MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- Half a million Nicaraguans chanting 'the Yankee will die' packed a plaza Friday to celebrate the anniversary of the Sandinista revolution and hear President Daniel Ortega accuse the United States of supporting terrorism.
The Plaza Carlos Fonseca Amador, which authorities say holds 500,000 people, was filled to capacity for the official celebration of the sixth anniversary of the 1979 Sandinista revolution that ousted dictator Anastasio Somoza.
Most of the people, dressed in the Sandinista colors of red and black, waved banners and flags and several times broke into the chant, 'Here, there, everywhere, the Yankee will die.'
Ortega, who delivered the main celebration speech, began by reading a letter from U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Harry Bergold that accused the Sandinistas of 'making plans to begin a program of terrorist attacks' against Americans in neighboring Honduras.
'Nicaragua has not practiced terrorism, nor does it support terrorism, or has it been involved in any terrorist activity,' Ortega said.
Instead, Ortega accused the Reagan administration of imposing 'state terrorism' on Nicaragua by mining its ports and financing the Contra rebels seeking to topple the Sandinista government.
He accused the rebels of killing 129 children younger than 12 years old and leaving another 7,582 children without parents. Rebel forces have caused $1.3 billion in economic damage to Nicaragua since their war began in 1981, Ortega added.
'In that case, who are the terrorists?' he said. 'Who are acting like terrorists -- American officials, or the people and government of Nicaragua?'
His voice rising, Ortega said: 'Who is telling the truth? Who is lying? Who is the terrorist?'
The president criticized the United States for withdrawing from the International Court of Justice at The Hague after Nicaragua filed charges of terrorism against the United States in 1983.
'We say we already have the proof and we have it in the world court,' Ortega said. 'Because of that, we invite American officials to present their accusations before that body, and prove that we are the terrorists.
'David does not want to fight with Goliath, but when Goliath attacks him, David defends himself, defends himself to the end,' Ortega said. 'Be prepared to defend the revolution with guns in hand.'
Most of the crowd then began chanting, 'They will not pass, they will not pass.'
The ceremony was held under brilliant skies in the nations largest plaza, named in honor of a leader of the Sandinista movement who died in combat in 1976.
In attendance were official delegations from 60 nations and several representatives of 'solidarity groups' from the United States invited by the Sandinista government.
Bernard Sanders, the mayor of Burlington, Vt., said the Americans came for two 'patriotic' reasons.
'We want to show support for a small country trying to be independent, and we want to tell the truth to the American people when we return,' he said.
