Violence erupts in Nicaragua's indigenous community

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Miami Herald

BY TIM ROGERS
Special to The Miami Herald

MANAGUA --
Efforts to cancel upcoming municipal elections in parts of Nicaragua's hurricane-ravaged North Atlantic Autonomous Region sparked rioting Friday in the indigenous community of Bilwi, where opposition leaders claim the Sandinista government of President Daniel Ortega is trying to establish a dictatorship.

''The situation is chaotic and dangerous, and I think it is going to get even hotter,'' anti-Sandinista indigenous leader Osorno Coleman, said in a phone interview from Bilwi. ``The authorities have to act prudent right now.''

Two people were shot and there were conflicting reports on their status. Several others were injured by rocks as the regional Sandinista-allied group, YATAMA, clashed with a much larger opposition group that met with a delegation of Liberal Party lawmakers who traveled to the coast to investigate the situation.

The three visiting lawmakers were initially held hostage on their airplane, which was surrounded by some 80 YATAMA supporters. A larger group of several thousand anti-Sandinista indigenous people then came to the lawmakers' rescue, clashing with the YATAMA group.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/483490.html

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