The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed its concern over the recent wave of arbitrary arrests and some exiles against opponents, activists and former politicians, as well as journalists and religious leaders, which the administration has ordered. by Daniel Ortega.
In a statement dated June 2, the organization’s spokeswoman, Marta Hurtado, said that “we are increasingly concerned that the Nicaraguan authorities are actively silencing any critical or dissident voice in the country and are using the justice system to this end”.
“In May alone, it was reported that 63 people were arbitrarily detained across the country. In a single night, 55 people were charged with “conspiracy to undermine national integrity and spreading false news,” charges the government appears to use to silence its critics,” the spokesperson said.
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“During their custody hearings, none of the 55 defendants had a lawyer of their choice and were instead represented by a public defender who was imposed on them. Among the detainees were human rights defenders, political opponents, journalists, rural workers and people linked to the Catholic Church,” he added.
The OHCHR also referred to the religious persecution that the Ortega-Murillo regime maintains against the Nicaraguan Church. The agency explained that recently three foreign nuns were expelled from Nicaragua and another three were prevented from leaving their convent. In addition, between May 21 and 23, four priests and four Church employees were arrested and detained. Three of them are under house arrest and one is in jail.
“At least three of the Church’s nine dioceses have had their bank accounts frozen for alleged money laundering. The Government has accused the Church of being a criminal organization that supports what it calls “terrorism” and the destabilization of the country,” he pointed out.
He also denounced that Bishop Rolando Álvarez is subject to “forced disappearance” because the authorities of the Jorge Navarro Penitentiary System, known as “La Modelo”, have not allowed him any visit since March 25. “The office has received information that his (the religious) prison cell has inadequate hygiene and sanitation and has no natural light, and that he is not allowed to leave, conditions that violate international human rights norms and standards,” he added. he.
The human rights entity also condemned that the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) arbitrarily stripped 26 Nicaraguan citizens of their title of lawyer and notary public. Twenty-five were stripped of their nationality in February, along with 292 other people. The authorities have confiscated some of their assets and property,” he added.
Faced with this series of human rights abuses and violations, the OHCHR demanded that the Nicaraguan State stop “the repression of dissent; immediately release all those arbitrarily detained; and restore the legal status of all organizations and media outlets that have been arbitrarily shut down since 2018.”
The agency also urged the Sandinista government to address the current crisis in Nicaragua through “dialogue, accountability for human rights violations, and institutional and legislative reforms to restore the rule of law.”
