Ortega pulls the plug on media reporting dissent in Nicaragua. Three dead

Three killed during the protests in Nicaragua against Ortega's reforms
Two of the deceased are students and one, police, as reported by the Government



At least three people have died, a policeman and two students, during the third day of protests in Managua against the social security reforms imposed by decree by President Daniel Ortega . The demonstrations have been counteracted in the streets by both the police of the country and by irregular forces of civilians. The wounded are already counted by tens . In addition, the government has censored three television channels while President Ortega remains absent.

The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, toughened the repression against hundreds of protesters who oppose the change in the pension system (the contribution of employers, workers is increased and imposes a deduction of 5% to pensioners). The government - led by Ortega's vice president and wife, Rosario Murillo - had called on supporters to demonstrate in the capital in a show of strength, which failed to decimate widespread discontent, which has spread throughout the country. The protests were maintained in the main universities, in a student mobilization that was not seen for decades in Nicaragua.

Managua was besieged by the National Police and the Sandinista Front's forces. Several businesses decided to close their doors and companies suspended their work, while new demonstrations were announced in Granada -45 kilometers from Managua-, Estelí -located in the north of the country and famous bastion of Sandinismo- and other cities in the center of Nicaragua.

The deceased policeman has been identified as Hilton Rafael Manzanares, 38, and was killed by a shotgun shot in the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of Nicaragua (UPOLI), as detailed by the spokeswoman of the National Police, Vilma González, at a press conference. Two young people died in the same campus, one identified as Darwin Urbina by official means, and another 17-year-old adolescent, high school student, Richard Pavón.

On Thursday, Ortega decided to censor the two main independent television networks in the country, cutting off their transmission, as well as a channel of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua. Before the official censorship, the Nicaraguans went to the social networks to stay informed and to summon the demonstrations.

https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/04/20/actualidad/1524205768_663638.html