Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 30 July 2018

Brazilian celebrities hold 'Free Lula' concert in Rio

By BEATRICE CHRISTOFARO with his critics celebrating looked like da Silva might
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — a victory against endemic be freed when a lower
Some of Brazil's most pop- corruption while supporters court judge repeatedly or-
ular musicians called for argue it amounts to a witch dered his release - only to
jailed former president Luiz hunt against left-leaning be overruled each time.
Inacio Lula da Silva to be parties and politicians. "An election without Lula
freed in a concert Saturday Despite it all, da Silva re- would be fraudulent," said
in Rio de Janeiro attended mains one of Brazil's most 56-year-old doorman Adel-
by tens of thousands of popular politicians. He son Pereira.
people. is currently leading polls Da Silva's supporters, in-
Da Silva, a leftist ex-presi- for October's presidential cluding big names in the
dent universally known as race. Brazilian art scene, remain
Lula, was convicted of cor- "Lula is the voice of the determined to get his
ruption and money laun- people," said Tayna Sena, name on the ballot. Nostal-
dering, but his supporters People gather for the Lula Free festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a 22-year-old law-student gic for the social programs
say the sentence was politi- Saturday, July 28, 2018. who attended the concert. and booming economy of
cally motivated. Associated Press "The elites are scared be- his presidency, they stage
Saturday's festival in front cause even when he's in protests, sign petitions or or-
of Rio's iconic Lapa Arch chants of "Free Lula!" as so-called "Car Wash" inves- jail, he can get more sup- ganize concerts.
featured household names organizers urged them to tigation. Launched in 2014, port than any other politi- "In Brazil, there is a tradi-
in Brazil like Chico Buarque scream loud enough for da investigators uncovered a cian." tion of many famous art-
and other Latin American Silva to hear them from the colossal corruption scheme It's unlikely that he gets ists supporting left-leaning
musicians. southern city of Curitiba. in which construction com- on the ballot, though that causes," said Ricardo Cra-
Da Silva's image could be The former president was panies used inflated state hasn't stopped him and vo Albin, one of Brazil's most
seen everywhere: On shirts, jailed there after his cor- contracts to kick back mil- supporters from campaign- important musicologists.
bandanas and masks, ruption conviction was up- lions of dollars to politicians ing. Brazil's Clean Slate law The researcher believes
while his animated image held on appeal. He is one and other officials. prohibits a convict whose Chico Buarque plays a cru-
danced on screens next to of many top politicians Da Silva's 12-year sentence appeal has been upheld cial role in getting the sup-
the stage. In between sets, and business leaders to divided people in Latin from running for office. port da Silva receives in the
supporters broke out into get brought down in the America's largest nation, Earlier this month, it briefly artistic community.q
Competing marches peaceful in Nicaraguan capital

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Ortega accused the Cath- in Panama could be nec-
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) olic Church of working with essary.
— Simultaneous marches "coup plotters" for his oust- Most in the opposition fear
of supporters and oppo- er and even of allowing that taking up arms against
nents of President Dan- weapons to be stockpiled the government would be
iel Ortega's government in their churches. Just days both futile and play into
passed through the streets later his tone changed and Ortega's hands.
of Nicaragua's capital Sat- he said he hoped the bish- Not far away, Ortega sup-
urday without incident. ops would continue medi- porters carrying the red
The larger of the two march- ating a dialogue to end the and black flag of the San-
es was in support of the Ro- conflict. dinista Front marched be-
man Catholic Church and Still, Ortega has refused to hind trucks blaring songs
its bishops who are trying to consider stepping down praising the president.
mediate a conflict that has before elections scheduled Roger Moncada, a 30-year-
carried on for more than for 2021. old accountant, echoed
three months and left at Seventy-year-old Nubia Ortega in calling the op-
least 448 dead, according Torres said dialogue is worth position "terrorists" and the
to a human rights organiza- a try, but said if Ortega was three months of unrest a A woman wrapped in a Nicaragua national flag stands in front
of a mural with an anti-government message during a march
tion. reasonable he would have failed coup attempt. in support of the Catholic church, in Nicaragua, Saturday, July
Marchers chanted on Sat- already left office. He accused human rights 28, 2018.
urday that the bishops had "Dialogue is believed to be organizations of only blam- Associated Press
their support and urged a way out, but not for peo- ing the government for the
Ortega to step down. ple like Daniel Ortega," she deaths. man Rights Association said gathered to document the
In an anniversary speech said, adding that a military "The justice has to be even," this week that 399 of dead other cases. The vast major-
for the victory of the Nica- intervention similar to the he said. had been identified and ity of the dead have been
raguan Revolution July 19, removal of Manuel Noriega The Nicaraguan Pro-Hu- other evidence had been demonstrators, it said.q