Nicaragua - Unrest Spreads - 87 Dead In Anti-Government Protests Since April (Video)

The president of Nicaragua, Mr Daniel Ortega, is accused by several human rights groups of using so-called “sandinista mobs” to quell the unrest in his country. So far, Amnesty International claims that 87 people have been killed in various anti-government demonstrations since April as the country descends into a growing spiral of violence.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More than 70 people have died in clashes amid protests over social welfare cuts in Nicaragua <a href="https://t.co/r3KNKr0WaF">https://t.co/r3KNKr0WaF</a> <a href="https://t.co/6G3DPikWwi">pic.twitter.com/6G3DPikWwi</a></p>&mdash; Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1001455510120468482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Human rights watchdog Amnesty International released a report accusing the Nicaraguan authorities of using paramilitary groups dubbed "Sandinista mobs" to quash the ever spreading anti-government protesters: "These pro-government armed groups were apparently used by the government to generate disorder, make threats and carry out attacks, including some that may have proved fatal."

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/23801-Warning-Shock-Video-Nicaragua-Journalist-Shot-Live-By-Sniper-As-Violent-Protests-Spread

Ms Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director for Amnesty International claimed that Mr Ortega, himself a former Sandinista guerrilla fighter, is using the paramilitary groups to do his killing for him so that his own security forces cannot be accused: "They are oppressing the civilian population using semi-automatic weapons, under the protection of the police themselves."

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/23699-Nicaragua-Five-Dead-In-Spreading-Anti-Government-Protests-Video

Mr Luis Almagro, of the Organization of American States, meanwhile claims that Mr Ortega should allow new elections given the size of the protests: "Anyone who thinks there is a solution for Nicaragua other than an electoral one is seriously wrong."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Footage from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nicaragua?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nicaragua</a> shows protester apparently shot by police or pro-government armed groups (known as &quot;Sandinista mobs&quot;) who opened fire on protesting students at Engineering University this afternoon (video via <a href="https://twitter.com/Vuneu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vuneu</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOSNicaragua?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOSNicaragua</a> <a href="https://t.co/et1TiryvMJ">pic.twitter.com/et1TiryvMJ</a></p>&mdash; Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1001213246966202369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2018</a></blockquote>

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But the government, which is directly linked to Mr Ortega who has positioned his own spouse as his Vice-President, boldly refuses even discussing the matter. Via the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Mr Denis Moncada, they stated: "that would be dismantling constitutional order."

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The protests started in April of this year when the government forced through pension and social security reforms.

Source:

https://nl.metrotime.be/2018/05/29/news/dode-bij-gewapende-aanval-op-universiteit-in-nicaragua/