Ortega backtracks as Nicaragua student protests continue

MANAGUA—Protesters returned to the streets of Managua Sunday evening hours after President Daniel Ortega tried to calm tensions and prevent a repeat of the violence that has gripped the country for the past four days, claiming at least 27 lives.

In a rare reversal, Ortega went on state TV Sunday afternoon to announce the cancellation of his earlier decree that established new taxes on workers, employers, and pensioners as part of a deeply unpopular series of social security reforms. Ortega's pivot didn't amount to a mea culpa, but he appeared to recognize a major misstep in his 11-year presidency.

The carrot came with a stick, however. Sounding a not very conciliatory tone, Ortega made it clear that if student protesters didn't take his olive branch and leave the streets, he would respond with more drastic measures to "re-establish order"— a threat some are interpreting as martial law.

“The kids do not even know the party that is manipulating them. ... Gang members are being brought into the kids’ protests and are criminalizing the protests,” Ortega said. Those remarks only fanned the flames, as barely two hours later thousands of people spilled back into the streets in several cities.

"Ortega said he was going to use all his tools to wipe us out," said Fernando Carrión, a communications student at the University of Central America (UCA) who joined Sunday night's protest in Managua. "We students, whom he calls criminals, are here for the future of Nicaragua."

It is unclear if Ortega's reversal over the social security decree with calm the protests which appear to be no longer just about taxes and pensions; evolving into a nationwide pushback against a corrupt, authoritarian regime that has excluded, marginalized, and repressed many sectors of society.

With the death toll rising dramatically over the weekend, it's now about the 27 Nicaraguans — mostly students— killed during the first four days of protest, and the dozens of others injured or disappeared. The student movement, backed by businessmen and the Catholic Church, is also demanding a voice in a more representative democracy.

In short, Ortega's backtracking could be too little too late.

"We're going to keep protesting because we think Ortega's talk was a joke," said Tania Mercado, a civil engineer. "The only thing we'll accept now is the immediate resignation of Ortega and [First Lady] Rosario [Murillo]. For there to be peace, they need to go."

"It is not clear that Ortega’s response will be enough to quell the unrest," said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington DC think tank. "The social security law was the trigger but discontent with government policies, including censorship and excessive force in dealing with the protests, is much broader. The chaos of the past few days has revealed a desire for change in Nicaragua."

Appeals poured from around the world for dialogue and an end to the violence, including Pope Francisco. The U.S. State Department issued a "call for calm in Nicaragua" on Sunday, saying it condemned "the violence and the excessive force used by police and others against civilians who are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression and assembly."
It also supported "a broad-based dialogue" to resolve the conflict, "and achieve a better, more democratic future for all Nicaraguans."

For a country still wrestling with the ghosts of its violent past, including a revolution and decade-log civil war, the scenes of death and police repression — much of which has been captured in gruesome videos shared widely on social media — has haunting the nation and sparked outrage.

Many Nicaraguans are comparing the Sandinistas' crackdown on students to the darkest days of the former Somoza dictatorship, which the Sandinistas overthrew in 1979. "Ortega, Somoza, son la misma cosa!" (Ortega and Somoza are the same thing), protests chant.

The students have found strong support from leaders of the Catholic Church and the population in general, which has provided students with water, food, supplies and shelter, despite the police's efforts to confiscate supplies and repress citizens who endeavor to lend a hand.

COSEP, the country's leading business chamber, has also led support to the students, despite having a decade-old alliance with Ortega's government. COSEP, which has convened a march on Managua Monday afternoon, says it recognizes the sacrifice and bravery of the students, and credits them with creating conditions for an inclusive national dialogue.

But as violence continues, it's not clear when or how the talks would happen— and who would agree to participate.

Managua's auxiliary bishop Silvio José Báez tweeted Sunday night that no dialogue can start without establishing clear conditions first. He told the students: "Your protest is just. The church supports it, and we not only support it, but we urge and encourage it. "

And with students taking to the streets for the fifth night in a row, and more protests planned for Monday, it doesn't appear like anyone's ready to talk just yet.