Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 27 February 2019
New peace talks in Nicaragua raise hopes, but many skeptical

By GABRIELA SELSER some 770 people it consid-
Associated Press ers political prisoners; resto-
MANAGUA, Nicaragua ration of media freedoms
(AP) — A resumption of talks following a crackdown on
over Nicaragua's political journalists and outlets criti-
standoff has raised hopes cal of the president; elec-
among those who believe toral reform and an ear-
it could help resolve the lier date for elections now
nearly year-old crisis and scheduled for 2021; and
also caused some division a plan to seek justice for
among opponents to Dan- protesters killed in the gov-
iel Ortega, with some say- ernment crackdown, who
ing they fear it could give number about 325 accord-
"oxygen" to the embattled ing to the Inter-American
president. Commission on Human
The Roman Catholic Bish- Rights.
ops' Conference has said Those demands are widely
it will participate as an ob- shared across the opposi-
server in the talks that open tion spectrum, but many
Wednesday, while the say they should be pre-
government has yet to say conditions for sitting down
whether Ortega or his wife, with the government rather
the powerful Vice President than points of negotiation.
Rosario Murillo, will take "Public freedoms and hu-
part. man rights are nonnegotia-
Nor has a time or location In this Sept. 5, 2018 file photo, the President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice- ble," Vilma Nunez, president
been made public, though President Rosario Murillo preside a rally in Managua, Nicaragua. of the Nicaraguan Center
speculation has centered Associated Press for Human Rights and a
on the headquarters of the former official in Ortega's
Central American Institute in one of her frequent ap- delegation would comprise rural protests the same day first Sandinista government
for the Administration of pearances on official tele- six businesspeople, two stu- Ortega announced the from 1979 to 1990, told
Businesses, about 10 miles vision. The official website El dents, two academics, a talks. The Associated Press. "The
(15 kilometers) south of the 19 said the talks would be politician and a feminist Other criticisms called for government must respect
capital, Managua. It's a between the government lawyer. greater participation by them because they are
school where young peo- and the private business But that brought criticism students and women — the principles established in the
ple receive business train- sector. from others in the opposi- lawyer and one of the stu- constitution."
ing, and student leaders Ortega, a 73-year-old for- tion, in part because it did dents are the only female "You have to give the dia-
sought refuge from police mer guerrilla, announced not include a farmworkers' opposition representatives logue a chance, but we
there during 2018's deadly last week that negotiations movement that supported to the talks, and both of have our reservations," she
protests. would take place "to con- the student protests last them substitutes. continued. "I think the Alli-
"We are all going to meet in solidate peace," and the year. Three of its leaders The opposition coalition ance acted hastily by ac-
reconciliation and in affec- opposition group Civic Alli- were given lengthy prison said it will have four primary cepting a negotiation, and
tion," Murillo said Monday ance said soon after that its sentences related to their demands: the release of that creates suspicions."q

Attack on Argentine chief rabbi raises fear of anti-Semitism

been prompted by anti- tackers. His human rights Netanyahu also expressed
Semitism. secretary, Claudio Avruj, wishes for the rabbi's re-
Several assailants entered said that Argentina needs covery, saying, "We must
the Buenos Aires home of to build a society "where not let anti-Semitism rear its
Rabbi Gabriel Davidovich there are no signs of anti- head. I strongly condemn
on Monday and beat him Semitism, and we cannot the recent acts of anti-
after shouting, "We know be indifferent." Semitism and call on the
you are the rabbi of the Israeli President Reuven Riv- international community to
AMIA," referring to the Ar- len phoned Davidovich "to take action against it."
gentine Israelite Mutual As- find out how you are and to Davidovich, 62, has been
sociation, one of the coun- express my concern about the chief rabbi for Argenti-
try's most prominent Jewish the safety of the large Jew- na's extensive Jewish com-
groups, which reported de- ish community you lead," munity since 2013, working
tails of the attack. according to a statement at the AMIA headquar-
Davidovich was in a hos- from his office. ters building that itself was
In this Nov. 08, 2018 photo, distributed by the Argentine Israelite pital Tuesday with several "The State of Israel will do the target of the country's
Mutual Association, AMIA, the chief rabbi of Argentina, Gabriel
Davidovich, speaks at the AMIA Jewish community center in broken ribs and a punc- everything necessary to worst terrorist attack in 1994
Buenos Aires, Argentina. tured lung. The assailants protect Jews wherever — a bombing that killed 85
Associated Press also took money and some they choose to live and will people and injured hun-
belongings, according to take any steps to protect dreds. Prosecutors have
By ALMUDENA CALATRAVA rabbi has alarmed authori- the AMIA. us from danger. We will not blamed on officials of the
Associated Press ties both in the South Amer- Argentine President Mauri- allow those who seek our Iranian government, which
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina ican nation and in Israel, cio Macri sent a tweet re- harm us to pursue us," he has denied involvement
(AP) — A attack that badly who raised concerns on pudiating the attack and added. and refused to turn over
injured Argentina's chief Tuesday that it could have vowing aid to find the at- Prime Minister Benjamin suspects.q