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But then we lost the government, because of political blackmail done by imperialism, [with the US] threatening the people with more war if the Sandinista Front won the elections.
So the neoliberal stage began, in which we defended the revolutionary principles of the front. And we undertook the popular struggle to defend the gains of the revolution.
Then we returned to government. And we are currently in the second stage of the Sandinista Revolution, under the leadership of Comandante Daniel Ortega, who is the historical relayer of Comandante Carlos Fonseca.
MAX BLUMENTHAL: The Sandinista front is named for Augusto Sandino, the Nicaraguan revolutionary leader who led a guerrilla war on occupying US Marines between 1927 and 1933.
He was assassinated by Somoza's men one year after US troops withdrew.
JULIO C. CASTILLO SANDINO: We are direct historical descendants of General Sandino. My mother is Blanca Segovia, the only daughter of General Sandino. She's alive. She is 86-years-old.
It has always been a great pride for us to be descendants of General Sandino, and the legacy that he has left us is not just for the families, but also for all the youth and the people of Nicaragua.
And we are celebrating a victory: the 40th anniversary of the popular Sandinista Revolution.
NICARAGUAN JOURNALIST: Without any doubts, this is a historic date for the Nicaraguan people. This is the date when a dictatorship was overthrown, which for more than 45 years, kept all Nicaraguans struggling in poverty.
This is a historical date in which the revolution restored the rights of thousands and thousands of Nicaraguans that lived in extreme poverty.
Today, they have a dignified home, with free healthcare, with free education.
MAX BLUMENTHAL: The 40th anniversary of the Sandinista Front was occasion to honor the historic combatants of the movement.
Among the living legends on hand was Ede'n Pastora, known as Comandante Cero. Cero led daring raids on Somoza's forces during the 1970s, but flipped to the US-backed Contras during Nicaragua's civil war.
He returned home to the Sandinista Front following President Daniel Ortega's election in 2006.
EDÃ"degreesN PASTORA: This anniversary is very important, with [the Christian religious symbolism] of 40: 40 years in the desert, Moses leading his people. 40 days, Christ in the desert.
And we have 40 years fighting against imperialism, which has always attacked us, since [US colonial leader] William Walker came, since [the US government's colonial] nota Knox, since they killed [national hero] Benjamà n Zeledà ³n.
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