<p>For months, Nicaragua has been in a state of political unrest and the recent protests in the country are only escalating in violence. ;</p>
<p>Marxist President Daniel Ortega&#8217;s aggressive approach to handling the protesters has led to over 187 people killed and 1,500 injured. ;</p>
<p>According to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR,) at least 838 people have been detained by Ortega&#8217;s government. ;</p>
<p>As the situation intensifies, the violent tactics of the government officials and police are being condemned by Human Rights groups ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;As the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights presents its findings in Washington, policemen and pro-government armed gangs are killing protesters with total impunity in the streets of Nicaragua,&rdquo; said José; Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. &ldquo;Democratic leaders in the Americas should urgently call on President Ortega to end the bloodbath in the country and dismantle pro-government gangs.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>The Organization of American States (OAS) has called on Ortega to halt the abuses on his citizens and has condemned the&ldquo;acts of violence, intimidation, and threats directed against the general public&rdquo; in Nicaragua. ;</p>
<p>The OAS met on Friday for a special emergency session to address the Nicaragua crisis. ;</p>
<p>At the meeting, OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro said that Nicaragua should hold an early snap presidential and parliamentary election.</p>
<p>&#8220;We suggest holding early general elections&hellip; at least in nine months &ndash; to allow for new electoral registration &ndash; or in 14 months at the latest,&#8221; said Almagro. ;</p>
<p>Vivanco has argued that the OAS needs to take a stricter stance on the crisis. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;During its previous discussion on Nicaragua, the OAS members failed to call out the government&rsquo;s responsibility for the abuses &ndash; it was almost as if they were describing a natural catastrophe,&rdquo; said Vivanco. &ldquo;But the crisis in Nicaragua merits a much stronger and clearer response from leaders across the Americas.&rdquo;</p>
<p>However, the OAS&#8217; emergency meeting appeared to have no impact. Over the weekend, seven more people were claimed dead. ;</p>
<p>In April, the protests started after Ortega decreased pension benefits. ;</p>
<p>As a Marxist&ndash;Leninist, Ortega has implemented controversial socialist policies like wealth redistribution and land reform.</p>
<p>Ironically, Ortega led a movement in the 1870&#8217;s against the former President/Dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle and later was elected president in 1984. ;</p>
<p>The tables have turned as protests against Ortega&#8217;s government have continued to gain momentum as the majority of Nicaragua citizens believe he has lost his revolutionary roots. ;</p>
<p>Ortega has managed to get control of the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, and the electoral commission. ;</p>
<p>Often referred to a dictator, Ortega is desperately trying to maintain control with violence. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Policemen and pro-government groups are working together in Nicaragua to abuse and terrorize the population,&rdquo; said Vivanco. &ldquo;Unless the democratic leaders in the Americas strongly condemn the abuses by the Nicaraguan government, victims of these egregious abuses may never have their day in court.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Author&#8217;s note:</strong> Like Venezuela, Nicaragua&#8217;s social policies paired with a power-hungry ruler has led the country to be on the verge of collapse. Unlike Venezuela, the country isn&#8217;t rich with oil reserves, so it&#8217;s demise is going to be much quicker. ;</p>