Nicaragua passes law against ‘underminers’ of the regime from abroad

The reform could lead to prison sentences of up to 30 years for the crime of “undermining national integrity.” Nicaragua’s courts are also seen as loyal to the regime of President Daniel Ortega, which has closed down nearly 5,500 NGOs since protests against him were met with a crackdown in 2018 that the United Nations says left more than 300 people dead. The Central American country has jailed hundreds of critics, both real and perceived, over the past six years. Ortega, a 78-year-old former guerrilla, views the 2018 protests as an attempted coup promoted by the United States and backed by the religious community. His government is under sanctions by the U.S. and European Union. The new law applies to Nicaraguans and foreigners — individuals, companies and NGOs — and provides for the confiscation of assets, though it was not clear how such sentences would be enforced on foreign soil. The government says the aim is to combat “transnational organized crime.” The law was passed after the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva reported a rise in arbitrary detentions, harassment of government opponents, ill-treatment in custody and attacks on indigenous peoples. “The human rights situation in Nicaragua has seriously deteriorated since last year,” a statement said. Regarding the law, HRW expressed concern that it could be used “to further pressure and intimidate exiled citizens and foreigners for the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression and other rights.” UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged the government to immediately release “all arbitrarily detained,” end torture and persecution, “and restore the previously obtained legal status of civil society organizations and opposition parties.” Nicaragua’s opposition movement, most of whose members live in exile in Costa Rica, the United States and Spain, said the new law would help Ortega “expand his repressive reach internationally.” “This allows the regime to prosecute anyone, whether in Nicaragua or not, and without them being present at the trial,” to silence opponents “at the international level,” exiled former presidential candidate Felix Maradiaga told AFP.