For more than a decade, Nicaragua was:
Then on April 18 things suddenly changed dramatically. Triggered by a minor adjustment to the social security program, which was designed to avoid austerity measures promoted by big business and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), violence broke out across Nicaragua.
Incongruously, the opposition was led by students from private universities, who had little material interest in old age pensions, and by rightwing elements that favored draconian cuts in social welfare programs. Despite the government rescinding the adjustment and its attempts to meet with the opposition and negotiate a settlement, the violence has escalated with a death toll of over 200.
Road blocks have been set up on vital streets and highways throughout the country. They are forcefully maintained by young militants, with reports that many are paid. Organized crime, aligned with the violent protests, has infiltrated Nicaragua. Some believe the extreme opposition is intent on escalating the conflict to paralyze or overthrow the elected government.
This is within the larger context the US government targeting independent and progressive governments for regime change. Nicaragua is allied with Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia and has not served as a client state to the dictates of Washington.
The US has poured millions into Nicaraguan private non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in what is called “democracy promotion” but may be better understood as regime change training. Even sources hostile to the Ortega government admit US involvement in the current unrest. Meanwhile the US Senate is considering the NICA Act designed to cripple the Nicaraguan economy.
The Task Force on the Americas:
http://taskforceamericas.org/statement-in-support-of-nicaragua/
Source: Task Force on the Americas