Subsidy for Managua Buses Ends Week of Extreme Violence
A mid-week agreement by the government to subsidize bus fares finally ended more than a week of increasing violent protests caused by soaring oil prices. The violence peaked on April 25 when police repressed demonstrations at 14 sites in Managua. The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) accused the police of using ?unnecessarily exaggerated force to repress protesters? Police used rubber bullets and teargas. Two police motorbikes and several buses were burned by protesters, who also made use of stones and home-made mortar bombs. Two policemen and at least 22 citizens were injured, some seriously. 68 arrests were made, the majority of them students.
On the evening of Apr. 25, Managua Mayor Dionisio Marenco called a meeting of mayors at which representatives of local government from the majority of municipalities were present. A declaration signed by 82 mayors, among them Sandinistas and Liberals, insisted that President Bolaños ?should either find an intelligent and just solution to the current problems facing the Nicaraguan population (as a result of historically high petroleum prices) or hand in his resignation.? The following day a resolution in support of the mayors? demand was passed with a majority of 56 votes by the National Assembly. On Apr. 26 the Nicaragua Army?s Crisis Group went on high alert at the request of Bolaños.
On Apr. 26 a huge multi-sector march organized by the National Workers Front (FNT) and the Federation of Health Workers (FETSALUD) took place in Managua in protest the government?s unwillingness to provide a solution to the soaring prices of basic goods and transport. Thousands of students, together with transport, health, education and other workers, as well as unemployed people, marched through the streets of Managua creating traffic chaos. The vast majority of participants marched peacefully although a small number did make use of mortar bombs. The protesters arrived at the president?s office where they were met by numerous armed police officers. After several minutes during which the protesters demanded Bolaños? resignation through loud speakers, the president, surrounded by security guards and police officers, came out onto the street with the intention to talk to protest leaders. As soon as the protesters recognized Bolaños, however, stones, mortar bombs, bags of water and insults were thrown in his direction causing Bolaños to get into his car and drive immediately back into the building.
An hour later Bolaños released a message to the nation in which his accused the protesters of being ?criminals? and ?vandals.? He also challenged Mayor Marenco to ?come and talk with me,? to ?stop hiding behind the protesters.? Over the course of the afternoon Bolaños and Marenco agreed to hold talks with transport workers and student groups the following day.
On the evening of Apr. 26 the Presidential Spokesman Lindolfo Monjaretz informed the press that ?the President will not resign.? Monjarretz also emphasized the Executive?s opinion that the violence and the protests form part of a Sandinista Party (FSLN) conspiracy being coordinated by Daniel Ortega and Dionisio Marenco with the aim of dirtying the President?s image.
On Apr. 27, a 13 hour meeting took place in the Presidential office including Bolaños and Marenco, leaders of Managua collective transport (bus) unions, and leaders of student unions. After a similarly lengthy meeting on Apr. 28 it was announced that all parties had signed an agreement that signaled the end of the violence.
This agreement establishes that the real price of a bus fare is 3 cordobas (US$0.18) but that users of the capital?s public transport service will only pay 2.50 cordobas (US$0.15). 30 million cordobas (US$1.82 million) will be provided in subsidies for bus fares in the capital for the next three months. The government will provide 20 million cordobas. The remaining 10 million cordobas will be provided by Managua?s local government.
