Cedars, October 2018

October 2018 9 OFF CAMPUS they were working with,” Holsinger said. “They would like to get back as soon as possible.” And while many missionaries desire to return to their fields, the conflict must subside before many orga- nizations are willing to send them back. So the question remains, can Nicaragua regain peace? Political science professor Dr. Glen Duerr spoke on whether civil war could be avoided and what peaceful paths the country could pursue. “Sometimes when a protest has lasted this long, with this many deaths involved, it’s hard to turn back,” Duerr said. It remains to be seen if Ortega surrendered any oppor- tunity to restore his relationship with Nicaragua when he authorized police to fire on a host of protesters on Moth- er’s Day. The May 31 rally was held in honor of those who had lost children to the protests but ended in another cruel demonstration of Ortega’s unrelenting attempt to silence his criticizers. The shooting resulted in the death of more than 16 and injury to 88, according to CNN reports. For many Nicaraguans, the obvious solution appears to be the removal of Ortega from office. But Duerr explained several obstacles to that course of action, the first of which being Ortega’s refusal to relinquish his power. “There’s a part of me that thinks he’s a real dictator in the Marxist, Stalinist mold, and he’ll crush dissent,” Duerr said. If Ortega continues to cling to his office, the result could prove devastating for all of Central America. A Nicaraguan civil war against Ortega could quickly inspire other nations to overthrow similar leaders, such as Hugo Chavez in Ven- ezuela or Evo Morales in Bolivia. Duerr said that a rash of civil wars is a real and frightening possibility. “That’s the danger, because in the political science ac- ademic literature, one of the major markers, indicators, of civil war is being in a conflict-prone region,” Duerr said. “So once one country is enveloped in some form of larger con- flict or conflagration, it can destabilize neighbors.” Even if Ortega decided to step away peaceably, his re- moval would have to be orchestrated carefully. “It would help in the long term, but it would, in the short term, leave a power vacuum,” Duerr said. “You have to have some form of provisional, transitory government to get you to the next election … a military general could be useful to maintain stability, but if that general just decides to stay in power, Nicaragua goes backwards.” Instead, Duerr suggested a more stable alternative. “The best solution might be: Ortega stays in for the next four or five months, takes asylum somewhere … and then the next election occurs and we see a transition in power,” Duerr said. The future of Nicaragua has teetered on a dangerous ledge for several months now and the time for resolution is drawing increasingly near. If Ortega cannot find a way to appease the people, he will either face an early removal from office or a fiery civil war that could consume all of Cen- tral America. “The next month or so will be telling,” Duerr said. “If the protests remain, if people continue to die, refugees are fleeing, that’s a very very bad sign for Nicaragua.” As the world anxiously watches the unstable country and missionaries eagerly wait to return to the people of Nic- aragua, a people that need the gospel now more than ever, Holsinger encouraged Christians to respond to the situation by praying for the Nicaraguan churches. “Pray that they will be able to do their work without being interrupted by the police,” Holsinger said. “Pray that the people will try to keep the protests peaceful, not to an- tagonize the police into doing anything that would endanger the lives of the public. Pray that the churches will get the resources they need in order to do their work.” Jacob Oedy is a freshman journalism major and a staff writer for off-campus news and arts and entertainment. He enjoys creative writing, investigating, and hanging out with the best hall on campus, Brock 3 East. Photo by Voice of America, 2018. Wikimedia Commons Large crowds demonstrate against the Ortega regime in Managua, Nicaragua.