Nicaragua: Violent unrest likely to continue April 23 /update 4

Event

Protests resumed throughout the country on the afternoon of Sunday, April 22, after a brief respite following President Daniel Ortega’s decision earlier in the day to rescind highly controversial reforms to country's social security system (INSS). Violent social unrest will likely continue Monday and into the coming days. The army remains deployed in cities across the country, notably in the capital Managua. Some foreign governments, including the US and Costa Rica, have advised their citizens to consider postponing travel to Nicaragua until further notice.

The anti-government protests broke out on April 18 to denounce the reforms, but have since generalized following a violent crackdown by the government. At least 30 people have been killed and over 100 wounded, many seemingly by police, soldiers, and pro-government Frente Sandinista/Juventud Sandinista groups. Demonstrations have taken place in various areas of the country, including Managua, León, Granada, Estelí, Matagalpa, Masaya, Bluefields, Jinotepe, and Tipitapa.

Widespread rioting and looting have also been reported and a number of stores and businesses have closed amid the violence, leading to shortages of fuel, food, and medications. The Red Cross announced on April 19 that it would be deployed to protest sites - and that all regular operations have been suspended - until further notice. The Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of all schools until further notice; classes remain suspended as of Monday.

Context

Vice President Rosario Murillo, wife of Ortega, had called on government supporters to take to the streets in a show of force; she and others in the government have also publicly disparaged the protesters, blaming the unrest and violence on "gangs." The government has forced several television stations off the air for covering the protests, including the country's only two independent stations (it should be noted that ten channels are owned by the Ortega family and their allies), drawing criticism from the international community, notably the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Advice

Individuals in Nicaragua are advised to keep abreast of the situation and strictly avoid all protests due to the risk of violence and arrest.