Press Release: Demand the Restitution of Constitutional Rights in Nicaragua

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Oswaldo León-Fariello
oswaldo.leon@nfc-global.org
+1(202) 213 6714

Washington, D.C., November 18, 2019 — The Nicaragua Freedom Coalition (NFC) expresses its grave concern and condemns the repressive actions taken by the government of Nicaragua against its own people, specifically the flagrant assault on rights guaranteed by the Nicaraguan Constitution.

On November 14, police and paramilitaries arrested 13 opposition and human rights activists when they attempted to enter the Church of San Miguel Arcángel in Masaya, Nicaragua, to provide water, and other humanitarian assistance to the mothers of a group of political prisoners who had taken refuge inside the Church.

For three days, the police and paramilitary have laid siege on the Church, cutting off water and electricity, as well as access to life-saving medication. Not only does the siege place the health of those inside at risk, but it violates their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in support of the liberty of their relatives. Impeding the entry and exit into a Church violates the right of assembly and freedom of religion of all citizens, yet the police have allowed government supporters to enter the Church and have denied entry to independent media. The mothers have begun a hunger strike inside, while pro-government mobs have desecrated the church.

These events are accompanied by an increase in government-sponsored hate speech, harassment, and attacks against freed political prisoners, human rights defenders, and media. Instead of protecting its citizens, the police and paramilitary are often the perpetrators under directives from the government. And the police and paramilitary are acting with impunity through the misuse of the same law intended to provide relief to former political prisoners.

Nicaragua Freedom Coalition - a coalition of organizations, groups, and individuals who aspire to achieve freedom, justice, democracy, and economic stability in Nicaragua - calls for an end to the indefensible acts and violations of fundamental human rights perpetrated by the Nicaraguan government on its people.

Along with national and international organizations, we:

1. Demand that the Nicaraguan government immediately release the 13 individuals which have been arbitrarily detained and arrested: Ivania Alvárez, Roberto Büstching, Amaya Coppens, Derlis Hernández, Olama Hurtado, Wendy Juarez, José Medina, Melvin Peralta, Hanzel Quintero, Atahualpa Quintero, Neyma Hernández Jesús Tefel, Olga Valle.

2. Demand an immediate lifting of the siege and halt to the harassment against the supporters of the mothers and relatives of the political prisoners at the Church of San Miguel Arcángel.

3. Reiterate the need for restoring civil and political freedoms, justice and the return of democratic institutions in Nicaragua.

4. Reiterate our call to the international community to raise its condemnation against the socio-political and human rights crisis that Nicaragua is experiencing since April 18, 2018.

5. Affirm to the people of Nicaragua that the Nicaraguan diaspora around the world will redouble its efforts and continues to be firmly committed to the freedom of political prisoners, to justice, democracy and freedom in Nicaragua.