Violence resumes the streets of Nicaragua after a national strike

By Oswaldo Rivas

MASAYA, Nicaragua (Reuters) – Violent clashes erupted Friday night in Nicaragua , following a national strike organized by civil organizations to demand the resignation of President Daniel Ortega for human rights violations.

since the beginning of April, a series of protests against Ortega, which have left more than 300 dead and plunged the country of Central America into its greatest political crisis since the triumph of the "Sandinista revolution" "almost 40 years ago.

Riots between protesters and forces supporting the government reached a church in the capital, Managua, on Friday, where three people were injured, Paulo Abrāo, an official of the Inter-American Commission, wrote on his Twitter account. Human Rights (IACHR)

In the afternoon, opposition media and social media users reported that shots had been heard in different parts of the country and that paramilitaries attacked youths who stayed at the National Autonomous University

The number of people injured in the incidents was not clear.

Demonstrations against the government began in reaction to a reform of the social security system, but they were expanded to include

Opponents also demand the resignation of Ortega, a former leftist guerrilla that its critics accuse of rigging elections, controlling the media, manipulating justice and wanting to establish a "family dictatorship". 19659005] Empty streets and closed shops were the common denominator on Friday in most cities. Udads of Nicaragua, Responding to the Call for a 24-Hour Civic Strike by Civil Society Groups

The Strike followed a mbadive national march that was unveiled Thursday in the Central American nation .

Throughout the day On Friday, some media showed deserted streets in Managua and in other parts of the country, the same day that Ortega celebrated in the city of Masaya a traditional commemorative march of the movement qu & # He directed in 1979.

In a brief speech to his supporters Ortega deplored the crisis and badured that his government maintains its willingness to dialogue with detractors.

"I urge you to end the confrontation and to unite to give the people the peace that Nicaragua needs," Ortega said. The consecutive presidential term is expected to end in 2021.

In Washington, the Organization of American States (OAS) discussed the country's situation on Friday. During the session, the country's foreign minister, Denis Moncada, rejected that "Nicaragua wants to be forced to change its government by breaking its constitution, violating the rule of law."

"Institutionality can not be strengthened democratization of the country from the grbadroots that must break the constitutionality (…), impose the will of groups to try to force a change of government" , he added.

Ortega strengthened his control of power by neutralizing the opposition and blocking the development of independent state institutions. His wife Rosario Murillo is his vice president and is considered a power behind the throne.

"These three months of violence, deaths and injuries must stop and give way to mental health," said the Secretary General of the OAS. Luis Almagro

"We can in no way be indifferent or neutral to the repression of the state or the violence of paramilitary groups," he added at the end of the session.

(Written by Adriana Barrera and Noé Torres, Edited by Silene Ramírez and Manuel Farías)