Dictatorial paranoia Nicaragua | 25 August 2022

Nicaragua: Ortega vs. Catholic church – the battle continues

Since July 2022, the government has increased pressure on Catholic church leaders and church activities, including the closing of seven local radio stations.

 

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Since July 2022, the government headed by President Daniel Ortega has increased pressure on Catholic church leaders and church activities:
  • 14 July 2022: Police seized the facilities of a seminary belonging to the Archdiocese of Managua. They also took over the building of the Adolf Kolping private school, which had had its registration canceled in March 2022 (Zenit, 18 July 2022).
  • 1 August 2022: According to a Matagalpa church communication, the government’s telecommunications regulator, Telcor, ordered the closure of the radio stations listed below for alleged operating irregularities. It is suspected that the closures were in fact caused by broadcast criticism of government practices. The seven affected stations were all under the administration of the bishop of the Diocese of Estelí:
    • Radio Hermanos
    • Radio Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (La Dalia)
    • Radio Santa Lucía (Ciudad Darío)
    • Radio Católica (Sébaco)
    • Radio Nuestra Señora de Fátima (Rancho Grande)
    • Radio San José of Matiguás (Río Blanco)
    • Radio Monte Carmelo (Río Blanco).
  • 3 August 2022: The church house of Niño Jesús de Praga church in Matagalpa and its occupants were surrounded by police for three days. The police also broke into the church, beat the Christians inside and confiscated radio equipment, thus shutting down all Sébaco Catholic Radio broadcasting (LA News, 4 August). As a result of the police siege, the parish suspended classes at the San Luis Gonzaga school until further notice. Activities at the church and church house have also been postponed indefinitely (Panam Post, 2 August 2022).
  • 4 August 2022: Government riot police prevented the Bishop of Matagalpa and other church staff from leaving the bishop’s headquarters to celebrate Mass (Aciprensa, 5 August).
  • 12 August 2022: The Managua authorities refused to allow a ‘Virgin of Fatima’ procession to take place outside the Catholic cathedral. The event was instead held within the cathedral walls (Religion Digital, 12 August 2022).
  • 14 August 2022: Roman Catholic priest Oscar Danilo Benavidez Tinoco in Mulukukú was arrested at the end of a church service. He is accused of “attacking and creating anxiety among the people” and is being held, pending investigations, in the infamous El Chipote prison, which is “considered a torture center by the regime’s security forces” (Infobae, 18 August 2022). 
  • 17 August 2022: The parish priest and vicar of the Santa Lucía church in Matagalpa have been moved out of the area for security reasons (Aciprensa, 17 August 2022). A day earlier, state police had tried to arrest the parish priest. He was forced to lead worship from within the church compound with the congregation standing outside in an attempt to prevent security agents from entering the church grounds (Gloria TV, 20 August 2022).
  • 19 August 2022: In the early hours, police forced their way into the Matagalpa bishop’s headquarters after holding the occupants under siege for 15 days (OEA, 19 August 2022). The police later confirmed that Bishop Rolando Álvarez had been placed under house arrest and seven members of staff had been taken to the El Chipote prison for questioning (Twitter, 19 August 2022). There are now rumors that the bishop could be expelled from the country (Confidencial, 20 August 2022). The journalist Eduardo Montenegro reported that the police had contacted him earlier, telling him to publish accusations which would justify the arrest of the bishop. He refused and - fearing repercussions - quickly fled the country (Nicaragua Investiga, 17 August 2022).
World Watch Research analyst Rossana Ramirez comments: “The facts speak for themselves. Despite the many attempts by the government to silence the Church, church leaders have not succumbed to the pressure. As a result the levels of hostility have increased; both administrative and violent measures are now common. The authorities are no longer just monitoring the preaching and activities of those churches and leaders considered enemies of the government; they are now intensifying pressure by preventing church leaders and other Christians from leaving their parish houses, cutting off basic services, preventing them from delivering food parcels, and arresting them. It is worth remembering that once in the hands of the police, human rights are unlikely to be respected, as was the case for two priests who were recently imprisoned on fabricated charges (Article 66, 28 June 2022).”

Rossana Ramirez adds: “It is essential that the international community continues to be made aware of these acts of persecution (DW, 20 August 2022). Levels of pressure and violence against the Catholic church in particular look set to continue rising in the remaining months of 2022.”
 

 

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