Sens. Cruz, Menendez Lead Bipartisan Call Demanding Ortega Regime Respect Nicaraguan Civil Society and Press Freedoms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led a bipartisan letter calling on U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Kevin K. Sullivan to leverage all diplomatic tools to ensure the safety of journalists, civil society, and political leaders in Nicaragua.

In their letter to Ambassador Sullivan, the senators expressed concern about recent actions to codify press censorship and further restrict activities of civil society and political opponents ahead of November 2021 elections, including the recent passage of the so-called “Foreign Agents” Law and the Special Law on Cybercrimes:

“These efforts by the Ortega government represent a clear attempt to stifle political opponents and restrict citizen mobilization. We are deeply concerned that the recently enacted legislation constructed to silence voices critical of the Ortega government will lead to increased arrests and persecution of political opponents.”

The senators also raised concerns about the harassment of independent news media in Nicaragua, including the recent seizure of assets belonging to the owner of Nicavision Canal 12 – one of only two independent channels still on open air in the country:

“Since April 2018, Nicaraguans have witnessed arbitrary detentions of journalists and censorship of outlets such as 100% Noticias and Nicavision Canal 12, while Ortega allies maintain control over the majority of domestic news media.”

Cosigners joining Sens. Cruz and Menendez on the letter include Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

BACKGROUND

In December 2018, President Trump signed into law the NICA Act, authored by Sens. Cruz and Menendez and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). The NICA Act imposes targeted sanctions and conditions U.S. approval of international loans to the Government of Nicaragua, ensuring the Ortega regime will be held accountable for its systemic corruption, human rights violations, and assault on democratic order. 

In July 2019, Sens. Cruz and Menendez sent a letter to Secretary Pompeo identifying a series of Nicaraguan government officials for the administration to impose sanctions pursuant to the NICA Act.

In March, to mark the two year anniversary of the enactment of the NICA Act, Sens. Cruz and Menendez introduced a Senate resolution (S. Res 525), expressing continued support for the people of Nicaragua as they fight to restore democracy.

Read the full text of letter here and below. 

December 15, 2020

Dear Ambassador Sullivan:

We write to express our concern regarding the Ortega government’s harassment of Nicaragua’s political opposition, civil society, and independent media. Respect for fundamental freedoms is essential for the preservation of a vibrant democracy, and the exercise of free speech requires that opposition members, activists, and journalists be permitted to operate in a safe environment.

We are particularly troubled that, ahead of November 2021 elections, Nicaraguan legislators have begun to codify press censorship and further restrict activities of civil society and human rights groups. Recently, members of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in the Nicaraguan Congress passed legislation that mandates civil society, nongovernmental organizations, and citizens who receive funds originating from abroad to register as “foreign agents” and bars them from engaging in domestic political activities.

The Nicaraguan Congress also approved a Special Law on Cybercrimes, which would allow the Ortega government to prosecute individuals accused of spreading “false and/or misrepresented information” at its discretion. These efforts by the Ortega government represent a clear attempt to stifle political opponents and restrict citizen mobilization. We are alarmed by these efforts to provide legal justification to harass and criminalize any entity critical of the Ortega government. Moreover, despite early 2019 commitments to release all political prisoners, at least 113 political opponents remain incarcerated as arbitrary detentions and kidnappings continue. We are deeply concerned that the recently enacted legislation constructed to silence dissent will lead to increased arrests and persecution of political opponents. 

The enactment of these laws is deeply concerning, especially in light of the fact that harassment of the independent news media in Nicaragua has increased dramatically in recent years. Since April 2018, Nicaraguans have witnessed arbitrary detentions of journalists and censorship of outlets such as 100% Noticias and Nicavision Canal 12, while Ortega allies maintain control over the majority of domestic news media.[1] That year, journalists documenting protests throughout the country faced intimidation, theft of personal property, and assault. In one tragic case, journalist Ángel Gahona was killed while broadcasting live on the events of April 2018. The Ortega government’s violent response to these protests reportedly resulted in upwards of 325 deaths, more than 2,000 injured, and prompted at least 70 journalists to flee Nicaragua.[2]Following a raid of the digital newspaper Confidencial and a series of threats, respected journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro was forced to seek safety in Costa Rica in January 2019 for nearly a year. 

More recently, a Managua court ordered the seizure of assets belonging to Mariano Valle Peters, the owner of Nicavision Canal 12—which is one of only two independent channels still on open air in Nicaragua.[3] Dating back to 2011, Mr. Valle’s outlet has experienced repeated theft of equipment, police intimidation and assault of reporters, as well as frequent tax audits—all of which seems to be targeted intimidation toward the channel.

We urge you to utilize all diplomatic tools to ensure the safety of journalists, civil society, and political opponents. In closing, we reaffirm our solidarity with the Nicaraguan people. Press freedom and freedom of expression are integral to the preservation of democracy, and we call on the Ortega government to respect democratic ideals and the fundamental human rights of all Nicaraguans.

Sincerely,

/s/ 

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