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10 killed in violent protests against Nicaragua's pension reform plan

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AFP Managua
Last Updated : Apr 21 2018 | 2:45 PM IST

Violent protests against a proposed change to Nicaragua's pension system have left at least 10 people dead over two days, the government said.

In the biggest protests in President Daniel Ortega's 11 years in office in this poor Central American country, people are angry over the plan because workers and employers would have to chip in more toward the retirement system.

The government is willing to hold a dialogue and Ortega will issue a formal call on Saturday, Vice President Rosario Murillo said, adding: "At least 10 compatriots have died." Demonstrations rocked the capital Managua and nearby cities for a third day.

The new law, besides increasing employer and employee contributions, would cut the overall pension amount by five per cent.

"We are against these reforms, which means we're against this government taking from the pockets of Nicaraguans," said Juan Bautista.

He said riot police brutally attacked demonstrators like him because "the dictator does not like people to protest." A woman nearby shouted: "The people are tired of this repression!"
Four independent television outlets were taken off the air after they broadcast the demonstrations on Thursday, and two were still blocked on Friday. Murillo compared the protesters to "vampires demanding blood to feed their political agenda."
"We call on the Nicaraguan authorities to act to prevent further attacks on demonstrators and on the media," said Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights."

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First Published: Apr 21 2018 | 2:45 PM IST

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