Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 16, 1990 TAG: 9005160075
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANAGUA, NICARAGUA LENGTH: Medium
Police fired tear gas into three government buildings to drive out strikers who began a sit-in one week ago. The workers returned later unhindered. There was no sign of increased army presence.
The protest presented the government with its biggest challenge since President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro took office April 25 after defeating the Sandinistas in national elections.
Officially the strike is for higher pay, but it is becoming clear it has political roots. One of the demands voiced Tuesday was demobilization of the U.S.-backed Contras.
The work stoppage quickly spread through the public sector. Workers threatened to cut off the capital's electricity and water.
Tires were set ablaze in front of a half-dozen government buildings. Loudspeakers blared Sandinista revolutionary slogans against Chamorro and her government.
Vice President Virgilio Godoy said on the radio that the Sandinistas are "trying to overthrow President Chamorro."
Shouts of "Violeta, start packing your bags!" "The people own the government, not the bourgeoisie," and "Not one step back!" flew through the streets of hot, humid Managua.
The State Department denounced the strikes.
"It is unfortunate that the Sandinistas, despite their promises to work with the Chamorro government to achieve economic reconstruction and national reconciliation, are engaging in what appear to be politically motivated strikes," said department spokesman Richard Boucher in Washington.
Telephone, telegraph and telex communications were dead, cutting off most of Nicaragua from the rest of the world. Communications workers allowed journalists to file stories but denied service to others.
Telephones began to fail Tuesday morning and by midday it was virtually impossible to call into the country.
The strikes are one of a series of crises to rock the government since it was installed. In a cable to President Bush, Chamorro appealed for cash to help stem the economic crisis that led to the strikes.
"My country is bankrupt," she said in a cable dated May 11 that was obtained Tuesday. She asked for $40 million in emergency aid.
Sonia Ortiz, a labor leader, said the strikers wanted a 200 percent pay raise, a subsidized food package, rehiring of a labor leader fired Monday, and the demobilization of the Contras.
by CNB