The newspaper the pressthe oldest newspaper in Nicaragua, declared itself under “another attack” by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo “to shut us up” after denouncing that two of its drivers, Carlos Lam and Mario Sánchez, were kidnapped from their homes late at night on Wednesday, July 6.
The “hunt” against La Prensa workers also included the search of a photographer’s home and the besieging of one of its reporters by police patrols.
Related news: Ortega police “kidnap” two drivers of La Prensa
“The history of the newspaper La Prensa is full of abuses perpetrated by those who feel threatened by the constitutionally established right of citizens to give and receive information. We are facing one more attack to shut up,” the media reported on its website.
Workers covered the expulsion of nuns
These actions against freedom of the press occurred against some members of the journalistic team that covered the expulsion of the Missionary Sisters of Charity who had their headquarters in Granada, Nicaragua.
“The persecution was directed at the team that covered the expulsion of the Missionaries of Charity from Nicaragua by the Ortega regime. The driver who mobilized the journalistic team was kidnapped from his family’s house at nightfall on Wednesday, “says the publication.
«The other driver of the Diario, who was not involved in the coverage, was also detained by police around midnight. Subsequently, police patrols arrived at the house of the reporter who covered the issue and the home of a photographer was raided during the early morning, “she adds.
La Prensa reported that the detainees could be imprisoned in the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ), known as “El Chipote”, little information is handled about the arrest, but that the lawyers and directors of the media follow up on the cases.
“We demand that the regime respect the laws. That the detainees be released and the persecution against the newspaper’s staff cease, who are people who only carry out their work, without committing any crime, “he demands.
The raid on La Prensa
On August 13, 2021, the Ortega regime ordered the “assault” against the oldest newspaper in the country and opened an investigation for alleged customs fraud, money laundering, goods and assets.
The raid occurred a day after the news outlet announced the suspension of its print edition because the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega, through the General Directorate of Customs Services, keeps its paper withheld.
Juan Lorenzo Holmann, general manager of La Prensa, was arrested in that attack for the alleged crimes of “customs fraud” and “money laundering.” On March 23, 2022, Judge Nidia Camila Tardencilla Rodríguez sentenced him to nine years in prison.
