Nicaraguan authorities are taking further restrictive measures against civil society. The latest is the introduction of restrictions on social media. Managuan authorities have passed a law in this case that provides for five years in prison. The Nicaraguan opposition calls it a “gag” aimed at stopping criticism of President Ortega.
Nicaragua’s parliament has approved a law that would punish authors of posts on social networking sites that authorities in Managua say sow “fear” among the population. It carries penalties of up to five years in prison. The exiled opposition has called the measure a “gag law” that would target social media content critical of President Daniel Ortega’s government, even if the person posting is abroad.
Restrictive changes
The decision by the Managuan authorities comes just days after the approval of another bill that reforms the penal code and provides for the imprisonment of Nicaraguans, both domestically and abroad, who have been found guilty of “crimes against the state.” One of the articles states that Managua will be able to prosecute natural or legal persons, including foreigners, who commit crimes outside the country’s territory against the public administration, the state and institutions, including computer crime. The United Nations stressed that there is a great risk that these very broad provisions could be used “to exert further pressure and intimidation,” including against civil society and church organizations.
Since the beginning of August 2024, the Nicaraguan authorities have tightened their anti-freedom course and have taken many actions to silence and completely subdue church, humanitarian, aid and civil organizations. During this time, 1.5 thousand were banned. Non-governmental organizations, including diocesan Caritas, were also taxed on church alms and donations intended to help the poorest.
It is estimated that since 2018, when the crisis between the government of President Daniel Ortega and civil society and the bishops who supported it intensified, 5.2 thousand non-governmental organizations have been banned throughout Nicaragua. According to the report – prepared by the group ‘Nicaragua nunca más’ which monitors the human rights situation in Nicaragua – there have been 870 documented attacks on the Catholic Church in this country in the last six years. During this time, 245 clergy have been expelled from Nicaragua. This group includes: the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, three bishops, 136 priests from different Nicaraguan dioceses, three deacons, eleven seminarians and 91 nuns or religious brothers.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
