MANAGUA- On Monday, the Nicaraguan government freed over 90 people who were jailed for anti-government activity, according to rights groups. This included a dozen people arrested for ferrying water to mothers on a hunger strike.
Since April 2018, several people have been jailed after protestors demonstrated against President Daniel Ortega’s attempt to cut welfare benefits.
Over 300 people have died as a result of these protests. The interior ministry released 91 people as a ‘special act’ towards national reconciliation. This included protestors who delivered water to nine mothers on a hunger strike demanding their children, who were considered to be political prisoners to be released
Water and electricity were cut off to the church in Masaya after the hunger strike. They were later taken to the hospital.
The government accused 13 activists of planning to carry out terrorist attacks during the strike for bringing water to the mothers.
On Monday, Coppens waved a large blue-and-white Nicaraguan flag, chanting, “Yes, we did it!”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
