Nicaragua rocked by massive protests

TENS OF thousands of Nicaraguans have joined a march for “Peace and Justice” called by the Catholic Church, the second massive demonstration in less than a week following a wave of deadly protests against social security reforms.

The two marches in Managua came after protests and looting last week that Nicaragua’s Permanent Commission on Human Rights said left at least 63 people dead, 15 missing and more than 160 wounded by gunfire.

The government of President Daniel Ortega has not confirmed or denied the casualty figures.

Mr Ortega, who began his third five-year term in office last year, withdrew the social security overhaul that sparked the social convulsion last week.

The rescinded changes would have imposed higher contributions by workers and employers and required retirees with pensions to hand over five per cent of their cheques for medical care.

But the protests, which have been largely led by university students, had expanded to include broader anti-government grievances. Protesters at times were met with violent police repression and attacks from Sandinista youth and motorcycle-riding thugs.

On Monday, Nicaragua’s private business sector organised a march that drew tens of thousands of participants, marking the largest demonstration seen against Ortega’s Sandinista government.

Saturday’s march called by the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua also drew tens of thousands of participants, including students, representatives of the private sector and opponents of the construction of a canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic.