17th July, 2018
The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called on the Nicaraguan Government to provide information on two activists missing since they were detained at the airport and to open all prisons to monitors.
“It called for a halt to violence that has taken 280 lives within three months, “overwhelmingly perpetrated” by the Nicaraguan state and loyal armed elements.
“A law passed on Monday has a broad definition of terrorism, raising concern it could be used against people simply exercising their right to protest,’’ UN human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, told a news briefing.
Violence has gripped Nicaragua since April 18, when citizens took to the streets to reject a pension proposal by President Daniel Ortega.
Though the plan was withdrawn, protesters continued to rally against government repression and have demanded Ortega’s resignation.
Since then, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission has confirmed that 264 people have died and 1,800 more have been wounded during the government crackdown.