Josefina Esterlina Meza, 55, visits her son Jonathan Morazan Meza's grave. Jonathan, 21, was shot in the head by gunfire from pro-government militias on May 30, 2018. Jonathan, a graphic design student at the University of Del Valle, died two days later at a hospital. Josefina had gone to the march with both her sons in support of the Mothers of April movement. She states: "Despite the fear, I continue to attend the marches in order to eliminate this repressive dictatorship. Assisting a protest march is not a terrorist act. I don't belong to any political ideology. But one thing is sure, I do not like injustices." Managua, Nicaragua. August 1, 2018.
Two boys pickup a pineapple that fell from their carriage near the Malecon. Managua, Nicaragua. July 30, 2018.
Posters with faces and names of some of the mortal victims killed by pro-government militias since the April 18 resistance movement began in Nicaragua. Managua, Nicaragua. July 28, 2018.
Thousands gather at the Metropolitan Cathedral after marching in support of the Catholic Church after the Nicaraguan government has accused its bishops of supporting groups attempting to destabilize the country. Managua, Nicaragua. July 28, 2018.
A man sells numerous pins, but principally with the photo of Alvaro Conrado, a 15-year-old boy killed by gunfire from pro-government militias on April 20, 2018, as he attempted to take water to university students hiding in the Metropolitan church. Managua, Nicaragua. July 28, 2018.
People hold photos of victims of state-repression as they march in support of the Catholic Church after the Nicaraguan government has accused its bishops of supporting groups attempting to destabilize the country. Managua, Nicaragua. July 28, 2018.
Thousands gather at the Metropolitan Cathedral after marching in support of the Catholic Church. Managua, Nicaragua. July 28, 2018.
Former marathon runner Alex Vanegas, 62, has been running around the roundabouts as a way to protest the repression. Mr. Vanegas was a student in the late 1970s when the Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza dictatorship and he states he never imagined he would live a similar situation again. "Today I am running in memory of Angel Gaona" he states as he runs around the roundabout that holds a monument honoring journalists (La Rotonda del Periodista). Mr. Gaona was killed on April 22, 2018, by pro-government militias as he reported via Facebook live. Managua, Nicaragua. July 30, 2018.
Remnants of a barricade at an entrance to the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua. The red and black Sandinista, or pro-government flag, can be seen waving at the barricade, previously controlled by student groups from the opposition who use the blue and white colors of the Nicaraguan flag to represent themselves. Managua, Nicaragua. July 27, 2018.
Windows display bullet holes inside the chapel of the Divine Mercy (Divina Misericordia) church in Managua. On July 13, 2018, pro-government militias began a 15-hour shooting siege that kept hundreds of students trapped inside the church. Dozens of students were injured and two killed. Managua, Nicaragua. July 27, 2018.
Father Erick Alvarado Cole poses for a photo next to an image of Jesus Christ displaying bullet holes inside the chapel of the Divine Mercy (Divina Misericordia) church in Managua. On July 13, 2018, pro-government militias began a 15-hour shooting siege that kept hundreds of students trapped inside the church. Dozens of students were injured and two killed. Managua, Nicaragua. July 27, 2018.
Portrait of Douglas Castro (left), 30, and Lesther Alemán, 20, leaders of the Alianza Universitaria Nicaragüense (AUN) currently in hiding. Managua, Nicaragua. July 28, 2018.
People linger on the Malecon along lake Xolotlan. Managua, Nicaragua. July 30, 2018.
A bench at the Puerto Salvador Allende reads: "Nicaragua, the happiness of living in Peace!" Managua, Nicaragua. July 30, 2018.
Nicaragua, Breathless After Months of Repression
Roughly 350 protesters were killed during the first three months of unrest in Nicaragua from late April to late July, 2018. Most were abducted and killed by plainclothes pro-government militias.
Tired of an oppressive regime limiting civil liberties, thousands took the streets week after week in Nicaragua, blaming the Ortega-Murillo regime of a new dictatorship. Meanwhile, the government has accused the protestors of terrorism and promoting a coup d'etat'.
Reportage produced for Le Monde in late July and early August, 2018.
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