Monsignor Silvio Báez, auxiliary bishop of Managua, continues to demand the freedom of his peer Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, who this Thursday, November 3, marks 91 days of being kidnapped by the Daniel Ortega regime.
“Although time passes and many would like us to forget him, I do not forget my brother Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, imprisoned by the dictatorship,” the prelate wrote through his official Twitter account.
Related news: Monsignor Álvarez surpasses Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in popularity ratings
He affirmed that it is “an injustice and an act of violence that cries out to heaven”, the situation that the also apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Estelí is going through, whose whereabouts are unknown after he was violently removed from the prison on August 19. Episcopal Curia where he was locked up for 16 days by order of the Ortega Police.
«How and where is Rolando? Free the pastor! They will not be able to silence his voice », demanded the religious, forced into exile since 2019 after persecution and threats by the Nicaraguan dictatorship.
On August 4, the Ortega police prevented the departure of Monsignor Álvarez, who was in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa, along with priests, two seminarians and a layman.
After the assault on the Episcopal Curia, on August 19, the Police reduced the hierarch to house arrest and his companions confined them in the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ), known as “El Nuevo Chipote” in Managua, whom they they have been prosecuted and hearings held behind closed doors.
The Ortega regime, through the Police, pointed out that Álvarez’s arbitrary detention was to “recover normality for the citizens and families of Matagalpa.”
Where is Monsignor Álvarez being held?
Although it is not officially known where Monsignor Álvarez is, a source revealed to Article 66 that the priest is at the home of some relatives, near the Cargill company, on the road to Masaya.
«The house is located about 100 meters from the Cargill company, in the Los Madrigales region, it is a narrow road. There is a limit, it is the only elegant and large house in that area, there are three or four riot police, who are relieved at six in the afternoon. Every day a patrol full of policemen and cars with dark windows leaves,” added the informant.
Related news: UNAB demands the freedom of Monsignor Álvarez, after 80 days of kidnapping
This media outlet confirmed that several vans from the police institution patrol the area daily and the house where the Bishop of Matagalpa is supposedly located is “protected” by riot police.
Monsignor Álvarez is one of the most critical voices of the Ortega regime; In 2018, he was part of the mediators of the Catholic Church in the failed attempt at dialogue between the opposition and the Nicaraguan government. The dictatorship attacked him, besieging him, threatening him, until this year it deprived him of his freedom.
