The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
May 24, 2019

Nicaraguan Opposition Holds General Strike to Demand Prisoner Release
---------------------------------------------------------------------

In Nicaragua, opponents of President Daniel Ortega held a one-day
general strike Thursday to demand the release of hundreds of political
prisoners. The nationwide strike came days after Ortega's government
said it would begin releasing another 100 prisoners swept up in mass
arrests during protests that erupted a year ago, after Ortega tried to
cut social security benefits. Opposition groups say they're pressuring
the government to meet terms of a peace deal requiring the release of
almost 300 political prisoners by June 18.


.