Eleven men and one woman are the victims that the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo ordered its sanctioned Police to keep them illegally held in the Episcopal Curia of the Diocese of Matagalpa. Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, one of the most critical bishops of the regime, heads the list of the twelve people in captivity.
Today, August 8, the dictatorship ordered an increase in the police presence at all entrances to the episcopate headquarters in Matagalpa, a source on condition of anonymity revealed to Article 66. «Today there is more surveillance: more riot police and some with balaclavas. More police, both men and women,” she said.
A police patrol is stationed at the vehicle exit of the Curia and four riot police with shields are permanently at the gates to prevent the passage and free movement of the “retained”. The riot police that block the way to the seat of the episcopate are heavily armed.
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In front of Cáritas Matagalpa, two white vans without license plates and a double cabin were stationed. The streets are cordoned off with yellow iron fences. “The street that is behind the Curia, that is, the south side, that goes down from the FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front) Departmental is completely closed and with more riot police,” he reported.
In fasting and prayer
The twelve people inside the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa fast and pray daily from morning to afternoon, without drinking liquids. They have asked citizens to join in the prayers and to do so on their knees.
The source explained that the priests and the laity “are in good spirits” and that fasting and prayer “strengthens them a lot” at this time when they are experiencing attacks and persecution against the Church.
He pointed out that inside the Episcopal Curia they have food because right there is the residence of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez and another father.
“They are constantly fasting and that will make the food dilate a little more, even if there are 12 people. As for the sleeping room, there are enough bunks, since the seminarians sleep there when they have activities », he affirmed.
The main concern —according to the source— is the health of Father Ramiro Tijerino because he suffers from hypertension, diabetes, spinal problems and does not have access to his medicines.
They recommend filing a writ of habeas corpus
Lawyer Yonarqui Martínez recommended that the relatives or lawyers of the people held in the Curia of Matagalpa file habeas corpus or amparo appeals for threats of illegal detention to find out the real reasons why they are being held by the Police, something which he qualified as an “illegal retention” because only a judge can impose a precautionary measure such as house arrest or house arrest.
“The relatives should file different resources in favor of those who are being prevented from being able to have freedom of movement, the freedom to be able to communicate with their relatives. In this case, I would file a writ of habeas corpus to find out what measure the Police have against them or what they base their detention on,” he stressed.
The defender of political prisoners recalled that in the case of the people who were imprisoned who were pre-candidates for the Presidency, they were besieged for months outside their home and later the Police legalized the detention.
«They never did something legal, a document that justified their actions. So, I think they are acting in the same way when they surround us and don’t let us leave our houses,” Martinez told Article 66.
The jurist stated that this same situation of Monsignor Álvarez has happened with defense attorneys, released or when there are indications of some civic activity; prevent people from leaving.
«All this is illegal, practically the Police have kidnapped these people, there is no legal figure that gives legality to the Police’s actions, regardless of whether they are under investigation. There is no legal basis in having them detained and impeding their movement. There is no order from a judge », he concluded.
