Growing corruption and infringement on human rights as armed officials gun down Nicaraguan protestors and students amidst anti-government controversy

Nicaragua has been encased in civil unrest since the President, Daniel Ortega proposed Social Security reforms that “increased taxes and decreased benefits”. Although prior protests have ultimately caused the downfall of these policy changes, Nicaraguan protestors have now further pushed for President Daniel Ortega to resign from his seat. Amidst the protests, violence has also broken out as the government has taken matters into its own hands by enacting a “shoot and kill” policy against its own people. Yes, this includes women and students as well as many other unarmed protesters. In Animal’s People, a novel based on the Bhopal gas disaster by Indra Sinha, a different but just as corrupt power dynamic can be seen. In the novel, the “kampani” plays the antagonist, an American gas company based off of the Union Carbide Corporation that, by its carelessness, causes a gas leak that kills the inhabitants of Khaufpur, a city in India. To make matters worse, the kampani returns to “Amrika”, and in the safety of their home country, tries to deny the city’s allegations of murder. Thus, the people of Khaufpur are left with disabilities and illnesses that cannot be treated with the resources in their country. They are basically left to die at the hand of economic capitalism by a stronger group in power. The murder and the neglect of innocent lives is strongly tied back to the disaster in Nicaragua. Everyone of all ages and sexes are affected by this tragedy. Human rights activist, Bianca Jagger, according to CNN, has quoted that the armed officials used against students and protesters appear as if they are going into war. Their use of heavy weapons and style of dress is dramatic, a show of intimidation to its unarmed opposers. It also appears that students are the largest group affected by this violence as areas around universities such as the Polytechnic University of Nicaragua have returned with the highest numbers of attacks and wounded protestors. The numbers of wounded individuals reach up to be about over 400. As high as they are, they continue to grow. Students are being beat down by heavily armed police officers and thrown onto pickup trucks like rag dolls. Protesters who unfortunately did lose their lives bring up another harsh reality; it is alleged that the government is forcing families to give up their rights to file complaints in exchange for the body of their loved one. This is an act of evil; where is the humanity that the government is supposed to provide for its people? Why have the rights of the people been so far breached that they are forced to shut their mouths just to see their loved one’s face again for the last time? The cruelty and injustice here are undeniable. Other infringements include: “media censorship, obstruction, failures to conduct proper forensic examinations, improper evidence management, and refusals to take family statements and prevention of investigations”. A list too long for anyone to keep quiet any longer. In Animal’s People, the kampani refuses to come to the courts of Khaufpur to face their charges in order to get away freely from their crimes. Several years pass until the courts finally rule for the kampani to be sentenced. After the violence dies down, will the government of Nicaragua be forced to face the injustices they committed on their own people? Who will hold these corrupt officials accountable for the murders and abuse of innocent protestors and the families of those who have died? There is a reason why this anti-government disaster has been referred to as the “deadliest civil conflict” in decades, or more precisely, since the “end of the Nicaraguan Revolution”. Just from this statement alone, these officials should be forced to receive the consequences for their unspeakable actions and abuse of power. The most recent update on the protests holds even more weight. On May 30th, a march was held for the mothers of lost ones and whose lives have been lost since the tragedy began a little over a month ago. This was met by more deaths, more injured. Gunmen opened fire on protestors at the National University of Engineering. In these cases, these people are calling for justice, the least that can be given back to them for the lost lives they have already endured, just like those of Khaufpur who simply want compensation for the deaths they faced. In both cases, more deaths occur, directly and indirectly by the hands of officials, and no action is taken to help them. This repression of rights feeds the fire of unrest, and matters can only get worse if they are not addressed and amended as they should be. Peaceful protesting should never be met with guns and batons. Families should not have to grieve for their sons and daughters who were simply fighting for their rights.