Discussing the current social awakening in Nicaragua with Nicaraguan activists and scholars

This was under a a scholar-activist event organized by the division of rural development at SLU. The two young women activists part of the caravan had a fruitful discussion with university researchers and other interested persons about the recent events in Nicaragua.

Approximately 40 people attended the event that began with a discussion about the origins of the protests (both the historical and structural causes and the drops that overflowed the glass), including issues such as the Transoceanic canal project, the government's poor management of the fire in the biosphere reserve of Indio Maíz, the feminist struggles in relation to the prohibition in Nicaragua of therapeutic abortion, the clientelist policy of the government and the decree that sought to reform the social security system (INSS).

The event also included a short video made by the journalist Tim Rogers: the video helped to understand the daily life of Nicaraguans since April 18. The personal testimony of Jessica Cisneros on the repression of university students in Managua was also heard. In general, the information provided by the members of the caravan highlighted the complexity of the current situation in Nicaragua, the numerous contradictions in the Nicaraguan government's actions since 2007, and the enormous challenges facing social activism in this authoritarian context.

The guests invited to the event were surprised by several aspects presented. First, the lack of information on the situation in Nicaragua at the Swedish and international level. Second, researchers who have worked in other authoritarian contexts, such as those in Nepal and India, were surprised at the breadth of political control that the current government of Nicaragua achieved over the different levels of society (for example, the government's control capacity). Also, about the fact that doctors did not treat injured protesters in some public hospitals, thus contradicting ethical values ​​of medicine in general; or the fact that university autonomy is not respected by the para-police forces. Second, they were very sympathetic to the students in particular, and the Nicaraguan youth in general because they now carry the burden of imagining and building the democratic future of Nicaragua. As one of the members of the caravan put it: "a little more than a month ago, we were only young people involved in our studies or our jobs. Now we have to understand Nicaraguan politics, we have to think about the future of our country, we have to fight and give our lives for democracy - we have no experience, it is a great burden, but we have to assume it. The other sectors of the population have their eyes on us. "

Finally, the issue of how to transition to democracy was discussed. The members of the caravan stressed that only a peaceful transition is viable, that using weapons would mean a new war, that a new war would mean a massacre. Only the peaceful way can be considered. The members of the caravan explained to the audience who were asking about the strategy of the future protesters that the caravan is part of this strategy: to make known what is happening in Nicaragua at the international level will help mobilize public opinion, exert international pressure on the government, and establish solidarity alliances.

The participants in the event were moved by the testimony of the members of the caravan, they shared they were inspired by the courage of these two young women and of the demonstrators in general, and gave testimony of their willingness to support the movement that seeks to democratize Nicaragua through the means at its disposal: disseminate information, write articles, give testimonies, do not be silent.