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The National Police reported on Feb. 21 that three activists from a party called Arriba Nicaragua (Up With Nicaragua) were killed by a group of five assailants, members of armed bands, in the northern department of Jinotega. "The three campesinos were killed by bullets when the group shot at two pickup trucks belonging to the European Economic Community (EEC), in which [the victims] were traveling," said a police spokesperson. The campesinos had asked for a ride in the back of the pickup trucks, explained the spokesperson. Bayardo Salmeron, coordinator of the EEC in Nicaragua, was in the one of the vehicles at the time of the attack, but was unhurt. [El Diario-La Prensa 2/22/96 from AP]
Arriba Nicaragua is led by presidential candidate Alvaro Robelo. Party leaders said the attack seemed not to be politically motivated. [DLA 2/24/96]
In the past 14 months, a total of 225 people have been killed and 148 kidnapped in northern Nicaragua. Esteli bishop Abelardo Matta warned on Feb. 21 that the situation in the area "is generating the bases of a new civil war," and expressed regret that the majority of the newly armed assailants are young people. [DLA 2/24/96 from AFP]
WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS
ISSUE #317, FEBRUARY 25, 1996
NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY NETWORK OF GREATER NEW YORK
339 LAFAYETTE ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012 (212) 674-9499