Nicaragua Protests: At least 16 killed in rally against Ortega's rule

World
Europe

02:16

Widespread protests against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega have raised deadly violence since mid-April. The UN rights agency said on Friday that at least 16 people were killed and more than 100 were injured. The majority of the deaths are reported to have happened on Wednesday, when hundreds of thousands of people marched on Nicaragua's Mother's Day in the capital. Jim Spellman has more details.

The Central American nation celebrated Mother's Day on Wednesday -- a bitter day for this mother whose son was killed in the protests.

DARLING RIVAS MOTHER OF SLAIN PROTESTER "On this day we cannot say that there is joy because there is no joy anymore because a son is not coming home because of this protest. To have love is to have them alive but now that they are no longer here, present in our hearts, we cannot be joyful on this date today."

The violence began in mid-April as people took to the streets protesting planned changes to the Nicaraguan social security system. The government scrapped those plans, but the rallies only grew -- and evolved into protests against Ortega's leadership. The UN says more than 100 have been killed in all and more than a thousand injured since the protests began. Protestors blame government forces.

RUTA CANALERA PROTESTER "We were victims of attack from Ortega's paramilitaries, supporters and police."

But the Ortega government blames criminal gangs and rejects any responsibility for the violence.

DANIEL ORTEGA PRESIDENT OF NICARAGUA "We are pained by the death of any human being on this planet, when they die violently. And, of course the deaths pain us these kids, these youngsters, young people of different political views."

On Thursday the Secretary General of the Organization of American States said the violence must end.

LUIS ALMAGRO SECRETARY GENERAL, ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES "Nicaragua lived through another tragic day yesterday, a day of repression, violence and death. We condemn the murders committed yesterday by the repressive forces and the armed groups and we are in solidarity with the victims' families. We call on the state to stop the violence of these repressive factors."

JIM SPELLMAN WASHINGTON DC "The UN human rights office is calling on the Nicaraguan government to conduct an impartial investigation into the violence and is urging government forces to prevent further aggression and stop the violence. Jim Spellman. CGTN Washington."