Nicaraguan bishops deliver opposition demands to Daniel Ortega.
The Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua reported on Thursday (7) that it delivered to President Daniel Ortega a proposal that gathers the sentiments of many sectors of society and will await his response to assess the future of the national dialogue.
247, with Prensa Latina - Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, president of the Episcopal Conference, said he expects a response from the government as soon as possible, reading a statement after a private meeting of more than two hours between the Catholic hierarchy and the head of state.
Brenes indicated that once the president responds formally, the Church would convene the plenary session of the national dialogue in order to assess the response and, therefore, the viability of continuing the discussions.
Brenes noted that the dialogue with Ortega took place in an atmosphere of serenity, frankness, and sincerity.
We spoke to the president about the pain and anguish of the people in the face of the violence experienced in recent weeks, and the agenda around which consensus was formed at the plenary session of the national dialogue for the democratization of the country, he said.
The national dialogue for peace in Nicaragua was suspended by the Episcopal Conference, mediator and witness in the process, in the middle of last month due to a lack of consensus between the government and sectors of the opposition. These sectors began to present political demands that had nothing to do with the original motivations behind the street protests.
For the government delegation at the negotiating table, before addressing any other issue, the population's right to peace should be discussed.
In this way, opposition sectors rejected a government initiative regarding the immediate suspension of street and road blockades and all acts of violence, regardless of their origin.
On the other hand, the government delegation disregarded a proposal to debate a law that would include bringing forward general elections, prohibiting reelection, and implementing recommendations from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, among other points.
The Foreign Minister of the Republic, Denis Moncada, warned that the 40-point agenda that the opposition intended to impose in the dialogue would lead to a coup d'état.
On April 18th, a wave of violence erupted in the Central American country amid protests against social security reforms. These reforms have since been revoked, but the demonstrations continued, with the addition of other political demands from the opposition to the list of grievances.
The reforms served as a pretext to implement a plan orchestrated from abroad with the aim of destabilizing the nation and bringing about the overthrow of the government.