Nicaragua: Thousands celebrate 40th anniv. of Sandinista Revolution in Managua

W/S Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega at event in Managua
M/S Flags of Ortega's FSLN party
*MUSIC AT SOURCE*
W/S Rally
W/S Ortega on stage
*MUSIC AT SOURCE*
SOT, Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguan President (Spanish): "We cannot accept sanctions because to apply a sanction has to be based on international law otherwise no state has the power to sanction another state. The state that acts in that way, is simply committing crimes of an international nature."
W/S Supporters waving flags
SOT, Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguan President (Spanish): "In time, the elections will come, in 2021 the elections will come and we, we are ready to win those elections."
W/S Rally
SOT, Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguan President (Spanish): "The necessary reforms and adjustments will be made within the framework of the law, within the framework of the constitution, so that no one comes here to complain, afterwards, that we stole the elections."
W/S Rally
M/S Supporters waving flags
M/S Speech
M/S Supporters waving flags
W/S Supporters waving flags
W/S Rally
SCRIPT
Thousands gathered in Managua on Friday, to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Sandinista revolution that toppled the Somoza dictatorship. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega spoke at the event where he engaged in veiled criticism of US sanctions and said that he was ready to win the next general election scheduled for 2021.
"We cannot accept sanctions because to apply a sanction has to be based on international law otherwise no state has the power to sanction another state," he said. "The state that acts in that way, is simply committing crimes of an international nature."
The United States and Canada jointly announced sanctions on four high-ranking Nicaraguan officials in June in connection with the response of Ortega's administration to ongoing protests against social security reforms.
The protests, which began in 2018, have resulted in extensive violence between protesters and police that has resulted in over 300 deaths, as well as a government ban on political demonstrations.
Ongoing protests against social security reforms spearheaded by Ortega, which began in 2018, have provoked a crackdown resulting in over 300 deaths and a government ban on political protests.
On July 19, 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and its troops entered Managua and declared that they were in control. Former President Anastasio Somoza Debayle had tendered his resignation two days earlier, signalling an end to the violent, autocratic rule of the Somoza family. It is estimated that between 1978 and 1979 more than 10,000 people lost their lives in the battle for power.