Thoughts on the events of December 29th

The police up for hire by the highest bidder, is to me one of the most important aspects of the brutality of December 29th. The police of San Ramon should be actively working to protect the people of that community. Unfortunately the police are being used, transported in PRIVATE vehicles, to do exactly the opposite. It is amazing that McEwan could drive to San Ramon and pick up the police in his own truck, drive them to Padilla´s farm, and then sit in the truck watching as the brutality took place. There is no system of protection for Campesinos. When Vicente went to the San Ramon police station to file a formal report of the harrastment and brutality, he had to look the same men in the eye that just days earlier had beaten him unconscious.

With the help of Human Rights workers, the police chief of Managua has been informed of the corruption in San Ramon. A formal investigation is to take place. Also, CENIDH (an independent human rights organization) and La Procuradoría de Derechos Humanos (The government run office of Human Rights) both located in Managua, have been informed of the situation. Various activists from Nicaragua, the United States, and Canada have also been staying with the family to provide support and a certain level of protection.

I would also like to point out the racism toward indigenous people has a huge effect on the treatment of campesinos in Nicaragua. The idea that an indigenous person, lacking European blood, is inferior and should not be listened to or taken seriously, or in most cases abused and exploited, is prevalent in society. It is amazing to see this in contrast to the strong sense of pride and culture alive and well within the indigenous community.