The Nicaraguan Government and opposition agree to a ceasefire temporarily ending demonstrations and sustained street fighting which has left almost two hundred people dead. The Church mediated this latest last gasp negotiation, which has led to a wary standoff and truce. A previous attempt had failed.
A Truth Commission will now be formed to investigate the crisis and to come forward with proposals to re-gain everyday normality. Last month the Inter American Commission for Human rights visited Nicaragua. Its report, just out, has severely criticized a heavy handed response to the demonstrations from Government Security Forces. This has been dismissed as slanted and biased by the Foreign Ministry.
The crisis started on April 19th, when the Government of President Daniel Ortega, increased social security payments but simultaneously slashed pension payouts. The protests against that have now developed into demands for his resignation.
