the peasant leaders Medardo Mairena, Peter Mena Y Freddy Navas; with student leaders Lesther German Y Max Sherrycelebrate this July 5, 2022 a year of being held captive in the cells of the Evaristo Vázquez Police Complex, known as “El Nuevo Chipote”, a place where they receive cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, according to complaints from the relatives of the political prisoners and human rights organizations.
The five political prisoners were arrested last year a few months before the presidential elections of November 2021, in a day of hunting opponents that included seven presidential candidates who would try to snatch the Presidency of Nicaragua from the dictator Daniel Ortega.
Related news: Relatives of political prisoners demand that the regime “show everyone” their imprisoned relatives
A year ago, the Police at the service of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo raided the safe house where the university student was. Max Sherrypresident of the Nicaraguan University Alliance (AUN) and member of the Civic Alliance.
Simultaneously, the police forces also broke into the family home and kidnapped the university leader Lesther Germanleader of AUN and one of the opposition faces known for his appearance at that National Dialogue table, in 2018, where he confronted Daniel Ortega and yelled a phrase at him that would mean the worst affront to the dictator: “Give up!”
In the case of peasant leaders, The three opponents were violently detained in their homes and this is the second time they have been imprisoned by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. In 2018, they were charged with alleged terrorism and Mairena was sentenced to 216 years in prison. On this occasion they were singled out for “conspiracy to undermine national integrity” in accordance with “repressive” Law 1055, the Sovereignty Law.
The peasant and student leaders faced trials flawed for “treason against the fatherland.” Max Jerez, Lesther Alemán and Medardo Mairena were sentenced to 13 years in prison; and Freddy Navas together with Pedro Mena sentenced to 10 years in prison each.
Recently, opposition organizations and relatives of political prisoners demanded that the administration of Daniel Ortega allow entry of international organizations to the penitentiary centers of Nicaragua, especially to the “New Chipote” cells, so that they verify the health and physical situation of their detained relatives.
According to him Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners, in Nicaragua there are 190 opponents imprisoned for political reasons and judged with laws approved months before the presidential elections and branded as repressive by opponents and human rights organizations. All have been victims of torture, according to reports from their families.
