Carazo

The department of Carazo has a population of 177,000 inhabitants in eight municipalities.  The protests occurred mainly in the municipal seats of Jinotepe and Diriamba, the department’s main urban centers.

April-June:  The first demonstrations were against the INSS (social security) reforms, which were repressed by members of pro-Sandinista groups. The Municipal Government building in Diriamba—where fireworks were stored—was set on fire, and shots were fired at the Santiago de Jinotepe parish church. A barricade was set up in front of the San José High School after the Mothers Day protest march, paralyzing transit on the Pan-American Highway for over a month and leaving more than 200 semi-trucks stranded.

The paramilitary checkpoint at the Las Esquinas junction was the site of the department’s first victim.  Vicente Rappaccioli, 60 years old, was disappeared and killed on June 26.

During “Operation Clean-up” in the department, which was conducted on June 8 by a contingent of well-armed anti-riot police and paramilitaries, at least 14 people were killed, more than 30 wounded, and an undetermined number disappeared.  The following are known AMA victims:

• Alejandro Carlos Ochoa, 19 years old
• José Manuel Narvaez Campos, 22 years old
• Josué Israel Mojica García, 20 years old