In Nicaragua, Sandinistas Use Religion To Keep Political Support

This week's Nica Times (published in Costa Rica) reports on events in Nicaragua as politicians used religion for political purposes before and after recent Nicaraguan municipal elections. Before the Nov. 9 elections, Sandinista President Daniel Ortega sought out evangelical Christian leaders, giving them land, quoting the Bible, dedicating a Bible Plaza in downtown Managua, and declaring a National Day to Honor the Bible. However, after claims of election fraud in last month's elections, the Catholic Church in particular is concerned with the government's use of religious symbols for political ends. After the election, Sandinistas clashed with demonstrators while wearing government T-shirts bearing religious messages such as "Love is stronger than hate." The Ortega government has also attempted to identify itself with religion by placing statues of the Virgin Mary in all the traffic roundabouts in Managua.