Today’s Video: On this day…

It was twenty-nine years ago today that Sandinista rebels took over the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. President Anastasio Somoza Debayle (the third member of the Somoza dynasty to rule the country for over sixty years) fled to the U.S. and the Sandinistas would establish their own government two days later. Daniel Ortega- who led that government for over a decade before losing in an election- is currently Nicaraguan president.

The following video is a 1983 documentary looking at Nicaragua and the effects of the Sandinista regime. Produced by John Pilger, (who Wikipedia describes as a supporter of Hugo Chavez and a fervent critic of U.S. foreign policy), the film praised the “generosity of spirit” in Nicaragua under the Sandinistas and blasted the growing influence of the U.S.-backed Contras.

(Warning: Some scenes Not Safe for Work).

Sources- BBC News, The Latin Americanist, Wikipedia, YouTube