The Police of the Daniel Ortega regime occupied this Friday, June 17, in Jinotega (in the north of the country) the facilities of the Children’s Association of Working Boys and Girls “Tuktan Sirpi”, and the Education and Communication Association “La Cuculmeca” , fifteen days after including them in a list of 96 NGOs whose legal status was canceled by Parliament on June 2.
The occupation involved the closure of radio station Estéreo Libre –frequency 95.3 FM– which was born in 1991 at the initiative of a group of communicators, but since 2005 it worked under an alliance with the NGO Tuktan Sirpi, to “promote the station as an important tool in the promotion and defense of the rights of children, adolescents, youth, the fight against violence and respect for the environment…”, reads the station’s website.
A source linked to Tuktan Sirpi, assured under anonymity, that the officers arrived with a good attitude on Friday morning at the offices of the NGO, where the radio was also operating. There were about four people, who managed to leave with their belongings and without inconvenience. From that same day, the closure of the station was directed without the management delving into further justification.
Meanwhile, in “La Cuculmeca”, another source close to the organization, assured that the offices were handed over on Friday; and from that date, “no technician can enter” the facilities.
In a video held by CONFIDENTIAL, Recorded last Friday, a patrol and two riot police officers are seen guarding the entrance to “La Cuculmeca.” This Monday, sources confirmed that police officers remained outside the headquarters of both NGOs, to which no one has access.
Through a publication on social networks, the Tuktan Sirpi organization indicated that Friday was the official delivery of their assets to the Police. “Today we officially deliver to the authorities the resources of these two organizations that have worked hand in hand for more than 28 years, to make Jinotega and the environment of the most vulnerable groups, a better place, where their rights are recognized and respected. “, it reads.
“(…) it hurts to leave without saying goodbye, it hurts to leave everything behind, without knowing why” indicates part of the letter. Meanwhile, “La Cuculmeca” has not made a specific statement on this issue.
Photo: courtesy
The cost is paid by the children and population of Jinotega
Tuktan Sirpi has worked in the promotion and accompaniment of the protagonist participation of girls, boys and adolescents for the exercise of their rights in all spheres of their lives. The organization with 28 years of existence, and 21 of having a legal personality, has benefited more than 20,000 children and adolescents through training workshops, which allowed their voices to be heard denouncing situations of risk, such as violence sexual, physical abuse, bullying and others.
Meanwhile, “La Cuculmeca” with a journey of 32 years -24 with legal status- has accompanied families and communities in the promotion of quality education, in the sustainable management of natural resources and territorial development. “In our actions we especially highlight the rights and empowerment of the most vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents and women,” the NGO says on its website.
The National Assembly accused the group of 96 organizations of failing to comply with the new Law 1115, on the Regulation and Control of Non-Profit Organizations; Law 977, Against Money Laundering, the Financing of Terrorism, and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Law 1040, on the Regulation of Foreign Agents.
This argument has been repeated by the ruling party in the dismantling of the organized civilian population to give it an “appearance of legality,” said lawyers consulted in a report published by CONFIDENTIAL on the guillotine of the Ortega regime, which has outlawed 669 NGOs from the end of November 2018 to June 17, 2022.
The organization “La Cuculmeca”, through a statement published on June 9, assured that they have always complied with their legal obligations.
“We have been persistent in our processes of accountability and transparency before our regulatory body, taking into account the new regulations mandated by the national legal framework, we have presented in a timely manner everything related to both technical and financial requirements,” they clarify in The document.
At the same time, they thank beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, workers for the support received during more than two decades of work.
An analysis of CONFIDENTIAL reveals that 36.1% of the canceled organizations executed development projects at the national level. A part of these NGOs were focused on women’s rights, social, economic, environmental development or religious origin, among others.
Among its beneficiaries were indigenous peoples, women victims of gender violence, young people and others.
