The Yasser Arafat Museum’s Forum Hall hosted a symposium on Saturday commemorating the life and legacy of Carlos Fonseca Amador, founder and leader of the Sandinista People’s Revolution, marking the 49th anniversary of his martyrdom. The event was organized by the Embassy of Nicaragua in the State of Palestine and attended by members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Fatah Central Committee, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of civil society institutions.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of Palestine and Nicaragua, followed by a moment of silence honoring the martyrs of freedom around the world.
Dr. Ahmad Soboh, Chair of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, welcomed participants, noting that the event was being held near the tomb of the late Palestinian leader. “We are proud to host this commemoration of Carlos Fonseca Amador, a revolutionary leader from a country that has long stood with Palestine,” Soboh said. He extended gratitude to the people and government of Nicaragua for their consistent support of the
Palestinian cause in international arenas.
Dr. Soboh recalled the historic ties between Yasser Arafat and the leadership of Nicaragua, emphasizing the enduring relationship founded on shared principles of justice, freedom, and mutual respect. Nicaragua’s Ambassador to Palestine, Gadiel Francisco Arce Marena, expressed pride in honoring leaders such as Yasser Arafat and Carlos Fonseca, “who paved the path to independence and freedom for their peoples.” He described Palestine as his “second homeland,” highlighting that relations between the two nations date back to the 1960s, when Fonseca first established contact with the PLO and its leader, Arafat. Ambassador Arce Marena reaffirmed the depth of friendship and solidarity between Nicaragua and Palestine.
Speeches were also delivered by Azzam al-Ahmad, Secretary of the PLO Executive Committee; Tawfiq Tirawi, member of Fatah’s Central Committee; and Maher Taha, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Palestine, all of whom underscored Nicaragua’s historic support for the Palestinian struggle.
The event concluded with a presentation by writer and historian Hussam Abu al-Nasr, who offered an overview of Carlos Fonseca Amador’s revolutionary life and enduring influence.
