Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092435
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/6 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANAGUA, NICARAGUA LENGTH: Medium
But Ortega also said Thursday that even if the rebels do not demobilize, he will "turn over the keys to the government house" to President-elect Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.
He made the comments before thousands of people at a rally celebrating International Women's Day.
"I am convinced that in the same way that the Contras say they will not disarm . . . that the people are willing to grab the arms to finish the Contras once and for all," Ortega said.
"Thousands of weapons are in the hands of the people," he said.
Since the Sandinistas' Feb. 25 election loss to the United National Opposition, known as UNO, there have been numerous reports of citizens being armed and trained for combat in "sovereignty battalions" by the governing leftist party.
Civilians proudly show their new AK-47 combat rifles to reporters.
Opposition leaders point to the reports of weapons being handed out to civilians in expressing alarm over a Sandinista bill introduced this week in the legislature that would would absolve anyone of crimes committed through the end of March.
The law would apply to crimes committed between July 19, 1979, the day of the victory of the Sandinista revolution that overthrew dictator Anastasio Somoza, and March 31.
With the Sandinistas' present 61-seat majority in the legislature to 35 seats among six opposition parties, the law is assured passage. On Thursday the bill was remitted to a committee for review, to be followed by a vote.
by CNB