NICARAGUA: STUDENT PROTESTERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE скачать в хорошем качестве

NICARAGUA: STUDENT PROTESTERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE

(14 Apr 1999) Spanish/Nat Tensions erupted in the Nicaraguan capital as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to end a clash that broke out during a march against proposed changes in the national budget. Leftist students were protesting at a proposed 6 percent cut to higher education. Local media reported that fourteen students were injured after explosives carried by one of them were set off during the march. And six police officers will now be sent to a civil tribunal to face charges of unnecessary use of force during the weekend demonstration What began as a peaceful march soon turned ugly. The students vented their anger at proposed national budget changes by throwing stones, glass and firing air-rifles at riot police. The police for their part chased student protesters and used tear gas and rubber pellets to try to disperse and control the demonstrators. The students claim they merely want what they are owed and are not about to give up. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish "We are protesting because they won't give us the six per cent which is our constitutional right towards out future, our life, for ourselves and for our families." SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP, Student Protester SOUNDBITE: (Spanish "We are only students that want something from this miserable city we live in. We will defend ourselves with arms. If one person dies then perhaps we will get our six percent...." SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP, Student Protester Out on the streets one student protester was caught in the fray. He was carried away from the ruckus by his fellow protesters as he lay moaning and in pain. Local media reported that fourteen students were injured after explosives carried by one of them were set off. And at least five students were temporarily detained after the march. The police have been heavily criticised for taking unnecessarily forceful action. Some - including the Nicaraguan ex-president Daniel Ortega - compared the police brutality to repression under the Somoza dictatorship. Police Commissioner Eva Sacasa said the police had no reason to take such aggressive action. Internal police investigators identified the offending officers from videotapes recorded by local television crews. Two of the officers were recorded destroying sound equipment belonging to Sandinista station "Radio Ya" which the students had been using in the protest. But the students show no sign of giving up. Universities were already organising a new demonstration on Tuesday. Police Commissioner Carlos Palacios has asked the Nicaraguan centre for Human Rights to serve as a mediator between the students and the police. He said it was in order to prevent a repeat of the violence. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...