Q24N (EFE) The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) warned that the “silence on freedom of the press and expression continues to close” in Nicaragua under the government headed by Daniel Ortega, in power since 2007, according to a report by the organization, pending approval at its 80th Annual Assembly, from October 17 to 20, held in Argentina.
“The regime of President Daniel Ortega continued to ‘cleanse’ the country’s political system and close the siege on freedom of the press and expression with the release of 135 political prisoners, including some independent journalists, whom it deported to Guatemala in September,” the IAPA indicated in the statement.
That organization recalled that a similar action was taken by the authorities last year, when they released and expelled 222 political prisoners from Nicaragua to Washington, including media directors, following an agreement with the United States.
– Advertisement –
In both cases, all of the exiled persons suffered the loss of their nationality, the IAPA noted.
Among the last 135 released and exiled prisoners is journalist Víctor Ticay, arrested on April 6, 2023, and who had been sentenced to eight years in prison for the crimes of treason and spreading false news, after recording and disseminating a religious procession on his social networks, it noted.
Likewise, the IAPA warned that “the independent journalist and feminist activist Fabiola Tercero remains missing, who is not included in the list of those deported to Guatemala, as expected.”
Tercero disappeared on July 12 and several press organizations have expressed their fear that the Ortega government may be involved in this disappearance, it added.
The IAPA also mentioned the case of Nicaraguan photojournalist Oswaldo Rivas who “was forced to leave the country, since he began to be persecuted by the police in June 2024.”
Rivas collaborated with the news agencies Reuters, AFP and The New York Times.
Exile, threats, siege, closure and the agenda
– Advertisement –
The photojournalist is one of the 276 independent journalists who have left Nicaragua for security reasons, noted the IAPA, which based this data on the figures offered by the organizations Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (Fled) and Independent Journalists and Communicators of Nicaragua (Pcin).
The organization also reported on 47 attacks between January and June of this year, mostly threats, 16 of which occurred to journalists working in other countries.
“The government maintains strict control over those journalists who remain in the country. In April, the government required independent journalists, mostly elderly people who no longer practice the profession, to report to a special telephone line. Previously, they had to do so by going to police stations,” the report said.
The government is also harassing journalists who work for official media outlets, for allowing citizens to make complaints, it added.
– Advertisement –
It also cited the report “Repression and financial problems pave the way towards the abandonment of journalistic practice in Nicaragua,” prepared by the Fled, which reported that 41% of the country’s territory has been left without independent journalistic practice.
On the other hand, the IAPA said that there have been cases of denial of entry visas to foreign journalists and “influencers.”
In addition, between January and July the Sandinista government ordered the closure of religious media outlets, such as Radio María, and that, after intimidation, they managed to change the news agenda of some media outlets, such as Radio Volcán.
– Advertisement –
Source link
Q24N
