The National Assembly, dominated by the Sandinista Front bloc, canceled the legal status of 50 civil society organizations; the largest number of NGOs outlawed in a single session since the Ortega regime began its attack against these forms of association. Thus, Daniel Ortega has eliminated 144 NGOs so far in 2022.
With 75 votes in favor and 16 abstentions, the deputies approved the decrees presented by the Ortega legislator, Filiberto Rodríguez López, who during his speech highlighted the number of organizations canceled with a single stroke of the pen. He pointed out that they do not want to comply with the legislation and assured that they will ensure that the laws do not continue to be violated.
“We promise to continue to enforce the laws, those who believe they are violating the laws, and those who believe that they are going to continue with subterfuge, with lies, trying to deceive the authorities that administer the laws of Nicaragua, this is over. We are going to continue deepening our legislation and compliance with them, ”he threatened.
With these new organizations annulled —through a decree presented on April 29 and another on May 3— the Ortega regime adds 218 associations, universities, foundations and organizations closed from the end of 2018 to date.
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.
Faced with the outlawing of organizations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OACNUDH), stated on his Twitter account that “without civic space there is no democracy”.
#Nicaragua: without civic space there is no #democracy. The legislative initiatives pending before the National Assembly to cancel the legal personality of another 50 #OSCwhich would add up to 210, speak for themselves.
— OHCHR (@OHCHR) May 4, 2022
25 NGOs in each decree
Last Tuesday, one of these decrees that included 25 NGOs was known, including the Central American Historical Institute Civil Association (IHCA) —created by the Society of Jesus, also responsible for the Central American University (UCA)—; the Nicaraguan Foundation for Sustainable Development —led by the outstanding scientist Jaime Incer Barquero—; the Association of Dental Surgeons of León; Forum Association for Education and Human Development of the Initiative for Nicaragua (FEDH-IPN); among other.
This Wednesday the other decree was made known that included the other 25 NGOs, among them the La Corriente Feminist Regional Program Association, which worked in defense of women’s rights and questioned on several occasions the actions of the State in the face of the demand for stop sexist violence and femicides.
The sociologist and director of La Corriente, María Teresa Blandón, described the decision of the deputies as “an illegal act” because it violates the constitutional right to freedom of association and highlighted the work carried out by the organizations in the face of the vacuum generated by the State. , mainly, with women and groups of sexual diversity.
“We live in a regime that in any case wants to get rid of civil society organizations because it does not want to have a population that is aware of their rights and an active citizenry that participates, demands, formulates, and also denounces the violation of rights. ”, maintained the sociologist.
He added that this attack against the organization he directs and 49 others, responds to a “politics of devastation, of silencing”, and what are you looking for “Deactivate us, demobilize us and impose a single form of participation, a single form of organization that is controlled by the regime. It is part of a typical policy of authoritarian governments”, reported.
The Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua (ACN), made up of outstanding specialists in different areas of knowledge. The organization, whose headquarters are located at the Central American University (UCA), was responsible for promoting and disseminating science, research and education.
Other closed organizations are: “Grupo Fundemos” Foundation; Ten Foundation; Youth Association for Democracy of Nicaragua (JUDENIC); Association for the Development of the South Pacific of Nicaragua; Association for the Promotion of Mutual Benefits (PROBEMOS); Organized Poets Foundation in a Social, Intellectual and Artistic Space (Poetry Foundation); Friends in Action Foundation in Nicaragua; Youth Training Center Association (CEFOJ); Nicaraguan Foundation for the Support of Social Programs; Biodiversity Association of Nicaragua.
The Casa de la Mujer Bocana de Paiwas Association was also closed; Earth Non-Profit Association; Ometepe Youth Movement Association; Waslala Women’s Promotion Association; Workers Association for Education, Health and Social Integration; Nicaraguan Association of General Surgery; Foundation for the Promotion and Sustainable Development in the Isthmus of Rivas; Central American Fund for Women Foundation (FCAM); Peasant Association of Condega “Knowing ourselves and Producing”; Twinning Foundation of New Guinea “Light in the Jungle”; Yarrince Foundation; Apapachoa Foundation and Association of the Center for Environmental Policy Initiatives.
alleged violation of laws
The Ministry of the Interior (Migob) accuses the organizations 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 entity 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. .
