Nicaragua: Activists detained in Nicaragua
On 14 November 2019, the Nicaraguan police detained and imprisoned at least 13 activists while leaving the San Miguel Parish Church in Masaya (Nicaragua). The activists were giving water to a group of people on hunger strike to demand the release of their relatives, who were detained for participating in the protests of 18 April 2018. We urge the Nicaraguan authorities to drop all charges and immediately release all those detained solely on the grounds of exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
FIFTH UA: 082/19 Index: AMR 43/1423/2019 NICARAGUA Date: 18 November 2019
URGENT ACTION
ACTIVISTS DETAINED IN NICARAGUA
On 14 November 2019, the Nicaraguan police detained and imprisoned at least 13 activists while leaving the San Miguel
Parish Church in Masaya (Nicaragua). The activists were giving water to a group of people on hunger strike to demand
the release of their relatives, who were detained for participating in the protests of 18 April 2018. The protests broke out
following the government’s attempt to implement unpopular and non-consulted social security reforms and were met with
violent repression. We urge the Nicaraguan authorities to drop all charges and immediately release all those detained
solely on the grounds of exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER
President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega Saavedra
c/o Minister for Foreign Affairs
Del cine González 1 c. al Sur,
sobre Avenida Bolivar,
Managua, Nicaragua
Twitter: @DenisCanciller
Dear President Ortega,
I write to express my concern about the continued persecution and criminalization strategy in Nicaragua
since the protests of 18 April 2018. According to reports from local organizations, on 14 November, the
Nicaraguan police detained at least 13 activists solely on the grounds of showing solidarity with a group
of individuals on hunger strike, who were demanding the release of over 130 people in detention since
the protests of 18 April 2018.
I urge you to drop all charges and immediately release all people detained for exercising their right to
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, in accordance with international standards.
Yours sincerely,
FIFTH UA: 082/19 Index: AMR 43/1423/2019 NICARAGUA Date: 18 November 2019
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On 18 April 2018, protests broke out following the government’s attempt to implement unpopular and non-consulted
social security reforms. These protests were met with violent repression. According to the Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights, the crisis has resulted in the deaths of 328 people and more than 2,000 injuries. Moreover, civil society
figures establish that more than 700 have been arrested. Besides, 300 health professionals were dismissed; 144 students
have been expelled from the UNAN (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua). About 80,000 Nicaraguans have
fled to neighbouring countries, 68,000 of them are seeking refuge in Costa Rica until August 2019, according to the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Over 100 journalists and media workers have been forced into exile.
The Government has failed so far to fulfil its commitment, made in March 2019, to release all people detained solely for
exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly since 18 April 2018. An Amnesty Law was approved
by the National Assembly of Nicaragua on 8 June 2019, following this approval, 56 people were released on 11 June
2019. However, several cases of repression have been reported. According to local organizations, at least 130 people
continue in detention. On 16 May 2019, Eddy Montes (57) a Nicaraguan and U.S. citizen, was shot dead at La Modelo
prison in Managua. He and others who were injured were arrested for participating in the 2018 protests. Also, the
Nicaraguan Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (Iniciativa Nicaraguense de Defensoras de Derechos Humanos)
and the Legal Defence Unite (Unidad de Defensa Jurídica) reported that Maria Guadalupe Ruiz Briceño (22), student
and activist, was arbitrary detained with violence by the police on July 2019, and authorities have not duly complied with
due process standards.
In the report “Instilling terror”, Amnesty International concluded that one of the central plank of this repressive policy was
the Nicaraguan state's persistent efforts to criminalize opponents, referring to anyone who protested against the
government as “terrorists” or “coup plotters” to justify its own violent actions. Since then, protests have continued
demanding substantial change to the status quo. One year and a half after the beginning of the crackdown on protests,
Amnesty International continues to receive reports of arbitrary detentions and torture of persons deprived of their liberty.
Civil society organizations whose legal status was cancelled by the government (including the Nicaraguan Centre for
Human Rights - CENIDH) remain unable to freely carry out their work in the country, and the harassment of journalists
and human rights defenders continues. Attacks against freedom of expression and peaceful assembly indicate ongoing
strategy to supress dissenting voices.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: Spanish
You can also write in your own language.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 30 December 2019
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.
NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: People facing criminal proceedings in Nicaragua (They, them,
their)
LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr43/1249/2019/en/