Steve Sweeney, Morning Star, July 31st
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/ortega-commitment-struggle-pe…
NICARAGUAN President Daniel Ortega reiterated his commitment to “the struggle for peace, justice and dignity of all peoples” at a reception in the capital Managua on Tuesday evening.
Ambassadors from Ghana, Nigeria, Belize, Equatorial Guinea, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa were welcomed by Mr Ortega and Nicaragua’s Vice-President Rosario Murillo.
He highlighted the regional and global struggle against imperialism, which has intensified under the regime of US President Donald Trump.
Washington has been stoking attempted coups in a number of countries, including Nicaragua where it backed violent right-wing groups that terrorised the country last year.
The US was exposed last week after secretary of the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANPDH) Avaro Leiva was accused of stealing $500,000 (£409,000) in donations after fleeing to Costa Rica.
It is alleged the organisation received donations from US groups including the National Endowment for Democracy and the Open Society in return for inflating the death-toll figures during last year’s attempted coup.
There has been a blanket silence in the international media about the allegations while the Organisation of American States (OAS), which used the ANPDH figures, has remained silent.
The ANPDH was founded in Miami in 1986 by the Reagan administration as part of a programme to support the Contras in its efforts to bring down the progressive government of Nicaragua.
It received $3 million (£2.45m) from the Reagan administration as well as $2.5m (£2.05m) from the US State Department .
This makes it the second-biggest human rights organisation in the world behind Amnesty International.
Addressing the international guests, Mr Ortega recalled their shared history of fighting colonial rule by various empires including those of Spain and Britain.
“We all have a common history, peoples that we have fought for our independence, for our sovereignty, for our self-determination. That is the history of the peoples of America, Asia, Africa, fighting for independence…
“It is a common struggle … regardless of distance, regardless of culture, language, the meaning has united us of humanity, because our peoples have represented the most noble mankind,” he said.
Mr Ortega closed the reception with the words of Nicaragua’s national poet.
“As Ruben Dario used to say, the homeland [Nicaragua] is small. Small territory, small population, but with many dreams, much dignity.
“We say welcome dear brothers, a hug for your people, for your rulers, a hug full of love, of commitment in the fight for peace, for justice and for the dignity of all the peoples of the world.