The Ortega government, through the Ministry of the Interior, ordered the closure of another 25 NGOs, including a human rights defender, another women’s defender, and the Central American Historical Institute (IHCA) of the Jesuit Central American University (UCA), informed the Legislative Power on Tuesday.
The Executive of President Daniel Ortega also ordered the closure of the Nicaraguan Democratic Force-Nicaraguan Resistance Movement Association (FDN-RN Movement), linked to former “contras” who fought with arms against the first Sandinista regime (1979-1990).
In the case of the IHCA, it is a center for journalistic research, reflection, analysis, communication and social action, created by the Society of Jesus in 1981, which is in charge of the preparation and monthly dissemination of the magazine Sending and of graduates in political training. citizen, since 2007, aimed at young people nationwide.
The Ministry of the Interior proposed to the National Assembly (Parliament), controlled by the ruling party, to cancel the legal status of the Association Commissions for Human Rights Peace (ACPDH), dedicated to the defense of human rights in the department of Jinotega (north) since 1997.
Other NGOs proposed to be outlawed are the Enrique Bermúdez Varela Association for Democracy, the Forum Association for Education and Human Development of the Initiative for Nicaragua, and the Foundation for Inclusive Community Development (Fundecomi).
Also the Nicaraguan Foundation for Sustainable Development, the Foundation for the Development of the city of León, the Nakawe Foundation, the Insertion of Former Prisoners Foundation, the Solar Project Foundation for Nicaraguan Women and the Eco Family Foundation.
In addition, the Chinandega Women’s Movement Association, the Women’s Assistance Center Association, the Nicaraguan Comprehensive Development Center Association, the Association for Comprehensive Community Development, the Association of Promoters Without Borders and the Science and Development Association, among others.
137 NGOs HAVE BEEN CANCELED
In Nicaragua, with the vote of the Sandinista deputies and their allies, at least 137 Nicaraguan NGOs have been outlawed since December 2018, eight months after a popular revolt broke out over controversial social security reforms described as a coup attempt of State by Ortega.
The last 25 NGOs -among them the Luisa Mercado Foundation, directed by the Nicaraguan writer exiled in Spain Sergio Ramírez Mercado, and the Solentiname Development Association, founded in 1982 by the late Trappist poet Ernesto Cardenal (1925-2020)- were canceled on April 20 last.
Among the organizations that have been affected are NGOs that defend human rights, medical, feminist, educational, universities, environmentalists, indigenous, journalists and think tanks, among others.
The Executive has also canceled the registrations and perpetual numbers of four American and six European NGOs.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the new 25 NGOs that will be affected have failed to comply with their obligations, including that they did not report their financial statements according to the fiscal periods with their detailed breakdowns of income, expenses, trial balance and details of donations ( origin, provenance and final beneficiary), nor their boards of directors.
Parliament included the new initiative in the agenda for this Thursday, so it is expected to be presented to the plenary.
Nicaragua has been going through a political and social crisis since April 2018, which has been accentuated after the controversial general elections on November 7, in which Daniel Ortega was re-elected for a fifth term, fourth consecutive and second along with his wife, Rosario Murillo. , as vice president, with her main contenders in prison.
