The Ministry of the Interior (Migob) ordered the “temporary suspension” of the Nicaraguan Spanish Association, known as Casa España/Club Campestre, under the argument of alleged “contradictions and lack of understanding” among partners registered with the regulatory body until before January 2017.
Through a resolution, which does not specify the exact time of the suspension, the Migob required the election of the new Board of Directors of the association, which must be held in a general assembly of associates in which —according to the ministry— “Only members registered until January 2017 will participate”. In addition, they must submit to the regulatory body the new statutes that will govern Casa España.
In a letter, Félix Jiménez, former legal representative of Casa España, informed the members of the organization that on March 8 he was called “irregularly” to a meeting with the head of the Migob Association Registration and Control Department, Franya Urey Blandón, who notified her in writing that the association was temporarily suspended.
In addition, according to Jiménez, the official verbally requested a list of associate members before January 2017 and the updated list to date.
to the meeting in Migob The general manager of the Club, Martin Castrillo Figueroa, also showed up, but they did not let him in.
In a statement, issued this Thursday, March 10, Casa España reported that they suspended their operation “until further notice”, and that they work “to normalize operations, as soon as possible”.
a detriment “without reason or justification”
Before the call of the Migob, “I just limited myself to receiving the communication”Jimenez stated. “After consulting some data, on March 9, I appeared again in Migob requesting a review of the resolution”he added.
“The temporary closure of Casa España Nicaragua entails great damage without any reason or justification. This means the impact on the rights generated by the membership, the number of associates, the financial sustainability of the association and the job stability of the workers. Not even in the worst crises suffered in times of pandemic was this scenario thought of”argued Jiménez to Migob.
Likewise, Jiménez explained to the partners that The statutes of Casa España, approved with a qualified majority in 2019, had already been presented and received in June 2021.
In addition, on February 25, Casa España was visited by an inspector from the Attorney General’s Office who requested information on the legal situation of the association and yesterday afternoon, March 9, they were summoned by the Property Administration to the manager shows up tomorrow March 11 with the property documents.
Casa de España is a private social club established in 1964 with the purpose of strengthening the bonds of friendship between Spanish residents in Nicaragua and fostering their relationship with the Nicaraguan community. It obtained its legal personality in January 1969, later with the promulgation of Law 147, General Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities, in 1993, Casa de España was registered in the Migob with the perpetual number 960.
This is the first time that the Migob temporarily closes an association, since between November 2018 and February 2022, the Daniel Ortega regime has canceled 114 legal statuses of civil society organizations, foundations and associations that promoted social development, political, economic, human rights, democracy, education and health in Nicaragua.
Among the causes that the regime has pointed out to cancel the NGOs, the non-compliance with three laws stands out: the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities or Law 147; the Organic Law of the Legislative Power of the Republic of Nicaragua or Law 606, and the Law against Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction or Law 977.
