Periodista Digital reported on 30 April 2018 that a man on a motorcycle belonging to the government's special forces
drove into the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua at full speed shouting: "Who is the one wanting peace?". The action was clearly intended to intimidate Cardinal Leopoldo Branes, who had shown his support to the general populace and spoken out against President Daniel Ortega"s violent reaction to the protests raging in several cities. In a similar development, the director of Digital Religion has warned that Bishop Silvio Baez is now being
targeted by the Ortega regime and has received death threats, according to a report by Periodista Digital on 13 May 2018.
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, states: "In recent weeks, Nicaragua has been the scene of
violent demonstrations (see BBC News, 22 April 2018). Protests erupted when a reform to the pension system was proposed by President Ortega. However, it is clear that discontent has been smoldering for a long time in the background with many citizens rejecting the president's determination to remain so long in power. (He ruled the country between 1979 and 1990 and took over the presidency again from 2007 to date.) So far,
46 protesters have been killed (see: abc international, 8 May 2018)."
Rossana Ramirez continues: "Due to the crisis, President Ortega has convened a meeting for "˜national dialogue" and has requested that the Catholic Church act as
mediator (see: Vatican News, 15 May 2018). However, the Catholic Church has a high level of support due to Nicaragua"s population being almost 95% Christian and has even imposed certain
conditions for taking part in the dialogue (see: Hoy, 12 May 2018). Christian leaders have repeatedly expressed their support for the people and on one occasion at least they tried to prevent riot-police from escalating violence by forming a
"human chain" (see: Aleteia, 16 May 2018). Although chosen as mediators for peace talks, this does not mean that Christian leaders will stop being targeted by the government. Anyone openly opposing the regime is at risk."
