Nicaragua Political Repression Continues as Daniel Ortega Targets Opponents' Family Members

The Nicaraguan government under President Daniel Ortega continues its repression of dissidents, the media, the Church, and the opposition as it has started to also go after exiled opponents' relatives.

The Associated Press reported that the wife, daughter, and son-in-law of exiled Nicaraguan economist Javier Alvarez had been imprisoned around three weeks ago. They have reportedly been charged with "serious crimes" back in Nicaragua.

Jeannine Horvilleur, 63, and Ana Carolina Alvarez Horvilleur, 43, both of whom are Nicaraguan-French dual citizens, as well as Ana Carolina's husband, Felix Roiz, have all been detained and are facing serious prison time. According to Alvarez, this was all to apply pressure on him as he spends his time in exile in Costa Rica.

Alvarez stated that when he found out about their arrests upon arrival in Costa Rica, he said that the judicial system in Nicaragua had already changed. He added, "The world fell in on me."

He called their imprisonment "extremely cruel," lamenting that while he is free in another country, his family had to stay in Nicaragua's cruelest and most infamous prison, El Chipote. He said that his imprisoned family members are not involved in politics, with his daughter and son-in-law only running a small business. Alvarez then said that he hopes they would be freed soon, according to ABC News.

Alvarez stated he is now living in anguish and had already filed reports with the French government, humanitarian organizations, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Office. He stated that the Ortega administration has left him without family.

Nicaragua's Government Accused of Kidnapping Exiled Political Opponents' Relatives

It was not just the economist's family that was taken, as human rights organizations have accused the Ortega administration of making relatives "hostages." Many of these relatives are related to the tens of thousands of Nicaraguans who have fled the government crackdowns on various groups.

The Nicaragua Center for Human Rights revealed that there is a "new pattern of extortion kidnapping" by the government." They use imprisoned relatives as leverage and force the surrender of exiled opposition members hiding in other countries like Costa Rica and the United States.

"They took them like hostages," the organization said.

Another case involves the brother of opposition figure Dulce Maria Porras, who had also gone into exile in Costa Rica. Her brother, Freddy Martin Porras, was also arrested in Nicaragua as she fled into exile in Costa Rica.

Her brother was charged with "spreading fake news and conspiring to damage national integrity." His sister stated that they are kidnapping their relatives because the government cannot capture them.

Argentina Judge Investigating Abuses by Daniel Ortega and First Lady, Vice President Rosario Maria Murillo

Over in Argentina, two lawyers filed a criminal complaint against Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Maria Murillo for possible crimes against humanity. Federal Judge Ariel Lijo launched the investigation last Wednesday and sent a request to the Nicaraguan judiciary. They demanded on any open cases on alleged illegal detentions and the disappearance of people.

Argentina often investigates allegations of human rights abuses in other countries by using the principle of universal jurisdiction. They have previously investigated allegations of human rights abuses during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), as well as claims of human rights violations against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Ortega and his wife were specifically targeted for the investigation, as the Nicaraguan government under their leadership has continued to repress not only the opposition, but the free independent press, as well as the Roman Catholic Church.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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