Tag

Daniel Ortega

All articles tagged with #daniel ortega

world-news1 year ago•5 min saved

"Nicaragua's Catholic Church Crackdown Sparks Fear at Home and Abroad"

The crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua by President Daniel Ortega's government has led to the expulsion of priests, harassment, church desecrations, and fear among the faithful. The pervasive fear has silenced criticism of the authoritarian government, with priests and laypeople fearing reprisals for speaking out. The government's targeting of the church is seen as an attempt to quash opposition and silence a respected voice in the country. The repression has deeply affected both the spiritual and material aspects of the population, with significant gaps in social services and restrictions on religious practices. Despite ongoing fear, many faithful continue to attend church services, while exiled activists and clergy call for continued international attention and protest against the repression.

via The Associated Press|

#catholic-church #daniel-ortega #exile

world-news2 years ago•1 min saved

"Nicaraguan Regime Escalates Clampdown with Arrest of 13 Catholic Priests"

Nicaraguan authorities have detained four more priests, escalating the government's crackdown on the Catholic Church and dissent. This recent action increases the total number of clergy arrested to 12 in just three days. President Daniel Ortega's regime has been targeting the Church and its members since the 2018 protests, where some priests were accused of supporting opposition activities. The government has not commented on the arrests, which include influential figures such as Monsignor Miguel Mantica and priests who sheltered students during the 2018 government attacks.

via Reuters Canada|

#catholic-church #daniel-ortega #nicaragua

world-news2 years ago•2 min saved

"Nicaraguan Authorities Escalate Crackdown with Multiple Catholic Priest Arrests"

Nicaraguan police have arrested three more Catholic priests, increasing the total detained this week to at least nine, amid a broader crackdown on the Church by President Daniel Ortega's government. The arrests include critics of Ortega, such as Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years for treason earlier this year. The government has not provided reasons for the recent arrests, which follow a history of accusing church leaders of subversion since protests in 2018. The crackdown has intensified after Pope Francis labeled Ortega's government a "gross dictatorship," leading to severed ties with the Vatican.

via Reuters Canada|

#arrests #catholic-church #daniel-ortega

politics2 years ago•4 min saved

"Nicaragua's Miss Universe Franchise Owner Accused of Orchestrating Beauty Queen Coup"

The Nicaraguan government, led by President Daniel Ortega, is targeting the Miss Universe franchise and its operators, accusing them of conspiring against the nation. This comes after a Nicaraguan beauty queen, Sheynnis Palacios, won the Miss Universe pageant and became a symbol of national pride and a longing for change. The government's attack on the franchise is seen as a sign of paranoia from a regime that has suppressed opposition, jailed or deported opposition leaders, and imprisoned Catholic bishops and priests. The government's control over social and political life has intensified in recent years, but it remains to be seen if it can control a beauty queen.

via The Washington Post|

#daniel-ortega #miss-universe #nicaragua

world2 years ago•3 min saved

"Miss Nicaragua Pageant Director Arrested for Orchestrating 'Beauty Queen Coup' Scheme"

The director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, has been charged by Nicaraguan police with rigging contests to ensure that anti-government beauty queens would win as part of a plot to overthrow the government. The charges come after Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, won the Miss Universe competition and it was revealed that she had participated in anti-government protests in 2018. The government of President Daniel Ortega has cracked down on opposition, closing universities and civic groups, arresting and expelling opponents, and confiscating their assets. Celebertti has reportedly evaded arrest, while her husband and son have been taken into custody.

via CBS News|

#coup-plot #daniel-ortega #karen-celebertti

immigration2 years ago•5 min saved

Exploitation of Haitian Migrants Benefits Nicaragua's Ortega, Prompting Biden Administration Warning

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his government have been profiting from the influx of vulnerable Haitian migrants who use the country as a transit point to reach the United States. The regime charges exorbitant entry fees of $150-$200 per migrant, generating millions of dollars each month. Additionally, the government imposes steep landing fees on charter flights from Haiti, amounting to $2,000-$3,000 per flight. The departure tax on these flights further adds to the regime's revenue. The United States has expressed concern about the increase in charter flights and warned Haitians about the dangers and uncertainties of the journey. Experts argue that Ortega and his government are intentionally facilitating this migration crisis to attack the United States.

via EL PAÍS USA|

#daniel-ortega #haitian-migrants #immigration

world2 years ago•15 min saved

Fear and Press Freedom: A Glimpse into Ortega's Nicaragua

A journalist with Nicaraguan roots recounts his return to Nicaragua, a country steeped in fear under President Daniel Ortega's regime. The government has made it nearly impossible for foreign journalists to enter the country, and local journalists face threats and attacks. The Nicaraguan government has gradually closed the space for journalism, buying TV stations, imprisoning journalists, and confiscating equipment. Despite the risks, the journalist decided to visit Nicaragua and witness the changes firsthand, guided by his mother's encouragement to "run toward it." The country has become one of the most dangerous places for journalists, with limited press freedom and a climate of fear.

via NPR|

#daniel-ortega #human-rights #journalism

world-affairs2 years ago•6 min saved

Unveiling Nicaragua: A Glimpse into a Journalistically Isolated Nation

Nicaragua, one of the most authoritarian countries in the Western Hemisphere, has shut out foreign journalists for over a year. NPR's Eyder Peralta managed to enter the country and provides exclusive on-the-ground reporting. President Daniel Ortega, who came to power in 2007, responded violently to protests in 2018, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of protesters and the imprisonment of opponents. Ortega has since changed electoral laws, captured the judiciary, and suppressed civil society. The international community has been unable to effectively combat Ortega's rule, setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian leaders in the region.

via NPR|

#authoritarianism #daniel-ortega #journalism

politics2 years ago•2 min saved

Nicaragua Freezes Catholic Church Accounts Over Money Laundering Accusations

Nicaraguan police are investigating several dioceses of the Catholic Church for money laundering, and have frozen the bank accounts of parishes in the country. The government of President Daniel Ortega has intensified attacks against the Catholic Church since 2018 anti-government protests, accusing the bishops of attempting a coup. The police statement said the bank accounts were linked to religious figures convicted of treason and other crimes, and that the investigations confirmed the funds entered the country irregularly.

via Reuters.com|

#catholic-church #daniel-ortega #human-rights

politics2 years ago•1 min saved

Russian FM Lavrov seeks Latin American support against Western sanctions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega downplayed the impact of US sanctions on officials of their two nations during Lavrov's visit to Nicaragua. Lavrov hailed Nicaragua as an ally against the US-led coalition seeking to turn back Russia's invasion. Ortega said that they are no longer afraid of US sanctions and spoke with Lavrov about "the efforts being made by the Russian Federation, by President Putin, to seek peace with security." Russia is an important ally of Nicaragua, providing it with wheat, vehicles, and its Sputnik vaccine against Covid-19.

via The Moscow Times|

#daniel-ortega #nicaragua #politics

human-rights2 years ago•3 min saved

Nicaragua's Ongoing Human Rights Abuses: A Rights Crisis Continues.

Amnesty International has released a report warning that the Nicaraguan government, led by President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, is deepening repression in the country. The report documents abuses such as arbitrary detention, torture, and stripping dissidents of citizenship. The government has been accused of consolidating power and cracking down on voices of opposition since anti-austerity protests in 2018. The report states that the government has continued to “expand and reinvent” patterns of repression through various methods, including excessive force, attacks on civil society groups, and using the judiciary to target opponents.

via Al Jazeera English|

#amnesty-international #daniel-ortega #human-rights

world2 years ago•2 min saved

Government Limits Holy Week Celebrations in Nicaragua

Roman Catholics in Nicaragua were forced to hold Holy Week processions on church grounds or inside churches due to a ban on public demonstrations. Relations between President Daniel Ortega and the Catholic Church have deteriorated since the government proposed severing relations and sentenced a bishop to 26 years in prison. Ortega has banned all opposition demonstrations in Nicaragua and restricted Catholic activities, accusing Catholic figures sympathetic to the opposition of being "terrorists." The Vatican closed its embassy in Nicaragua in March after Ortega's government proposed suspending diplomatic relations.

via ABC News|

#catholic-church #daniel-ortega #holy-week

politics2 years ago•1 min saved

Vatican Shuts Nicaragua Embassy Amid Ortega Row.

The Vatican has closed its diplomatic mission in Nicaragua following a growing row between the Catholic Church and the country's socialist President Daniel Ortega. Last week, Pope Francis referred to Ortega's government as a dictatorship, which prompted the government to propose suspending relations with the Holy See. Ortega's government has targeted the Catholic Church for years, accusing church representatives of being terrorists seeking to overthrow him. The church has also tried to act as a mediator between the government and the political opposition.

via DW (English)|

#catholic-church #daniel-ortega #diplomatic-relations

politics2 years ago•2 min saved

Vatican Shuts Down Embassy in Nicaragua Amid Crackdown.

The Vatican has closed its embassy in Nicaragua after the country's government proposed suspending diplomatic relations, following a yearslong crackdown on the Catholic Church by the administration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Relations between the church and Ortega's government have been deteriorating since 2018, when Nicaraguan authorities violently repressed anti-government protests. The Nicaraguan government also restricted Catholic activities inside churches, including banning the traditional street processions that thousands of Nicaraguans used to celebrate in the lead up to Holy Week and Easter.

via ABC News|

#catholic-church #daniel-ortega #diplomatic-relations