October 20, 2004
By Trinidad Vasquez

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Evangelical leaders spoke in favor of Nicaraguan institutionalism and criticized the intromission of the Organization of American States (OAS) in internal affairs that should be resolved by Nicaraguans themselves.

Officials from the OAS Council, US Luigi Einaudi, who is currently acting Secretary General and Aristides Royo, have been meeting with President Enrique Bolanos, Congress representatives, magistrates from the Supreme Court and leaders from the Liberal, Alliance for the Republic and Sandinista Front parties.

Royo, after the first meetings, said that the Nicaraguan crisis is harming investment and the national economy.

Leaders from the Evangelical Pro Denominational Alliance Council of churches (CEPAD) said that the presence of the OAS officials constituted intromission in affairs that the government must resolve internally.

William Gonzalez, president of the Evangelical Nicaraguan University (UENIC) said that the economic and political crisis must be resolved with great rigor and respect for the law. He said he did not consider it positive that the OAS had come as, as of October 19, Constitutional order has not broken down in Nicaragua.

The president of the National Council of Evangelical Pastors of Nicaragua (CNPEN), Norman Marenco spoke out in favor of institutionalism and called on Churches to hold days of Prayer so that God illuminate governs and politicians and stability be re-established.

Marenco affirmed that, according to the Constitution of the Republic, no one can remove the president. He criticized the fact that the government has requested the intervention of the OAS because it goes against the democratic rights we all struggle for, he said.

The head of the Nicaraguan Human Rights Center (CENIDH) Gonzalo Carrion warned that President Bolaqos must render clear accounts to the people.

He added that the international community, in particular the OAS, must respect the integrity of the nation because while there is poverty, illiteracy and low levels of human development there will be factors that have a negative impact on the consolidation of democracy and without this there can be no effective exercise of human rights.

According to Carrion, the Nicaraguan crisis is provoked by President Bolanos for refusing to render accounts before the pertinent bodies. His message last Monday when he tried to refute the accusations against him was not convincing. In the end it became a political discourse, said Carrion.

ALC News Service