The Nicaraguan judicial authorities accused the Catholic bishop Rolando Álvarez, a well-known critic of the government of Daniel Ortega, of the crimes of “conspiracy” and “propagation of false news”, and ordered his house arrest, Managua reported Tuesday.
Álvarez, according to experts, remained in “a legal limbo” after he was forcibly removed by the police on August 19 from the Casa Cural where he was staying and transferred to the residence of his relatives in Managua without being able to leave, despite the fact that there was no formal accusation.
The National Police said at the time in a statement that the measure was taken because the religious was carrying out “destabilizing and provocative activities” in the country.
Priest with arrest warrant
In the same judicial case against Álvarez that was released this Tuesday, the priest Uriel Antonio Vallejos appears accused, to whom the judicial authorities issued an order to INTERPOL for his capture, according to the statement.
Vallejos reacted to the accusation on his Twitter account. “Only criminals are persecuted. And criminals are in power turning order against others, shielded by their repressive apparatus. Interpol would be very grateful to capture the criminals who misgovern Nicaragua,” wrote the priest, who he is exiled.
Álvarez, who is in charge of the Diocese of Matagalpa, one of the most important in the country, was appointed a public defender for his process and an initial hearing was scheduled for January 10.
The accusation against the religious was released days after the police detain two Nicaraguan journalists linked to Catholic media directed by Álvarez.
The Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua has not ruled on the matter, however, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Managua, Silvio Báez, who is in exile in the United States, wrote on Twitter that the accusation against Álvarez “is a crime” committed by the which he cataloged as “the dictatorship of Nicaragua.”
The priest Edwin Román, one of the most critical voices in Nicaragua and who is also in exile in the United States, agreed along the same lines.
In statements to VOA, Román pointed out as “terrible” what is experienced in the Central American country.
He said that the Church has denounced the human rights violations that occur in Nicaragua and that is why it is persecuted. “The Church is a prophet because she announces the people of God, but also as a prophet she has to denounce the injustices that occur,” Román said.
a critical voice
Álvarez, 56, is one of the most critical bishops in Nicaragua and had important functions within the Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference (CEN).
The religious man directed the communications area of the CEN and the Catholic Channel of Nicaragua, which was closed by the government on May 20, after denouncing persecution by the Ortega government and announcing a day of fasting and prayer.
Nicaragua has been experiencing a political crisis since 2018, when protests arose against President Ortega, which the president called “an attempted coup” against his government.
According to the president, the Catholic Church and its priests were part of the protests for opening the doors of the temples for the protesters to take refuge.
Pope Francis has spoken slightly about Nicaragua and although last time he avoided referring specifically to the arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, he expressed his “concern and pain” for the situation in the Central American country.
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