Government supporters of President Daniel Ortega have assaulted a priest and a nun inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua , where at least nine mothers began a hunger strike for the release of their children , denounced the Archdiocese of the Nicaraguan capital.

The attacked priest, identified as Rodolfo López , was beaten by "violent groups related to the Government" who entered and took control of the cathedral, according to a public statement from the ecclesiastical entity.

The aggression occurred after the priest and Sister Arelys Guzmán propagated the supporters of Ortega, who responded violently by hitting the priest and the religious, "who are well, but had to leave the temple to protect themselves ."

Desecration of the Cathedral

Videos about aggression circulate on social networks and they are seen when a group of young people hit different parts of the body, including the face, the priest.

Likewise, the Archdiocese of the Nicaraguan capital denounced that tonight people of that same group broke the locks of the temple, "desecrating the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua ."

"We condemn these acts of desecration, siege and intimidation that do not pay for the peace and stability of the country," he added.

The Archdiocese of Managua , which is directed by Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes , also asked President Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo , to take immediate action to ensure that all Catholic temples in Nicaragua are respected.

He also demanded that the National Police withdraw "his troops that besiege and intimidate the Cathedral and our parishes."

The police besieged the temple

Managua Cathedral is surrounded by hundreds of police officers who closed the access roads , although they allowed the entry of Ortega supporters and official media, according to the same source.

Ortega's followers, who identified themselves as "revolutionary Catholics , " protested against the Catholic Church for welcoming mothers who go on hunger strike for the liberation of their children, and warned that they will not allow another Bolivia in Nicaragua.

The "revolutionary Catholics," led by Tomás Valdez , a member of the Nicaraguan Christian community San Pablo Apóstol, broke into the cathedral after at least nine mothers of "political prisoners" joined the hunger strike that 11 women started the week spent in a parish in Masaya to demand that President Ortega release his children.

Bolivia Effect

Valdez said the "revolutionary Catholics" will not allow the opposition, along with the priests, to do what they did with the people of Bolivia, where, he said, they gave a coup d'etat to Evo Morales , who resigned from the presidency of the country nine days ago after being pressured by the Armed Forces to leave office.

Before the aggression, the Sandinistas entered the cathedral amid shouts , slogans and carrying banners against the priests, who they called "Pharisees" and "hypocrites", and accused them of promoting violence and disunity of Nicaraguans.

At least 20 women are on hunger strike for the release of their relatives and in protest against Ortega , a group of 11 in the San Miguel Arcángel parish in the city of Masaya (southeast), and 9 now in the Cathedral Cural House from Managua.

Since April 2018, Nicaragua is experiencing a socio-political crisis that has left at least 328 dead , according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), although local organizations raise the figure to 651 and the Government recognizes 200 and denounces an alleged attempted coup State.

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