Message of Comandante Daniel, Co-President of Nicaragua
on receiving the Torch of Central American Unity
September 12th 2025
Good afternoon, to you young people, who every day attend centers of study that are now so much more available in this New Era, not just in terms of the number of students, of all ages, but also in terms of the careers that can now be studied, including high-tech careers.
Today, on this date, on this September day, today, September 12th, two days away from the date of the Heroic Battle of San Jacinto, when this year we will also be celebrating one more year of the Declaration of Independence of the Central American countries, when we had the courage, our ancestors had the courage to declare Independence, on September 15th 1821.
And by declaring Independence, after many struggles, after much sacrifice and with great Dignity, in the end we managed to unite, the Central American leaders managed to unite, at that time, and they took the decision, after repeated discussions, to declare the Independence of the Central American Countries, for which we had been united in that struggle for Independence.
At that time, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua were already Nations that had opted for Independence to which Costa Rica also adhered.
Well, Independence meant joy to us, but it also meant controversies, clashes, conflicts. You see, Independence, I insist on this, was declared in 1821, but already in the years 1853, ‘54, ‘55, we had the Yankee invaders wanting to take over Central America, headed by William Walker.
And that inspired a show of Unity; that is to say, Walker's intervention, the crimes he committed, calling himself President of Nicaragua, aspiring then to be President of Central America and then to be President of Mexico, such that what he did exacerbated the feelings of Sovereignty that had already been born with Independence.
And this led to the battle, mainly in Nicaragua, which was where Walker and his Filibusters had chosen to take possession of Nicaragua and from there expand over Central America. But seeing the danger, which faced the other Central American Countries as well as Nicaragua, combatants from fraternal Peoples, from Honduras, from Costa Rica, from El Salvador, from Guatemala, gathered together, and in the end led to the total defeat of the Yankee Filibusters, who were expelled, defeated by the Nicaraguan People.
And time passed, in the midst of controversies among the Central American countries, with debates discussing the frontiers between the various Central American countries, and this indisputably strained relations between those Central American countries.
And it was only in 1964 that the Ministers of Education of Central America, mind you, these were Ministers, they were not the Presidents, rather it was the Ministers of Education of Central America, who agreed to this activity of the Torch of Freedom touring our countries as a tribute and commitment to the Anniversary of Independence.
Thus, the Torch has traveled across all these years through the five countries, carried mainly by students, so as to remember and pay tribute to the Declaration of Independence that spread through the Territory in 1821, and to promote Union and Freedom in Central America.
The News of Independence, the Flame of the Torch represents how that News was transmitted quickly in 1821 after the Signing of the Act of Independence, Symbol of Unity. Its tour symbolizes the Union and Fraternity between the Central American Peoples who share a historic past fighting for Freedom.
The Ministers of Education of Central America, in 1964, during a meeting in Managua agreed on the creation of this Civic Commemoration of the Torch, starting the journey in Guatemala, continuing through El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, to then be delivered at the Border Post of Peñas Blancas to Costa Rica where the Celebration culminates.
And participating in this March, in this Civic Tour, for Freedom, for Sovereignty, for the Independence of our Nations, are thousands of Students, All United, there is no difference among them. All the Students, Men, Women, Children, Adults, who carry out this tour every year, do it with the enthusiasm of those who declared the Independence of Central America and who have continued to defend the Sovereignty and Independence of our Countries.
Long live the Bearers of the Torch of Independence who have traveled through Central America!
Long live those who are continuing the progress of the tour today, are now in Nicaragua, and tomorrow the tour will continue to its finish in Costa Rica!
Long live the Central American Peoples!
Long live the Central America’s Youth!
Long live Peace!
Long live Unity!
Long live Sovereignty!
Long live the independence of Central America!