Managua, Nicaragua
The Nicaraguan National Police on Monday picked up Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, one of the most critical voices in the government of President Daniel Ortega, when demanding the return of the building where his media operate, which remains occupied by the authorities for two years.
Chamorro, son of former President Violeta Barrios (1990-1997), went to the headquarters of the building where the digital magazines Confidencial and Niú operated, and the television programs Esta Setmana and Esta Noche, which he directs, and since the street offers a wheel. of press that was interrupted before the arrival of anti-riot agents, according to stated independent local means.
Police disembarked from two patrols and ordered Chamorro, his wife, Desirée Elizondo, and several journalists in his charge, as well as the president of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh), Vilma Núñez, to retire.
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Officers lined up, raised their shields to their chests and shouted “let’s move forward” and “break through,” retreating Chamorro, who while walking complained that “the authority is occupying this place illegally. · Legal “.
“This is a sample of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega. This is the official state live. We are here to demand the suspension of censorship and the suspension of the official state,” shouted Chamorro, winner of the IV Casa Prize America Catalonia in Freedom of Expression in Latin America in 2009, and in 2010 with the María Moors Cabot Award.
“It doesn’t matter that the official state is shown by brute force because they did not confiscate ideas, they never confiscated journalism, they did not prevent the free press from continuing to report and the stamps portraying you (Police) in front of Nicaraguans and the world, ”he noted.
According to Chamorro, “the dictatorship closed down by the force of the physical facilities” of its media, “the equipment was stolen, occupied and occupied our newsroom, but they were never able to shut up, confiscate journalism, or the critical spirit of journalists and our conviction and commitment to the people of Nicaragua, to our audiences to maintain critical information, to continue to monitor power “
At least 39 journalists, a television channel, two television programs and two Nicaraguan radio stations have appealed before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for violation of private property, and for damages, “by exhausting all means to get justice in Nicaragua, “according to Chamorro.
Also the son of journalist Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, assassinated in 1978 for criticizing President and dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle, assuring that “if the Supreme Court’s refusal is confirmed, the lawsuit against the State of Nicaragua will finally be brought before the Inter-American Court of Justice “.
Since April 2018, Nicaragua has been experiencing a socio-political crisis that has left fewer than 328 dead, according to the IACHR, although local bodies raise the figure to 684 and the government recognizes 200 and denounces an alleged coup attempt.