CNN en Español Taken Off Air in Nicaragua as Government Intensifies Crackdowns

Nicaragua has been cracking down on the Catholic Church, the opposition, and local independent media. Now, however, they have taken aim at media giant CNN as they took CNN en Español off the air on Wednesday.

CNN en Español is CNN's Spanish-speaking network that mostly operates in the Americas, including Nicaragua. However, on Wednesday evening, the Nicaraguan government under dictator Daniel Ortega abruptly removed it from the air, just after 10:00 p.m.

CNN stated that the Nicaraguan government did not explain why they took the cable news channel off the air. Local cable operators in the country also did not comment.

According to Reuters, "CNN en Español was the only remaining outlet critical of President Daniel Ortega available to Nicaraguans." This is in reference to the recent crackdowns on independent media outlets that have reported on the atrocities committed by Ortega and the Nicaraguan government.

CNN Still Available to Nicaraguans via the Internet

In the recent months leading up to it being taken off the air, CNN en Español reported on the various forms of repression done by the Ortega-led Sandinista government. This includes reporting on the closure of several Catholic-run radio stations, as well as the arrest of prominent Ortega critic, Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Alvarez.

Fortunately, however, the internet is still available in Nicaragua. While the main channel was taken off the air, its official website is still reporting Spanish-language news.

CNN itself released a statement saying "CNN stands by our network's reporting and our commitment to truth and transparency." It also added that they at CNN en Español believe in the vital role that freedom of the press plays in a healthy democracy.

Nicaragua and the Free Press Under Daniel Ortega

Arturo McFields, Nicaragua's former ambassador to the Organization of American States, condemned his government's action in taking the channel off the air. He stated that this is a "sign of fear, clumsiness, and arrogance." The former Nicaraguan ambassador also added that his government only wants to have a society of sheep that would only listen to and obey the official narrative.

This is a rare public criticism from McFields, who had previously called the Ortega regime a dictatorship. He also pointed out that because of the media repression, Nicaragua has become the only Central American country with no print newspapers and human rights organizations as they have been closed, expelled, or shuttered.

Reporters Without Borders has stated that Free Press is being repressed throughout Nicaragua, with a "strong wave of repression" being launched against various groups, including opposition politicians, civil organizations, and media."

However, there are still news outlets that operate in the country, such as Radio Corporacion and Accion 10. However, they tend to avoid reporting about government atrocities for fear of reprisals. This is not the case for La Prensa, which the National Police raided in 2021. As Latin Post previously reported, many of the newspaper's workers, from reporters to editors and photographers, have fled the country in exile. They continue reporting on their home country while in exile.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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