The regime of Daniel Ortega continues its attack against civil society organizations, by asking the National Assembly —dominated by the Sandinista Front— to cancel another 25 NGOs, with which the number of NGOs canceled by the regime will rise to 119 so far in 2022, according to a data analysis by CONFIDENTIAL.
The cancellation decree is expected to be approved next Thursday. Among the new 25 outlawed NGOs is the Central American Historical Institute Civil Association (IHCA), which served as a “center for journalistic investigation, reflection, analysis, communication and social action, of Christian origin,” created by the Society of Jesus, also responsible for the Central American University (UCA). This center produced and distributed the monthly Sending Magazine, with national and international coverage for 30 years. In addition to developing workshops on the reality of the country.
Other organizations affected by this new request from the Ministry of the Interior (Migob) are the Nicaraguan Foundation for Sustainable Development, led by the prominent scientist Jaime Incer Barquero. The environmental organization was a pioneer in the conservation of natural resources in Nicaragua and joined other NGOs such as Centro Humboldt —also canceled— to warn about the environmental risk implied by the canal project, promoted by the Ortega regime.
The other organizations affected are: Association of Dental Surgeons of León; Forum Association for Education and Human Development of the Initiative for Nicaragua (FEDH-IPN); Association for Democracy Enrique Bermúdez Varela; Association of Human Rights Peace Commissions; Nicaraguan Democratic Force Movement Association; Nicaraguan Association of Breeders and Owners of Peruvian Paso Horses; Foundation for Inclusive Community Development (Fundecomi); EO Nicaragua Foundation; Foundation for the Development of the city of León; Association for the Livestock Development of Achuapa; Nakawe Foundation; Insertion of Former Prisoners Foundation.
They also requested to close the Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli Association; Association for Comprehensive Community Development; Solar Project Foundation for Nicaraguan Women; Civil Association of Lions Clubs of District D-5 of Nicaragua; Association of Promoters Without Borders; Nicaraguan Science and Development Association; Eco Family Foundation; Foundation for the Integral Development of Quilalí; Chinandega Women’s Movement Association; Women’s Assistance Center Association and Nicaraguan Comprehensive Development Center Association.
alleged violation of laws
With the vote of the Sandinista deputies and their allies, the regime has canceled —since the end of 2018— the legal status of 168 NGOs, a figure that will rise to 193 with the new cancellations, according to data analysis carried out by CONFIDENTIAL.
The Migob has accused them of failing to comply with three pieces of legislation: 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.
The Migob further argues that the organizations have not reported their financial statements with detailed breakdowns, or have not registered as foreign agents. However, on multiple occasions, those responsible for the closed NGOs have assured that the Ministry placed obstacles for them to comply with the processes required by law or even, sometimes, they did not receive the documentation despite the fact that they tried on several occasions. .
Among the canceled NGOs there are dozens that developed education projects, medical programs such as those carried out by Operation Smile, women’s movements, the environment; the promotion and defense of human rightssocial development, democracy, culture, indigenous people and children and adolescents.
