Today, last day of demonstrations

Desolate streets, closed businesses, paralyzed markets and exceptionally empty bus terminals dominate the national strike in Nicaragua convened by the Civic Alliance (which brings together students, workers, retirees and many Nicaraguans dissatisfied with Daniel Ortega's government). The financial system, private schools and shopping centers have ceased operations. Only petronic service stations were open. There were few pbadengers at the bus stops. It was the second day of three major protests that the opposition has raised to put pressure on the Nicaraguan government.

"We want to show the dictator (Ortega) that people are filling the streets and emptying the streets whenever they want, even if they repress, threaten and force the state workers to serve a dictator, "said student leader Lesther Alemán

The plan to put pressure on Ortega ends this Saturday with a caravan of cars that will tour several cities in the country. The first day, called "Together we are a volcano", flooded the streets of the country with thousands of Nicaraguans who, in defiance of fears, marched in Managua to request the departure of Ortega and his wife and vice-president Rosario Murillo.

(You might be interested: Daniel Ortega, the liberator turned dictator)

Carolina Aguilar, 52, said she was "fed up with a government that kills with impunity". "We can not live with a murderer, with a scorpion that kills us every day, I'll give my blood as long as it's over, if that's what you want: kill me, but I'm already leaving free people, "he told AFP. Since the beginning of the crisis in this country, about 300 people have died, according to information from human rights organizations.

And according to the United Nations, polarization in Nicaragua has reached such a level, retaliation against opponents and critics of the government are intensifying. "Murders occur daily in Nicaragua and the situation escalates into a dangerous spiral of widespread violence, human rights abuses and widespread impunity," said spokesman Rupert Colville in Geneva.

(Background: Tension rises in Nicaragua: national strike against Ortega)

The United Nations body specializing in human rights recently sent experts to Nicaragua to evaluate directly the situation and they concluded that the abuses of the last months are the consequence of the long-term erosion of civil liberties and a very fragile rule of law.

To get out of the crisis, the Catholic Church proposed to advance the elections from 2021 to 2019, in the dialogue between the government and the Alliance. But this was ruled out by Ortega himself, whose family dominates several financial sectors.