Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 13, 1990 TAG: 9007130302
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANAGUA, NICARAGUA LENGTH: Medium
Former President Daniel Ortega called the settlement a victory for the Sandinistas that preserved a basic "conquest of the revolution" - land reform.
A Sandinista strike in May ended with a 100 percent pay raise.
Businesses opened Thursday in Managua and workers began to replace street paving stones torn up to build barricades.
Six people were killed and 100 wounded in clashes between strikers and government supporters during the 10-day strike that tested the stability of President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and her government, which replaced Ortega's government on April 25.
The government met many Sandinista demands: salary increases, compensation for fired government workers, suspension of a decree to return Sandinista-confiscated land to its original owners, and restoration of free public transportation for students.
Unions also appeared to have made headway in their demand for a role in running the economy.
In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Richard Boucher said the Bush administration was pleased the strikes had ended, but he assailed Sandinista authorities, saying they have been unwilling to grant the government the breathing spell it needs to get desperately needed economic reconstruction under way.
Ortega denied the strike was a Sandinista attempt to undermine the government and said senior party leaders played a pivotal role in settling it.
The Superior Council of Private Enterprise, the major business group in Managua, said the strike amounted to blackmail and accused the government of caving in under pressure. Council President Gilberto Cuadra said the accord crippled the government program to return Nicaragua to a free market economy.
The strike hit at planting time and involved thousands of agricultural workers. Cuadra said it will cost Nicaragua from $35 million to $50 million.
Presidential spokesman Danilo Lacayo defended the settlement on state radio. He said it prevented more bloodshed and assured stability.
Employees at the Industry and Commerce Ministry jumped up and down and hugged each other in celebration when the end of the strike was announced.
The strike began July 2 and grew into the biggest challenge to Chamorro since the Sandinistas were voted out of office 10 weeks ago after nine years in power. The Sandinistas had said since losing elections to her United National Opposition coalition that they would "rule from below."
by CNB