July 19, 1979: Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution remembered -- Video by John Pilger

19 July 2008

On July 19, 1979, the Nicaraguan people led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) overthrew the brutal US-backed dictator Somoza. In this film, made by John Pilger in the 1980s, the background to the revolt and the gains won -- and the United States' virulent opposition -- are graphically explained.

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Hundreds of thousands rally in Managua on July 19

On July 19 well over 200,000 Sandinistas rallied in Managua’s Plaza La Fe
and the Plaza de la Revolución to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the
overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship and the victory of the Popular
Sandinista Revolution. It was at the same time a powerful demonstration of
mass support for the Sandinista government led by President Daniel Ortega.
And it was a frank and demolishing reply to two recent right wing "protest
demonstrations" of from 15 to 20 thousand people at the most -- the public
side of the anti-Sandinista destabilization campaign.

The rally was addressed by Aleida March Guevara (Che’s widow), Cuba’s Vice
President Esteban Lazo, the presidents of Venezuela (Hugo Chávez), Paraguay
(Fernando Lugo), Honduras (Manuel Zelaya), and Daniel Ortega.

The speeches can be heard on the website of Managua’s Radio La Primerisima
at http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/general/33909

Le Monde Diplomatique: Nicaragua: revolution compromised

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