The World Council of Churches has joined in calls for an end to violence in Nicaragua, with the general secretary, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, describing the level of state repression as “unacceptable”.
In a statement issued late last week, Tveit said the number of civilian casualties – estimated at more than 300 killed and 1,800 injured in the past three months – raised “deep concern for the weakening of human rights and the fragility of the state of law” in the country.
Widespread protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega broke out in mid-April and have seen a violent crackdown against protestors by state and paramilitary forces with church figures among those targeted in attacks.
“We call on the government of President Daniel Ortega to cease the appalling violence and to protect the population”, said Tveit.
Meanwhile, the president of the country’s Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solorzano, the archbishop of Managua, called for pressure to be put on the government “urging it to show respect for the bishops, the priests and the population”.
In comments made to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, the cardinal, who was among several senior clerics assaulted by government soldiers at the Basilica of San Sebastian in Diriamba on 9th July, described the situation as an “extremely difficult moment for the whole country”.
“Hearing the appeal by Pope Francis to be a ‘field hospital’, many of our parishes have given shelter to those seeking safety and help to the injured,” he added. “Undoubtedly this has not pleased the government. Just as it has not been pleased by our efforts in trying to dismantle these paramilitary groups.”
Brenes invited people to “join in a chain of prayer” for the country.
