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Jinotepe town turned into war zone amid anti-government protests

Saturday, 16 June 2018 10:43 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 16 June 2018 10:45 PM ]

People are seen though a window of a bus set alight by demonstrators in Tipitapa, about 25 km from Managua on June 14, 2018 during a day-long national strike held to mark two months of violent chaos under President Daniel Ortega. (AFP)

Jinotepe, a picturesque town south of the Nicaraguan capital, turned into a war zone on Tuesday amid protests against the government of Daniel Ortega.

View of a police station that was burned by a mob of opposition protesters in Las Esquinas, Carazo, 35 km from Managua, on June 14, 2018. (AFP)

The empty streets were blocked by barricades made of stones to cover the bursts of shots.

A total of 146 people have been killed in the socio-political crisis in Nicaragua as of Monday, according to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh).

The protests against Ortega began on April 18 for failed social security reforms and escalated into protests for his resignation after 11 years in power marred with accusations of abuse and corruption.

Local human rights organisation says at least 100 people have been killed since the protests began after changes to the Central American nation's social security system triggered student-led protests in April. Many of those killed have been young men.

Protesters are demanding Ortega step down, but the president has shown no sign of heeding that call, which could end one of the longest standing leftist governments in Latin America.

In an effort to break the deadlock, officials from the Catholic Church met with Ortega on Thursday to help push peace. They gave the president a proposal to restart national dialogue for a solution which had previously stalled.

Despite the peace calls and continued violence, defiant protesters occupied streets across the country. In the central city of Ticuantepe, demonstrators erected makeshift blockades as they stand their ground against the government.

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