Nicaragua: a reality not very different from Venezuela

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Although the eyes are focused on Venezuela, what happens in Nicaragua is not far from resembling the Venezuelan reality, especially with the abuses to citizens

Since 2018, Nicaragua has been involved in a series of protests against reforms to the Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security, added to the fact that thousands of Nicaraguans came out to demand that Daniel Ortega leave power.

Leer en español: Nicaragua: no muy diferente a Venezuela

As a consequence of the above, those people who speak out against the proposed reforms or against the Ortega government suffer strong repressions, to the point of being violated, imprisoned or even killed by police and paramilitaries. Several organizations that fight for human rights have denounced that at least 325 people have died at the hands of the police.

So, could it be said that Nicaragua is living a situation very similar to that experienced in Venezuela? Here are 5 reasons to believe it:

1. Human Rights

The closure of several agencies that are dedicated to ensuring the guarantee of human rights, as in the case of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh), which was a center where the population could "denounce and obtain legal accompaniment in their respective cases of human rights violations", according to La Prensa; added to the exile of other organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and the Special Follow-up Mechanism for Nicaragua (Meseni), which, by order of the regime, were expelled from the country, and further aggravate the crisis.

Likewise, Michelle Bachelet, high commissioner before the UN, expressed her concern in the lack of organizations, because there is currently only one, which is the Permanent Commission of Human Rights (CPDH), and which has denounced that, during the protests, the violation of human rights ranges from crimes against humanity to the repression of the rights to freedom of association, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

2. Media censorship

As a result of the protests against the regime, several m that covered and denounced what happened, were closed or censored. According to La Prensa, at least 66 independent journalists have gone into exile, there are a couple of journalists detained, and several media have been confiscated or taken by the Ortega Police (PO). Against this, Michele Bachelet, expressed concern because "they have intensified with raids on media and detention of journalists, even for alleged crimes related to terrorism."

In addition, three independent and critical television programs were banned by the Nicaraguan authorities, as they criticized Daniel Ortega's regime. The complaint was filed by journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, who is in exile in Costa Rica, and described the incident as "an abuse of power".

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3. Migration

According to the Conjuncture Report 2018, among the main reasons why thousands of Nicaraguans leave the country, is "the contraction experienced by the economy, the uncertainty in the country since the crisis began, insecurity and lack of employment".

It is revealed that around 60,000 citizens have left the country: 41.2% have emigrated to Costa Rica, 24.2% to Panama, 13.1% to the United States, 11.5 to Spain, and 10% to other countries. Thus, according to data from CID-Gallup, "20.8% of Nicaraguans had at least one member of their family who has migrated since the beginning of the crisis in April 2018," as El Nuevo Diario recalls.

4. Political prisoners

Since the protests began, around 700 people have been arrested for being against the regime. In a mission of the European Union, the deputies said that as part of an early solution to the crisis is necessary "the provisional release of the imprisoned protesters, at least under the figure of house by jail, to cease the limitations on freedoms and the harassment of social leaders exercising fundamental rights and freedoms and allowing the return of the international organizations that defend human rights to the country ".

Similarly, denied that the country has tried to give a coup as alleged by the regime of Daniel Ortega because this reasoning is "speculative and partisan" and because "is not supported by any evidence."

5. Economic Crisis

Although the country did not have a very powerful economy, since the crisis worsened, the sale of cars, housing, consumption, services have decreased. In addition, it is expected that with the fiscal and Social Security reforms, the production costs will increase and the salary of the workers will decrease.

Similarly, according to the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides), if a quick solution to the crisis is not found, the economy will suffer a contraction between 7.3% and 10.9%. In addition, according to El Nuevo Diario, "Nicaragua could return to the levels of poverty that it had five years ago, around 30%."

LatinAmerican Post | Laura Viviana Guevara Muñoz

Translated from "Nicaragua: no muy diferente a venezuela"