Idania Fernandez

Idania de Los Angeles Fernandez, born July 23, 1952 in Managua, Nicaragua, assassinated in captivity in Leon, Nicaragua April 16, 1979. Martyr of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Scholars in US universities have placed her name next to Camilo Torres Restrepo,Che Guevara, José Martí in that they shared a profound sensitivity toward injustice.

Religious books and works of columnists and editorials have been dedicated to her memory. Works of testimonial literature like Adios Muchachos (Spanish), by Sergio Ramirez, and We are all awake by Margaret Randall, cite as an example of life. Until today her memory as such is recalled frequently in speeches and editorials in Nicaragua.

The second of five children. Lived her early years in Leon, Nicaragua. She was 3 years old when her family moved to the neighborhood of Subtiava, in the outskirts of Leon. Her birthday coincides with the anniversary of the Somoza's National Guard massacre on college students marching on the streets of Leon in 1956. This is, each birthday of her life was a reminder of Students Martyrs, for it was a day off in schools in Nicaragua by decree. She lived in Managua between age six and ten. In 1962 her family moved to the town of Jinotega. On Sunday family outings visited San Rafael del Norte and other surrounding towns in the mountains that witnessed Gen. Augusto César Sandino zaga in the 1930s.

Returning to Managua, finished Elementary and High school at the French School of the Sacred Heart between 1965 and 1972, the same school attended by prominent personalities in Nicaragua today including ex-President of Nicaragua, Violeta Chamorro.

Idania developed organizational and leadership skills as a member of the group "Las Metanoias" in Senior High School. The group made spiritual retreat trips to hacienda El Tepeyac, near Mombacho Volcano and Lake Nicaragua for study and discussions on the Liberation Theology. Idania turned an ardent activist and represented her school among a broad base of organizations engaged in demonstrations demanding the release of political prisoners in 1971–1972. Her activities won her a slap on the face from Sister Nicolle, the school Director, who actually feared for Idania's fate.

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