At least 12 high commands of the National Police and six Ortega mayors are part of the perpetrators of the torture that political prisoners have received in Nicaragua, reveals the 8th report of the Nicaraguan Observatory against Torture of the Human Rights Collective Nicaragua Nunca Más.
The list is headed by the first commissioner Francisco Díaz, director of the Police and in-law of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo; Commissioner General Fidel Domínguez, police chief of León; Commissioner General Luis Barrantes, head of Masaya and later appointed to Matagalpa; General Commissioner Pedro Argueta, from Carazo, General Commissioner Luis Alberto Pérez Olivas, head of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ) and sub-prefect Venancio Alanís, custodian of the La Modelo Penitentiary System.
The list is completed by General Commissioner Marvin Castro, police chief of Jinotega; General Commissioner Adolfo Marenco, former Director of Intelligence; Commissioner General Juan Valle Valle, former director of national public security and later appointed to Masaya; General Commissioner Vladimir Cerda Moraga, head of District I of Managua; Commissioner General Ramón Avellán, former police chief of Masaya and the prefect Julio Orozco, of the National Penitentiary System (SPN).
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These police chiefs were denounced for threatening political prisoners, ordering their arrest, or directing torture practices, among which were beatings, burns, loosening of teeth, torture by suspension, and inhumane conditions, among others.
“The chain of command identified in the National Police is very broad and complete, since we find officers from the lowest rank to the highest rank within the institution,” the report highlights.
Commissioners Ramón Avellán and Fidel Domínguez are the ones who have been denounced in the greatest number, twelve and six complaints respectively. Avellán was denounced for directing acts of torture and arrests.
Dominguez was accused of ordering and directing arrests, making constant death threats, as well as harassing and harassing political prisoners and their families.
“The National Penitentiary System acted in a similar way, against which there are complaints from its two highest authorities, this being Prefect Julio Orozco, who was identified making death threats against political prisoners, even to make them disappear, and, the Sub- Prefect Venancio Alanís, linked to abusive searches, “he adds.
The paramilitary mayors
The report of the human rights organization detected that there was a “planning context between the different levels and institutions” indicated to be participants in torture. Six mayors were identified.
Among the perpetrating councilors are the mayor of Nagarote, Juan Gabriel Hernández Rocha; the one from Matagalpa, Zaadrach Zeledón; Ebert López, mayor of El Rosario; San Carlos Mayor Johnny Gutiérrez; the mayoress of Ticuantepe, Ligia Ramírez and of Tipitapa César Vásquez Valle.
The acts of torture were registered during the years 2018 and 2019. The councilors carried out acts of surveillance, threats and even ordered the arrest of certain people, reveals the report that documents the complaints and testimonies of 158 political prisoners released from the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
