Nicaragua: State repressing demonstrators
Nicaraguan authorities have responded violently to demonstrations taking place throughout the country by repressing protesters, and violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. At least 28 people have been killed in this context since 18 April, including students.
UA: 80/18 Index: AMR 43/8282/2018 Nicaragua Date: 24 April 2018
URGENT ACTION
STATE REPRESSING DEMONSTRATORS
Nicaraguan authorities have responded violently to demonstrations taking place
throughout the country by repressing protesters, and violating their rights to freedom of
expression and assembly. At least 28 people have been killed in this context since 18
April, including students.
Since 18 April, several protests have taken place all over the capital city of Managua as well as other cities in
Nicaragua (Bluefields, León, Estelí, Masaya), mobilizing hundreds of people from different sectors of society that
were in disagreement with reforms to the social security system.
At least 28 people have been killed and there are reports of several injured, detained and disappeared.
Although President Daniel Ortega announced on 22 April the derogation of social security reforms, reports of
demonstrators detained and disappeared persist.
Repression against journalists has been particularly strong and scaling. When the demonstrations began on 18
April, security forces and armed civilians who sympathize with the government hit several journalists and
threatened them with stealing their equipment. On 19 April, the government censored national media, and took
three channels off the air. On 21 April, an unknown assailant fatally shot a journalist in the head while he was doing
a Facebook Live broadcast of the commotions taking place in Bluefields.
Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:
Calling on the President of Nicaragua to immediately guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and
assembly;
Urging the authorities to engage in dialogue with civil society sectors, including the victims of state repression,
to find a peaceful solution to this grave situation;
Calling on them to launch a timely, impartial and independent investigation into the attacks and killings, to make
the results public and bring those responsible to justice;
Calling on them to immediatly release those detained only on the grounds of their peaceful excercise of their
freedom of expression.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 5 JUNE 2018 TO:
President of the Republic
Daniel Ortega
Presidencia de la Republica, frente a
Palacio Nacional, 4 Calle Noroeste
Managua, Nicaragua, 11001
Fax: +505 2228 9090
Twitter: @EPP_Nicaragua,
@DanielOrtega_Ni
Salutation: Dear President/ Estimado
Presidente
Director of National Police of Nicaragua
Arminta Elena Granera Sacasa
Centro Comercial Metrocentro
2 Cuadras al Este
Edificio Faustino Ruíz Policía Nacional
(Plaza El Sol)
Managua, Nicaragua
Email: agranera@policia.gob.ni,
relacionespublicas@policia.gob.ni
Salutation: Dear Madam Director/
Estimada Señora Directora
And copies to:
Amnesty Internacional Central America
team
Email: equipoca@amnesty.org
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
STATE REPRESSING DEMONSTRATORS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The reform initially proposed and approved by President Daniel Ortega implied an increase to contributions by workers and
employers to the country’s social security system, and an additional contribution by retired pensioners that would provoke a
decrease in pensions. After days of protests, President Ortega announced on 22 April that the reform was finally revoked by the
Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security.
As documented in Amnesty International’s 2017/2018 annual report, attacks against human rights defenders persist with
impunity in Nicaragua. There were also reports of unnecessary and excessive use of force by the police against people
peacefully protesting against the construction of the Grand Interoceanic Canal, as well as reports of arbitrary detention of
protesters. Human rights defenders were also reported to have been harassed and intimidated for their opposition to the project.
More information available on https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/americas/nicaragua/report-nicaragua/.
Name: Protesters in Nicaragua
Gender m/f: all
UA: 80/18 Index: AMR 43/8282/2018 Issue Date: 24 April 2018