“We counted 36 political prisoners in Nicaragua’s penitentiary systems,” of which 33 are men and 3 are women, the Mechanism indicated in a report, the data of which are endorsed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
According to the Mechanism, on September 5, Nicaraguan authorities released 135 political prisoners, who were exiled to Guatemala, following negotiations with the United States.
Following this mass release, the second in the last two years, 36 people remained in prison, including eight elderly people, he added.
The United States announced Thursday the release of 135 “political prisoners unjustly detained” in Nicaragua, who have been welcomed in Guatemala.
Neither the United States, nor Guatemala, nor Nicaragua have made the list of beneficiaries official.
Regarding the 135 released prisoners, the Mechanism explained that they have confirmed the release and exile of at least 114 of the 151 opponents and critics of the Sandinista Government who were in Nicaraguan prisons and who were on their books.
They also identified 18 other people who were not on their list, thus confirming the identity of 132 of the 135 people released and exiled.
That is, to the 151 political prisoners they had on their records, they must add at least 18 more, bringing the total to 169, according to their data.
Among those still in prison are Miskito indigenous political leaders Brooklin Rivera and Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez James.
The Miskito leaders were regional deputies in the National Assembly of Nicaragua for the indigenous party Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (Yatama, meaning “Children of Mother Earth” in the Miskito language), from which they were stripped after their arrest.
Other opponents who remain in prison are the lawyer Manuel Urbina Lara, Douglas Gamaliel Pérez Centeno or Douglas Gamaliel Álvarez Morales who was extradited from Costa Rica, eight Mayagna forest rangers, retired Major Eddie Moisés González Valdivia, among others, according to the Reflection Group of Former Political Prisoners of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua has been experiencing a political and social crisis since April 2018, which worsened after the controversial elections of November 2021, in which Ortega was re-elected for a fifth term – the fourth consecutive – with his main contenders in prison and whom he later expelled from the country and deprived of their nationality and political rights after accusing them of being “coup plotters” and “treason.”
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Table of Contents
Nicaragua’s Political Prisoner Crisis: 135 Released, But Many Still Behind Bars
Nicaragua has been embroiled in a political and social crisis since April 2018, which has led to the imprisonment of numerous political prisoners. Recently, in a significant development, 135 political prisoners were released and exiled to Guatemala following negotiations with the United States [2]. This move comes as a welcome respite for the prisoners and their families, but many still remain behind bars.
According to the Mechanism, a human rights organization, there were 151 political prisoners in Nicaraguan prisons, of which 114 have been confirmed as released and exiled [1]. This brings the total number of political prisoners to 169, as an additional 18 individuals not on the original list were also released.
The released prisoners include 13 people affiliated with an American evangelical church [3]. However, many prominent political leaders and critics of the Sandinista Government remain imprisoned, including Miskito indigenous leaders Brooklin Rivera and Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez James, lawyer Manuel Urbina Lara, and retired Major Eddie Moisés González Valdivia, among others.
The political crisis in Nicaragua has been ongoing since 2018, and worsened after the controversial elections of November 2021, in which President Ortega was re-elected for a fifth term. Many of his political opponents were imprisoned and later expelled from the country, stripped of their nationality and political rights.
The recent release of political prisoners is a step in the right direction, but it is crucial that more is done to address the systemic issues underlying the crisis. The international community must continue to pressure the Nicaraguan government to respect human rights and release all political prisoners.
while the release of 135 political prisoners is a positive development, it is essential to remember that many still suffer behind bars. The Nicaraguan government must take concrete steps to address the political and social crisis, and ensure that all political prisoners are released and their rights respected.
Key Takeaways:
135 political prisoners were released and exiled to Guatemala following negotiations with the United States.
The release brings the total number of political prisoners to 169, with many still behind bars.
Prominent political leaders and critics of the Sandinista Government remain imprisoned.
The Nicaraguan government must take concrete steps to address the political and social crisis and release all political prisoners.
References:
[1] Joint Statement on Assistance to Political Prisoners Released from Nicaragua. (2024, September 05). Retrieved from
[2] Release of Political Prisoners from Nicaragua to Guatemala. (2024, September 05). Retrieved from
[3] Nicaragua Releases 135 Political Prisoners in Deal. (2024, September 05). Retrieved from
Nicaraguan Political Prisoners: A Crisis Unfolds
Nicaragua has been embroiled in a political and social crisis since April 2018, which took a turn for the worse after the controversial elections of November 2021. The crisis has led to the imprisonment of numerous political prisoners, with many still languishing behind bars. However, in a recent development, 135 political prisoners were released and exiled to Guatemala, following negotiations between the United States and Nicaragua.
The Crisis in Nicaragua
Nicaragua’s crisis began in April 2018, with widespread protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega. The protests were sparked by a controversial pension reform, but soon escalated into demands for Ortega’s resignation. The government’s response was brutal, with security forces and paramilitary groups cracking down on protesters, resulting in the deaths of over 300 people.
Political Prisoners in Nicaragua
As the crisis deepened, the Nicaraguan government began to imprison political opponents, including students, religious leaders, and indigenous activists. According to the Mechanism, a human rights organization, there were 36 political prisoners in Nicaragua’s penitentiary systems, including 33 men and 3 women. These prisoners were detained for their opposition to the government, with many facing trumped-up charges such as “terrorism” and “treason.”
Release of 135 Political Prisoners
On September 5, 2024, the Nicaraguan authorities released 135 political prisoners, who were exiled to Guatemala[[[1]][[[2]][[[3]]. This mass release, the second in the last two years, followed negotiations between the United States and Nicaragua. The released prisoners include student and religious leaders who were arrested as part of the government’s crackdown on dissent.
Those Still Imprisoned
Despite the release of 135 political prisoners, many more remain behind bars. According to the Mechanism, 36 people are still imprisoned, including eight elderly individuals. Among those still imprisoned are Miskito indigenous political leaders Brooklin Rivera and Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez James, who were regional deputies in the National Assembly of Nicaragua before their arrest. Other opponents who remain in prison include the lawyer Manuel Urbina Lara, Douglas Gamaliel Pérez Centeno, and eight Mayagna forest rangers.
International Support
The release of the 135 political prisoners was secured through negotiations between the United States and Nicaragua, highlighting the importance of international support for human rights in Nicaragua. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has also played a crucial role in supporting the rights of political prisoners in Nicaragua.
Conclusion
The crisis in Nicaragua is a complex and multifaceted issue, with political prisoners being just one aspect of the problem. The release of 135 political prisoners is a positive development, but more needs to be done to address the underlying causes of the crisis. The international community must continue to support human rights in Nicaragua and pressure the government to release all political prisoners and respect the rights of its citizens.
References:
Keywords: political prisoners, Nicaragua, human rights, IACHR, United States, Guatemala.
