In Just a Week, ‘Nicaragua Changed’ as Protesters Cracked a Leader’s Grip

Oh, Hooray! Well done elite, empowered youth! Congratulations on your twitter-coup against a tyrannical regime which sought to fix a broken government pension fund by requiring greater contributions from current workers and required a little sacrifice from pensioners. How courageous to take a stand against economic realities. I wish you the best, for the sake of Nicaragua, and the millions of Nicaraguans who have suffered modest economic growth, stability and relative peace over the past decade or more. Perhaps you long for the days of Somoza? I hope you have something beyond slogans planned for the aftermath of this conflagration. I hope the lessons of the “Arab Spring” are not lost on you.

What goes around, comes around.

Frances, thank you very very very much for keeping us informed about the most recent events happening in Nicaragua. We really appreciate accurate information as you know 5/7 tv channels in Nicaragua are controlled by the Ortega Murillo family. Tomorrow Friday April 27th there will be a march organized by the Church, they are looking for dialog; we are not sure if the Church will find a peaceful answer but please please inform the world about it tomorrow, tell us in your own words what is happening. We, would like the media’s help to spread, to recognize, to tell the situation that Nicaraguans are experiencing at this moment that is marking and making history. Thank you!

What goes around, comes around, eh!

Another great example of Lord Acton's famous quote: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Some people might argue that the current situation is unfortunate because Mr. Ortega has done more to help marginalized members of Nicaraguan society than his predecessor Mr. Somoza ever did. But after decades in power (in one form or another), it is amazing to see that Ortega and Somoza are really one in the same, although from opposite ends of the political spectrum! Lastly, it's not socialism that's the problem. Rather, it's corrupt, power hungry and paranoid politicians who have created the current situation.

Another in the long list of " revolutions" that promote a new leader into the next despot. This one is a retread. Some of these revolutions are directly influenced by the US and some are in opposition to US involvement. The end result is the same. The best and brightest leave to educate themselves and find better places to live and raise a family. What remains is what you see in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia etc etc. Clearly, our foreign policy is faulty. Providing aid to these "ladrones" (thieves) makes it possible for them to continue. This is part of Trump's appeal: calling out the absurdity of providing aid to countries that hate us.

Interesting piece that comes as a shock. Siince the CIA was involved in what Frances Robles calls " the Arab Spring" I wonder whether she has noticed anything along those lines in Nicaragua at present.

And not a mention of the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act of 2017 (NICA Act) which prohibited Nicaragua from receiving loans from the IMF and World Bank that other Central American countries take for granted.

Thank you so much for such amazing article stating in great details the dictatorship of Ortega-Murrillo. Nicaragua, my country deserves better leaders. Enough with the corruption of Ortega's government. Thank you for helping Nicaragua by sharing our story with the world. We need help to get rid of these monster who are killing our students. So proud of all them and as they said "#queserindatumadre and #notenemosmiedo." God blesses Nicaragua and all the countries suffering under dictatorships.

I am toubled for what is happening in Nicaragua. I have family there and I now that a civil war will benefit none. Will be a lot of refugges and U.S wont accept them. U.S probably will attack Nicaragua like did in Siria but will recieve none as refugge. We must leave power but not trough an arm conflict, but using legal ways for example impeachment. He tried to chance social security using an executive order. The other problem are corrupt politicians.He censored oposition media and people used facebook to get their news. He think he is the best qualified to govern Nicaragua. Does any of that sounds familiar? Trump is like him.

Has the 82nd Airborne Division and the Rangers been placed on alert? I'm kidding...sort of. Don't forget we have a Republican Administration with a loose canon in the WH and they own the House of Representatives.

Another possibly successful intervention by the Totalitarian Capitalist Deep State(s) in destabilizing a Socialist government. These interventionist have it down to a science, now. From the Serb word (and experiment there), for 'resistance,' a whole new scientific method has been developed by the US to make sure that no democratic Socialist society, succeeds. Every type of grievance, any type of malcontent, every potential candidate who will serve in a pro Western govennment is recruited and financed by the US, in order to destabilize and topple the existing Socialist government. Huge demonstrations and mass killing in these Capitalist paradises in US sponsored dictatorships are ignored by the servile US press. But any possible demonstration is quickly picked up -- if it is a Socialist country (NYT -- we know that you are impartial --- don't we?). If Freedom and Democracy really was allowed to exist in the world -- the stock and trade of the Western propaganda -- then the world would look a different -- as opposed to, how it is now.

" it was all the more remarkable last week when Mr. Ortega’s unpopular change to social security became the detonator for such an enormous movement. Protests exploded. Mr. Ortega’s change to the broken social security system required workers to pay more and retirees to receive less. " Paul Ryan and those that are with his attacks on Social Security should think twice.

Another failed attempt at Socialism. Yes, it lasted for years, but at the end of the barrel of a gun.

More flagrantly biased coverage of Nicaragua - as the Republicans seek to bring us back the late 1800s, the Times wants us to revisit the 1980s . Could the economic woes of Nicaragua have something to do with on-going US sanctions against that country, recently ratcheted up by congress? "Mr. Ortega agreed to elections in 1990 and lost." It is the shoddiest of journalism to not give context: the US's campaign or terrorism, waged by the Contra proxies, along with sanctions, mining of Nicaraguan harbors etc. amounted to a gun to the head of the electorate if they did not choose the US's favored candidate. If you wish to learn about Nicaragua, the last place you should look is the Times. I was following that situation closely and the Times supported all of Reagan's atrocities in central America.

It seems the media in the US still must discredit Daniel Ortega whenever possible, always presenting a relatively one sided story - all about what he does wrong, little about what he does right and why - like in many other countries - a relatively authoritarian government, preferably leftists, may have much to offer. That being said, it does seem that the longer many leaders are in power, the more astray they seem to go. So far he has made some important concessions, we will see how he responds to a situation that seems organic (unlike many, for example Syria, where the US has long actively undermined the government and fueled and supported any opposition - with no regard for the welfare of the country) but nonetheless may threaten stability and its positive and beneficial effects. Lets just hope the US doesn't - as usual - fuel the opposition instead of allowing the political crisis and developments to proceed without outside interference.

My father is from Nicaragua, he moved to the U.S before the Sandinista Revolution and has returned to Nicaragua to live for 13 years now. He currently rents out his house to middle class families that work there or who have decided to retire there from the states. I say this to say that Ortega isn't great but if not him, who? A puppet from the U.S? a "left wing" politician that the right nor the left will support, which would only allow gang members from neighboring countries or more private companies that pay unlivable wages to infiltrate Nicaragua. People are always quick to say a person should be removed from power not knowing the long term effect ( Iraq and Libya).

Bravo to the people of Nicaragua. This has been a long time coming.

For decades the dictatorship of the Otega's has been except from criticism by the liberal US press. His family and friends could freely steal from the Nicaraguan people, living in seaside mansions while thousands of children suffered. He stripped his people of freedoms, and controlled every aspect of their lives to a degree only imagined by Somaza! Yet, like the rulers of Venezuela and Cuba, he was cheered by Sean Penn, Oliver Stone, etc. His chickens have finally come home to roost!

Republicans: people will put up with a lot but if you mess with social security what you see in Nicaragua is nothing compared to what will happen here in the US.

While it is true that people from Nicaragua have not been migrating to the US, many have been leaving for Costa Rica for a better life. They leave Nicaragua to escape the poverty there. Costa Rica has had to enforce and/or bolster their immigration laws because of the influx of Nicaraguans into their country.

Nicaragua: "So far from God and so close to—Honduras?" And on the same NYT digital front page: Ortega and his beringed wife, both former freedom fighters now battling the commonfolk they deserted for power and money. And then there's Trump's "state dinner," composed of porcine feeders at the White House trough, all splendidly decked out in throwaway dresses and dark suits, grinning icily for the cameras. The contrast couldn't be more disgusting.

The writer is not reporting on what is happening now. Lots of commentary but not real news. I live here. Been calm for 3 days...in Granada where I live we had one big march on Saturday and was peaceful....bands and not rocks. Managua and Masaya are pretty much business as usual as of Monday. Had friends from USA drive to Leon yesterday and no problems. Yep there was some violence and there are factions who do not like Ortega and some have real grievances. And some who just want to stir/participate in trouble. Ortega surely does not do everything correctly....certainly not the way the NYT would like him to run the country, but it has prospered under him. And done so while staying independent of the USA Things boil over as they did last week, but the article does not paint a picture of what is happening now which is what i thought the news was to be about. Read La Prensa...a basically anti government major newspaper and you will find out what is happening. What you are seeing is a country which has experienced rapid growth of the economy, better living conditions for poor people and general better living for all. That does not come without problems in any country. Nicaragua is still trying to recover from the cruel Somoza regime...which makes Ortega and the current police look like alter boys... put in power and supported by the USA and the illegal support of the forces which tried to thwart the will of the people after the revolution led by Ortega.