catholic schools in the country, in favour of the Episcopal Conference, and in particular, of Msgr. Silvio José Báez, auxiliary bishop of Managua, who received threats in the last few days.