Friday May 26 was a tough day. We where all tired from the previous confrontations during the week. We sincerely believed that as usual the students would take Friday off. But we where wrong. Trouble started brewing right after lunch. The university students along with street toughs that joined them in the protest had a point to make. This time the police would not be so tolerant. As soon as the students went out on a mission to provoke them, riot police responded in force. Never had I seen such a display of firepower from Nicaraguan riot police. They lined up the shotguns and let loose with volley after volley of bird shot, teargass and rubber bullets. The students where kept at bay. I decided that it was going to be safer on the police side of the street. Then several black gun powder mortar bombs exploded next to EFE photojournalist Mario Lopez and myself. I turned around and saw another bomb sailing directly a me. I ducked and it was time to move. Eventually the students ran out of bombs and things calmed down a bit. It was still safer on the police side of the line. It got dark and the confrontation was still going strong. Covering riots at night is not my kind of thing, too dangerous. The students decided the same and we all went home for the weekend.

Usually these protests play through like a game. Both sides fire at each other from a distance from about one hundred meters. Police abstains form firing lethal ammunition. Both sides know this.

The police in Nicaragua have revolutionary roots. Its commanders where once underground revolutionaries and student leaders themselves during the Somoza dictatorship and I believe their hearts are still out there with the underdogs. They also know that firing lethal ammunition and the indiscriminate killing of students will not be tolerated by Nicaraguan society. It just brings back too many bad memories.

Understanding the root of these protests also helps understand the restraint that police have with students. It originates as a protest by university students against the rise in bus ticket prices. The city government of Managua does not want to authorize the price hike. The transport impresarios demand a price hike due to the rise in fuel prices. They all look to the national government to solve their problems. The government does not want to subsidize anybody because they all belong to the Sandinista Party. So why subsidize its political enemies, who just use the situation to destabilize the country prior to the national elections this coming November. The police is of Sandinsta origin to begin with and they do not want to become too involved in a fight they recognize as political. They will do what they need to do, to keep public order but nothing more. For what I have seen these last couple of weeks they should be commended for the professionalism, courage and restraint they have displayed during the protests.

Here are the pics.



Students light tire barricades. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Waiting for the police to show up. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Discovering their biblical roots the use of slings has become more widespread during these year's protests. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Street toughs destroy a Sandinista electoral display with the photo of Daniel Ortega, their presidential candidate. They tried to attack us for taking these sets of photos but eventually they had more important things to worry about. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Here they come! Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Firing at students with plastic darts from and AK 47 and rubber bullets from a shotgun. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Nicaraguan riot police fire several volleys towards a swarm of students charging their position. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter



Spent shells are testimony to the intensity of the fight. Foto LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter - Copyright LA PRENSA/Tomas Stargardter