Nicaragua: Paramilitaries kill student in attack on church

Divine Mercy church, Managua

Source: Archdiocese of Managua/Fides

At least one student was killed and several were injured during an attack by the authorities on a church in Managua on Saturday. The students, who had been taking part in protests on a day of a national strike, came under attack from armed police and became trapped in the Divina Misericordia (Divine Mercy) church on Friday evening.

A statement on the Facebook page of the Archdiocese of Managua said paramilitaries and police were attacking the church all night long. One student, Gerald Vázquez died after being shot in the head. Several more were injured.

The archdiocese denounced the attack and demanded that paramilitaries leave. Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes issued a statement asking that "the Government, who are solely responsible for these actions to stop this massacre against the people within the parish. Let us all unite in prayer."

When the attack continued, the Cardinal went to the parish, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop Waldemar Sommertag, and representatives of international organisations. A message from the diocese said they had managed to get ambulances to move in to transport the wounded to hospital and were mediating to get all the students out. "Let us continue to pray for La Paz in Nicaragua, for the bishops and priests who carry out their prophetic mission," it said.

"It is urgent that the attacks that currently take place in Monimbó, Masaya, against students of the UNAN and the Church, stop immediately," the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner wrote on Twitter.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Managua, Mgr Silvio Báez, said on his Twitter account, the young people "who have spent the night under attack in the Divine Mercy parish will be taken to the Cathedral through the Nuncio, Cardinal Brenes and the Verification and Security Commission. God help them! "

He said the Government of Nicaragua "crosses the limit of the inhuman and the immoral." He indicated that the "criminal repression since Friday night against civilians, mostly students, is to be condemned from all points of view. The international community can not be indifferent! "

Church leaders in Nicaragua have been acting as mediators in Nicaragua's 'National Dialogue' in an effort to bring about a peaceful agreement for the democratisation of the country. In the last few days, Cardinal Brenes and the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag have both suffered physical and verbal abuse (see: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/35246) and there have been a number of attacks on churches, but the Church leaders say they are resolved to continue their efforts to work for peace.

"We will not withdraw, despite the hostility of the government" stressed the auxiliary Bishop of Managua. Mgr Baez also urged the Nicaraguans to have faith and hope that peace will be achieved by using peaceful methods.

Earlier this month, the Nicaraguan bishops received letters of support from the Bishops Conferences of Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Mexico, where they say Catholic communities are united in prayer to support the Bishops of Nicaragua in the search for a peaceful solution to the crisis in which more than 300 people have been killed.

Fr Raúl Zamora Parish Priest at the Divine Mercy church spoke a few minutes ago in Managua Cathedral his experience. He said: "As I I left the parish I met with the tabernacle which received a bullet and the image of mercy received three shots and that made me reflect on these facts and what I can tell you is that every shot touches the body of Christ And I feel like he says it's me you shoot... it's me who gets the bullets.

" ...many men and women have been shot during these days and I believe and I am that in each of them comes blood and water for all Nicaraguans. The more bullets throw their brothers more blood and water out of the side for this nation. That blood and water gives us strength and unites us much more. The Lord tells us that he is with us and with all who suffer. In the image of the bullet the meaning is that we do not lose hope but be strengthened. I lived that in my own flesh with the young people on the floor in the dark all night. "

" I thank Cardinal Brenes who was there with us most of the morning making his efforts. I am grateful to Mr Nuncio, Monsignor Silvio, to my brother priests who were pending for us, as well as all the faithful who were there close to a few metres praying for us without fear in front of the police who pointed their guns at them. We must not be a people seeking death, we are a people who seek life and seek peace. It's never too late to return to God, we don't hate anyone, rather pray for each of them. Our response to violence is prayer so they can also see the truth of Christ."

Follow the latest updates, eyewitness reports and videos visit the Archdiocese of Managua's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/arquidiocesisdemanagua/