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Nicaraguan farmer who protested Ortega gets 216-year prison sentence
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS FEBRUARY 18, 2019 / 8:35 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Nicaraguan farmer who protested Ortega gets 216-year prison sentence
Ismael Lopez
3 MIN READ
MANAGUA (Reuters) - A farm leader who helped lead protests last year against President Daniel Ortega was sentenced on Monday to 216 years in prison, days after business leaders asked the government to release inmates considered political prisoners.
A judge sentenced Medardo Mairena after he was convicted last December of terrorism, murder and organized crime, charges he denied. Before he was arrested last July, he was among the opposition members who participated in the failed dialogue with the government.
More than 320 people died in the protests last year against Ortega, after government supporters and police opened fire on crowds. Street rallies have since tapered off, and the government has clamped down on opposition media and organizations seen as supporting the protests.
Over the weekend, the government and business groups met in an attempt to restart talks to end the crisis that has severely damaged the poor Central American country’s economy. The business groups demanded the release of more than 600 people they consider to be political prisoners.
-snip-
Nicaraguan farmer who protested Ortega gets 216-year prison sentence
Ismael Lopez
3 MIN READ
MANAGUA (Reuters) - A farm leader who helped lead protests last year against President Daniel Ortega was sentenced on Monday to 216 years in prison, days after business leaders asked the government to release inmates considered political prisoners.
A judge sentenced Medardo Mairena after he was convicted last December of terrorism, murder and organized crime, charges he denied. Before he was arrested last July, he was among the opposition members who participated in the failed dialogue with the government.
More than 320 people died in the protests last year against Ortega, after government supporters and police opened fire on crowds. Street rallies have since tapered off, and the government has clamped down on opposition media and organizations seen as supporting the protests.
Over the weekend, the government and business groups met in an attempt to restart talks to end the crisis that has severely damaged the poor Central American country’s economy. The business groups demanded the release of more than 600 people they consider to be political prisoners.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nicaragua-protests/nicaraguan-farmer-who-protested-ortega-gets-216-year-prison-sentence-idUSKCN1Q803P
