PROGRESSIVES gathered at the Sao Paulo Forum in Brazil yesterday demanding respect for national sovereignty as they offered solidarity and support to Nicaragua’s Sandinista government.

They congratulated President Daniel Ortega and the people of Nicaragua for defeating the attempted coup “perpetrated by US imperialism through its lackeys” and welcomed the efforts to consolidate peace.

The Sao Paulo Forum was initiated by the late Cuban president Fidel Castro and Brazilian Workers Party (PT) leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 1990, bringing together left-wing and progressive movements from across the region to counter the threat of US-backed interventions.

A statement from the forum expressed “solidarity with Nicaragua and its Sandinista revolution against the interventionist actions of the Donald Trump government in the internal affairs of that country,” which the group said included sanctions and threatening statements.

Unrest in Nicaragua started in April with protests over changes to the country’s pension scheme and other social reforms.

However, armed right -wing groups began pushing for regime change, setting up roadblocks and attacking Sandinista supporters in an attempt to bring down the government. 

The summit praised the government for its achievements in reducing social inequality and poverty through impressive economic growth, which was threatened by the instability created during the attempted coup period.

“We stand in defence of the institutions, sovereignty and self-determination of the people. We demand respect for the legitimately elected government presided over by Commander Daniel Ortega Saavedra,” the statement said, going on to denounce two items of US legislation “which violate the sovereignty of the people, in order to impose the interests of the United States. 

“We insist on the need for peace and reconciliation for the development and solution of political problems,” the statement concluded.