UN High Commissioner calls for respect for freedoms in Nicaragua.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged the Nicaraguan government on December 15 to «immediately release all those detained» for political reasons, and to initiate «an inclusive national dialogue» in the face of the serious political crisis affecting the country since 2018.

In a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk updated a report issued by his office last September, indicating that the «deterioration» of public liberties in the country persists. The government of Daniel Ortega responded by describing it as » infamous” to the Council.

«I urge the authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained » and to «reinclude those who were excluded in the political and social sphere,» the high commissioner said.

He also asked the government «to fully respect the fundamental freedoms of expression and association,» as well as «to engage in an inclusive national dialogue, anchored in human rights.»

Türk stressed that his office is «willing to work» on these issues with Managua, and requested that his team be allowed into the country. Ortega has repeatedly denied access to Nicaragua by international human rights organizations since late 2018, including a UN Group of Experts appointed last March to investigate allegations of abuse and repression.

Criminal charges against bishop and two journalists from Matagalpa.

Journalists Manuel Obando Cortedano, head of media for the diocese of Matagalpa (north), and Wilberto Artola Mejía, journalist for the digital channel TV Merced, were accused by the Public Ministry on Wednesday, December 14.

The communicators, arrested by police three days earlier, were working with Catholic Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who administers the Matagalpa diocese. The prelate was arrested on August 19 and formally charged on December 13 in court for the alleged crimes of «conspiracy» and «propagation of false news.»

Monsignor Álvarez, a priest very critical of the Ortega regime, has been the target of persecution by the government for months. It was announced that he will be seated in the dock on January 10, 2023, at an initial hearing.

Accused in the same case is the exiled Catholic priest Uriel Antonio Vallejos, who responded to the criminal accusation saying that in Nicaragua «criminals are in power.»

Dagmar Thiel , director of US-based Fundamedios, a member of the Voces del Sur network, demanded the immediate release of both journalists, as well as the 240 people arbitrarily detained in Nicaragua.

Voices from the South: press freedom violations persist

At least 6 journalists and one Nicaraguan media outlet reported violations of press freedom during the month of November, according to a report by the regional network Voces del Sur released on December 12.

The report includes threats against two journalists for carrying out their work, while four other professionals «were forced into exile due to the difficulty that exists in the country to carry out their profession and the danger that it implies.»

Among them is the case of the correspondent for the Spanish news agency in Managua, Luis Felipe Palacios, who was prevented by the government from re-entering his country after a trip to Panama, despite of being a journalist born in Nicaragua.

In other information

Regime authorizes family visits to prisoners in “El Chipote”

After more than 80 days without receiving visits from their families, the more than 50 political prisoners held in the “El Chipote” police jail were authorized to have » special visits » from their closest relatives, including children and grandchildren who entered the prison for the first time. penitentiary center on December 7 and 8, when the country celebrates religious festivities to the Virgin Mary.

Among those who were able to share with their families for four hours, during which time they also ate lunch provided by the prison authorities, were the journalists Miguel Mendoza and Miguel Mora, who received a visit from their children. In the case of Mendoza, he had not seen his 8-year-old daughter Alejandra for more than 500 days.

A battery of agents with photographic and video cameras recorded every detail of the family gatherings, without requesting permission to film.

The main human rights organizations had demanded that the government allow more frequent visits to prisoners of conscience, as required by law. The police authorities assured that they will repeat these visits on December 24 and 31.

*Below you can click here and read a complete summary of the year 2022 made by PEN International.