NICARAGUA: ORTEGA GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE PREPARING FOR A NEW PHASE OF REPRESSION

The new legislation was presented by the ruling party days after the president expressed interest in initiating a reform to establish life imprisonment, which could be used to punish those who raise their voices against repressive policies

In light of the recent presentation of the Law for the Regulation of Foreign Agents and the Special Law on Cyber-crime before Nicaragua’s National Assembly, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, said:

“After several weeks of intensified state repression against activists, human rights defenders and journalists, the ruling party presented two bills that attempt to silence those who criticize government policies, inform the population and defend human rights. It seems that President Daniel Ortega’s government is preparing the legal framework to begin a new phase of repression.”

“The new legislation was presented by the ruling party days after the president expressed interest in initiating a reform to establish life imprisonment, which could be used to punish those who raise their voices against repressive policies. People should not be sanctioned for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Once again, we call on the government to end the repression. We will not stop denouncing it.”

“In a country where press freedom and the defence of human rights are under continuous attack, the international community must be energetic in condemning these events and demanding that the government, once and for all, guarantee the human rights of the population.”