Rising political repression in Nicaragua has led to concern. As per the reports of multiple sources, including the BBC and CNN, political repression and harassment have been occurring over the years, especially under the rule of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, in Nicaragua, though the government vehemently denies the claims of violations of human rights and political persecution. But the parliament has made the president more powerful amidst the government’s political repression in Nicaragua. One of the leading indigenous leaders named Brooklyn Rivera — who was detained by the government for nearly three years — died in prison a few days ago. But how much political repression will reduce remain uncertain.
Various reasons are responsible for the rise in political repression in Nicaragua over the years. The Ortega-Murillo regime’s efforts to consolidate power, eliminate political opposition and enforce state control after widespread civil unrest, which took place in 2018 for a variety of reasons including social security and welfare reforms and political repression, are mainly responsible for it. Political repression during the unrest led to the fleeing of tens of thousands. Since then, the Daniel Ortega regime routinely targets opposition leaders and civil dissidents, religious leaders and Indigenous communities with an aim to consolidate absolute control over all branches of government and civic life. The virtual absence of an organized or visible political opposition inside Nicaragua has facilitated the government’s repression further.
Various reports indicate there are widespread human rights abuses in Nicaragua under the rule of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, the closure of civil society organizations, and the forcing of thousands, especially dissents, into exile. Detainees in Nicaragua are routinely arrested without judicial orders, often subjected to enforced disappearance by being held incommunicado. They are tried in closed-door and politicized judicial processes that lack adequate legal representation and often reflect the intention of the government. Moreover, political repression now extends globally, especially through the use of illegal state surveillance, the intimidation of relatives and the denial of passports or consular services to exiles.
But it is not all right that efforts have not been made to address repression in Nicaragua. But efforts were mostly international, especially sanctions oriented. Western powers, especially the US and European Union, put pressure and imposed sanctions against Nicaragua for human rights abuses, especially targeting high-ranking officials, judicial authorities and state-run and private enterprises. Efforts have helped release 135 political prisoners from Nicaragua. But they have not worked much and repression has not remarkably reduced. The government has not taken notable efforts to end repression and ensure human rights. The government has mostly taken actions that are rather aimed at enforcing and managing political repression — instead of addressing the issue — leading to no notable improvements in Nicaragua.
Geopolitical and other reasons have played a vital role. Geopolitical alliances of Nicaragua and its strengthened relations especially with anti-West powers such as Russia and China over Western powers, which view Nicaragua as a geopolitical foothold for authoritarian states in their sphere of influence, have probably played a role, as sanctions did in several other countries. Over the decades, the ruling administration in Managua has traded international alignment for critical authoritarian backing, security assistance and infrastructure investments with Russia and China. But these have strengthened over the last few years.
Even if there are geopolitical rivalries and alliances with anti-West powers, the people of Nicaragua need to get their deserved freedom in economic, political and other terms. This will help them develop their human potential — as desired. For this, measures need to be taken by the government to address various concerns as much as possible. But the good intentions of the government are vital. Nicaragua needs to realize that those who are repressed are the people of it, not those of the Western powers, and they are constitutionally given freedom of expression, freedom of political assembly, the right to organize political parties and many other rights that are vital to be ensured.
The government needs to end its arbitrary arrests and detention of dissents and ensure other civil rights. Nicaragua needs to ensure judicial independence and establish the rule of law. Justice needs to be ensured based on crime, not based on mere opposition to the government. Media freedom is vital for every country. It will help Nicaragua address the challenges and needs of people and the government needs to reconsider shuttered domestic radio, television and print organizations and ensure that independent media outlets can play their constructive roles in Nicaragua.
