A few days after the Nicaraguan government withdraw the nationality of 94 opponents and ordered the expropriation of their belongings, after being accused of “treason”, the authorities have begun to confiscate their homes, local media reported.
Some 16 homes were confiscated on Friday in a police operation that took place in the “Amazonia” housing complex in Managua, the Nicaraguan newspaper reported. Confidential.
A confiscated apartment belonged to journalist Sofía Montenegro and activist Azáhalea Solís, from the Autonomous Women’s Movement.
Irlanda Jeréz, an opposition member in exile in the United States and one of the 94 people whose nationality was revoked, told the voice of america that his house was one of the expropriated.
Article 44 of the Nicaraguan Constitution states that real estate “may be subject to expropriation in accordance with the law, upon payment of fair compensation in cash.”
“They are thiefs”
While these actions begin, the fear is replicated among other citizens who have properties in Managua and who were declared stateless by the Ortega government.
The writer and poet Gioconda Belli, who is also on the list of stateless persons, told the VOA who suspects that the authorities will raid his property.
“I have a house that has been the product of my honest work, of my books, that house is really impeccable,” said the 73-year-old opposition member.
“A person my age who suddenly tells you, ‘we are going to take away all your assets’, of course it affects you”
For her part, journalist Lucía Pineda Ubau pointed out that these actions seek to “shut up and silence” journalists in exile and that it was something that was expected. “They are thiefs. God is going to give me back a better house than the one they are stealing. That house cost me, I made it,” said Ubau.
So far his house in Managua has not been taken over by the government.
With the 94 people declared stateless last week, there are already 316 critics of the government of Daniel Ortega who had their Nicaraguan nationality cancelled. The first were 222 political prisoners expelled last week and welcomed by the US.
Ortega’s action to release the prisoners was applauded by the US, the European Union and Chile, however they quickly questioned the cancellation of the nationality of the opponents.
The Nicaraguan government did not respond to a request for comment from the voice of america for this report.
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