Dear Friends
There’s been a lot happening over the first two months of the year and our February update is packed with latest information on Nicaragua, articles, interviews and webinar recordings. We hope you will find it of interest and enjoy reading and listening.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your continued support and solidarity – we very much appreciate the important contribution that you are making to our work.
We know that many of you will have been involved in taking action in the UK to secure improved pay and conditions. We would like to take the opportunity to express our solidarity with all of you. As they say in Nicaragua, ‘Hasta la victoria siempre’ (Ever onward to victory).
NSCAG statement on prisoner release
In a positive step aimed at contributing to social peace, stability and national reconciliation, the Nicaraguan government decided on 9 February to release 222 individuals who were guilty of serious crimes. They actively participated in the US-funded 2018 violent coup attempt to oust the democratically elected government.
NSCAG has produced a statement on the release which can be found at the link here
New book – Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance
US human rights and labour lawyer Dan Kovalik visited the UK in January and early February to launch copies of his new book. Copies of the book are available to buy from Amazon – see link here
During his stay in the UK, Dan spoke at the Latin America Conference on 28 January and also gave an interview to the Morning Star which can be found here
See also Alborada interview with Dan here
Journey of a Native Son – webinar recording
On 5 February, Camilo Mejia spoke at a webinar organised by Alliance for Global Justice. Camilo is a Nicaraguan citizen based in Miami, Florida. He joined the US military in 1994, and in 2003 he was among the first US soldiers to publicly refuse to return to his unit in Iraq, calling the US occupation of that country oil-driven, illegal and immoral. Since the US-financed attempted coup in 2018, Camilo has spoken out boldly to counter the disinformation campaign against his native Nicaragua. He recently returned to the US after spending 7 weeks in Nicaragua. A recording of the webinar can be found here
Women in Nicaragua – Delegation Report Back
From 7-16 January, 22 delegates travelled to Nicaragua to investigate the conditions and lives of Nicaraguan women. Here is a link to the recording of a webinar organised by Black Alliance for Peace, Casa Benjamin Linder and the Alliance for Global Justice where participants speak about their findings during the visit – see link here
Solidarity visits to Nicaragua
Casa Ben Linder are offering a highly recommended programme of ten day, reasonably priced solidarity visits including the following – May: Health & Hope; June: Voltage & Volcanoes; August: Sustainable Development; October: Salud & Solidaridad. Further information and registration can be found here Friends of the ATC (Rural Workers Association) also has two forthcoming delegations, details of which can be found here
We would be pleased to help with advice and support for anyone who wishes to participate in any of these visits.
Some recent articles/interview
‘New US Immigration Policies’ Effect on Nicaragua: Brain Drain and Deportation’, by Nan McCurdy – see link here ‘Nicaragua’s flower is in full bloom despite US’S vicious efforts to destroy it’, by S. Brian Wilson – see link here
‘Nicaragua stands out in Latin America with its lower poverty rate’ – an interview with economist Frank Matus and sociologist and political analyst Freddy Franco – see link here
’16 years of Sandinista government’, by Erving Vega – see link here
‘What’s going on in Nicaragua?’ – Camila Escalante of Kawsachun News interviews writer John Perry – see link here
‘Nicaragua’s History of Triumph Over Oppression, by R.A. Kohn – see link here In solidarity
Louise Richards,
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group
www.nscag.org
Twitter: @NSCAG_UK