Nicaragua: Strategy of repression in the run-up to elections continues relentlessly

In the context of the recent arrests of at least five people, including a presidential candidate, student leaders and campesino representatives, as well as the continuing harassment of human rights defenders, journalists and the independent media, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said:

“Despite the international community’s appeals, the new wave of arrests of dissident voices is not stopping. Daniel Ortega’s government is not only not listening to the international community, but it is defying it by violating more human rights.”

Despite the international community’s appeals, the new wave of arrests of dissident voices is not stopping. Daniel Ortega’s government is not only not listening to the international community, but it is defying it by violating more human rights.

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International

“In recent weeks a new wave of arrests of political activists and presidential hopefuls has shocked the world, these come on top of the continued detention of more than 100 people just for exercising their rights. The list of people unjustly detained grows daily without the government giving a single sign for the repression to stop.”

In recent weeks a new wave of arrests of political activists and presidential hopefuls has shocked the world, these come on top of the continued detention of more than 100 people just for exercising their rights. The list of people unjustly detained grows daily without the government giving a single sign for the repression to stop.

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International

“Despite requests from the families of those detained in recent weeks, the authorities are continuing to hold people in incommunicado detention, without their family or legal representatives being able to see them and verify their status and place of detention. There are sufficient grounds to fear for their physical integrity and their lives.”

“The international community must not relax its efforts to ensure an end to the repression. A more robust and coordinated response is essential. At this critical time, all efforts must be directed at making human rights a reality in Nicaragua.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Amnesty International press office: +44 (0) 20 7413 5566, [email protected]