Nicaragua Judges Debate
Ortega Councils
Six judges on
Nicaragua's Supreme
Court have thrown out a
law meant to block
neighborhood councils
that will report
directly to President
Daniel Ortega. But other
judges call the ruling
itself illegal.
Ortega established the
councils last week,
ignoring opponents who
argue they are a return
to Cuban-inspired
citizen groups that
Ortega used as his eyes
and ears when he was
president two decades
ago while battling
U.S.-backed Contra
rebels.
Backers say the groups
are an expression of
local democracy,
distributing subsidized
food, helping police
keep the peace and
participating in making
local policy decisions.
Six pro-Ortega judges on
the court's eight-member
constitutional section
held an unusual
late-night meeting
Wednesday and ruled that
that the councils are
protected by citizens'
constitutional rights
"to organize and
participate directly in
public affairs."
The decision struck down
an opposition-backed law
that was scheduled to
take effect Thursday and
would have sharply
limited the councils'
power.
But Supreme Court
President Manuel
Martinez said the court
decision itself was
illegal because the
Ortega allies held the
meeting late at night,
outside of regular
business hours, and
without notifying
opposition judges.
He argued that the full
16-member court, which
is heavily politicized,
would still need to rule
on the matter.
Ortega lost a 1990
election, but returned
to the presidency in
January after winning
elections last year.
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