This piece is written by a young former political prisoner and refers to the dispute within the opposition about the role of big capital, the student movement and the selection of candidates for the November elections. In recent polls Cristiana Chamorro has led the list of possible candidates.
Amaya Coppens: “We were collateral effects, bargaining chips, names on their publicity posters”
By Amaya Coppens in online magazine republica18.com
Feb 17, 2021
It was much easier to decide to put your life to one side when we thought we were in the same boat, nevertheless, we never were. We had meetings with you, the anointed ones, those who had a voice, those who it was assumed would echo our voices. We trusted in you, we backed you, from the streets we thought that we were doing our part, and you yours. We slept in the street, we ate in the street, we made holes in the streets with our own hands, we ran for our lives, we lost brothers and sisters.
I knew that we were not in the same boat when in the midst of our tears, on seeing that they were hunting us down bit by bit, we asked you for a national strike, we asked you to react and you replied, “we do not have time for this,” so callous, so cut and dried, that is how you settled the issue. And they continued to hunt us down, running did not work for us, and they continue hunting us, and the reaction has been the same: the lack of reaction has been the same. We were collateral effects, bargaining chips, names on your publicity posters.
Meanwhile, we continue sticking up, sacrificing ourselves because in Nicaragua martyrs are exalted, so that no one might think about complaining, they take your flowers, your messages of repudiation, but freedom, but justice, no. No. Until it is suitable, unless you are one of the “important ones.” We are going to talk about you, but with you, better not to do so, you are troublesome, you make noise, you question, what you do is division.
Now nearly 3 years have gone by, more than 800 prisoners, more than 500 deaths, more than 100,000 in exile, and there is no reaction. Meanwhile, we continue with nightmares, with our scars and our crumbled lives, while Cristiana [Chamorro] complains about the commotion that keeps her from drinking her coffee in peace, because in spite of her long aristocratic legs, she is not able to keep herself grounded, and a group of macho conservatives meet to compare diplomas.
Some day in Nicaragua we will be able to really decide, and not settle for what is the least damaging. Some day we will be able to live in a free country, but meanwhile we will not forget nor be quiet, because the price that we paid for our voices has been immense, because there are those who can no longer speak. Never again to accept without questioning, without demanding responses.
Instead of asking for debates with the dictatorship, that we know are not going to happen, instead of marketing yourselves, demand liberty. If your priorities do not coincide with ours, we remind you: life, freedom and justice come before your personal campaigns.
Freedom for the Political Prisoners!
Justice for those who were murdered!