At least 164 detainees at new protests in Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan police arrested 164 people during protests in the capital city of Managua on Saturday against President Daniel Ortega in the midst of talks between the authorities and the opposition to end the violence. political violence that shook the country for months and resulted in between 300 and 500 deaths.

The demonstrations marked a return to tension that, according to the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy – a group bringing together various opposition organizations against Ortega – puts "a high risk for the continuity of negotiations" with a government accused of flagrantly violating human rights.

According to the national newspaper "La Prensa", the former Minister of Education, Humberto Belli, and two important members of the Alliance, Azahalea Solís and Max Jerez, are now in the hands of some authorities, according to the Alliance negotiator. Carlos Tünnermann, "a disproportionate repression that jeopardizes the continuity of the negotiation process that Ortega himself convened", in statements to "El Nuevo Diario".

"The stalemate," added the Alliance's negotiator, José Pallais, "is clearly aggravated", knowing that Saturday's arrests take place after the announcement made by Ortega a day before liberation, as a gesture of good will. will, of 50 political prisoners.

The liberated released Friday join the 100 liberated released on February 27, the same day the government and the opposition resumed the national dialogue. Organizations that gather families of political prisoners ensure that there are more than 570.

The crisis erupted in April 2018. It began with protests against a controversial social security reform that quickly escalated to demand the "democratization" of Nicaragua, which is the biggest challenge facing the country. Ortega for fifteen years.

Experts from the inter-American system who visited the country to verify the internal situation recommended in a report to try the Nicaraguan president for crimes against humanity.

The Sandinista leader then proposed a national dialogue that failed because of his refusal to call early elections. In February, the parties agreed to resume talks and held the first meetings.

In response to protests yesterday, the US Embbady in Nicaragua called on the country's authorities "to immediately stop using excessive force, both against protesters and against the press that exercises their freedom" .

"Instead of supporting dialogue, as it is said, the Ortega regime's first reaction is to jail protesters and journalists, the voices of democracy will never be silenced by these brutal and brutal tactics." The world pays attention. Inform the Embbady via your Twitter account.