Political prisoners in Nicaragua present health and emotional problems, after the captivity experienced by both those in the “La Esperanza” Women’s Penitentiary System, in the Granada prison, and in “El Nuevo Chipote”, in Managua.
The problems presented by the hostages of conscience were indicated in the report of the Inter-American Legal Assistance Center on Human Rights (Calidh) regarding the Fourth Periodic Report of Nicaragua and in the framework of the 136th Period of Sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (un).
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Calidh was concerned about the situation of hostages of conscience Tamara Dávila, Dora María Téllez, Suyén Barahona, Ana Margarita Vijil, Violeta Granera, María Oviedo, Samantha Jirón, María Esperanza Sánchez, Nidia Barbosa and Evelin Pinto.
Among the concerns that the Center points out is that of the human rights defense lawyer Maria Oviedo, prisoner since July 26, 2021. The report details that Oviedo has suffered from an autoimmune thyroid disease (Goiter) since she was a child, which requires daily medication (Eutirox 100), however she does not receive adequate medical attention, rather she is subjected to to inhumane treatment, poor nutrition and psychological torture.
According to Calidh, the regime’s police agents tell Oviedo that she will not see her children again, “so the stress of being in prison has caused her a lot of weight loss and skin diseases,” which could be seen at moment that the lawyer was exhibited in the courts of Managua, for an “informative hearing.”
Human rights violations
On the other hand, the Legal Assistance Center denounced that the young student activist Samantha Jiron She is not allowed to go out to the prison yard of the “La Esperanza” women’s prison in Tipitapa, nor can she have access to listen to the news.
They emphasize that the health of the opposition member, originally from Masaya, has deteriorated, thus presenting episodes of stress, gastric problems and hypertension. Jirón, detained since December 2021 — yesterday, Thursday, she served a year in prison — was sentenced to eight years in prison.
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As for the hostage of conscience Maria Esperanza Sanchez, point out that she has several health conditions “that put her at risk of having complications in the event of a possible contagion of Covid-19.
In addition to the captivity she has suffered since January 26, 2020, when she was kidnapped, the Calidh report stated that the political activist is subjected to threats and insults by the staff of the women’s prison system. “She has been denied access to medicines for her chronic illnesses, as well as access to vitamins, masks and other protective items against the pandemic,” she adds.
“Revenge against leaders of Unamos and Unab”
In the Calidh report, addressed to the UN Human Rights Committee, he denounced the “pattern of revenge and censorship” of the Nicaraguan government against the current president and two former presidents of the Unión Democrática Renovadora (Unamos). “The Nicaraguan authorities have been especially aggressive with these political leaders.”
The first to be mentioned by the Center is the opposition suyen barahona, current president of Unamos, who has not seen her son for 443 days. They also mention Ana Margarita Vijil, former president of the same party and the former Sandinista guerrilla Dora Maria Tellez, The latter, according to Calidh, has serious health problems “that she did not have before the arrest” and has lost more than 16 pounds.
Another opponent who has suffered violations of her rights as part of the pattern of government censorship and punishment is the feminist activist and member of the Blue and White National Unity Tamara Davila. The agency denounces that she “is isolated in a cell closed with bars, incommunicado with her six-year-old daughter. She also has medical problems and has not received adequate medical attention ».
The situation of the political prisoner Violet Barn It has also been of concern to Calidh, as she has presented dental complications and chronic illnesses without receiving adequate medical care.
Given these violations of the integrity of the kidnapped opposition members, Calidh asked the UN Human Rights Committee to request the Nicaraguan regime to immediately release the political prisoners, because they argue that they were detained “as part of the censorship and punishment plan for be dissident voices from state action before and during the current social crisis”.
