In the final days of April relatives of political prisoners were finally able to visit their imprisoned loved ones again, and they released this statement of the abuses they were able to corroborate in terms of their ongoing treatment.
May 2, 2022
Freedom and justice for the more than 181 political prisoners
We make known to the people of Nicaragua and the international community that we were able to see our relatives between April 28-30 of this year, and we verified with extreme concern a generalized deterioration in health, caused by what we understand is a systematic policy of torture aimed at breaking minds and bodies. In the face of this very serious situation, we send out an SOS to the people of Nicaragua and the international community.
During the visit we have corroborated the following facts consistent with what is stated in the previous paragraph:
- Lack of systematic access to health care in a timely, adequate and specialized manner.Diseases and illnesses are not treated until the situation worsens or becomes extreme, they are not being taken to the infirmary, nor are they providing them information about their weight, nor the results of the few tests that they do. Our concern is heightened for the cases of people with chronic diseases or who require specialized medical attention. We have identified a pattern of incorrect diagnoses, over-medication and/or inadequate or counter indicated medication. This situation is causing a worsening of diseases, allergies and even first and second-degree burns. We want to specifically denounce the following situations that cause us extreme concern:
- Aggravation of cardiac and blood pressure problems, like the case of Juan Lorenzo Holmann, Miguel Mendoza, among many others.
- Inadequate approach to mental health, like the case of Victor Hugo Tinoco, who spent three weeks without receiving his prescribed anxiety medicine, which caused him a crisis of depression throughout that period.
- The appearance more and more repeatedly of skin problems, acquired by the absolutely unhealthy conditions in which they find themselves, which is causing fungus infections, eczema and even depigmentation.
- Deterioration and lack of addressing dental health, as in the case of Violeta Granera, who has spent 11 months without her teeth.
- Problems and wounds on the back which are turning into chronic problems because of the lack of adequate treatment, like the case of Ana Margarita Vijil and Suyen Barahona.
- The policy of isolation and lack of communication persists. Despite our constant denouncements and demands for the regularization and timing of visits, they continue to disregard the regulations of Law No. 473, Law of the Penitentiary Regime and Enforcement of Sentences. They continue to not allow phone calls, nor the delivery of letters, photos or drawings. Children and minors continue not being able to visit. In addition, many are in punishment cells, isolation and in some cases in solitary confinement. Finally, during this last visit, we denounce the following facts of extreme gravity:
- Ongoing harassment and lack of privacy, as well as arbitrary treatment by denying the visits of family members, limiting or providing incorrect information about people who participate in the visit, and limiting physical contact with their relatives.
- Sexualized aggression during searches of women relatives, touching of genitals and breasts.
- Lack of attention to COVID-19 preventive measures, search and manipulation of our masks.
- Insufficient food rations. Due to this situation, our relatives are hungry, and we once again corroborated accelerated weight losses consistent with states of malnourishment, like the case of Tamara Dávila, who we calculate now weighs less than 100 lbs.
- Establishment of a policy of punishment and control that seeks to silence their voices and cease to demand their rights. The punishments have become more frequent and range from emotional blackmail, threats of moving them to smaller cells with worse conditions and discretional delivery of packages that even result in lack of medicines, beverages and even toilet paper.
- In the face of this very serious situation, we will not cease to collectively demand the immediate, unconditional freedom with guarantees for our relatives and all of the more than 181 political prisoners. Until their liberation happens, we reiterate that their rights should be respected under the Mandela Rules, which is why we demand:
- That specialized, appropriate and timely medical attention be provided with the appropriate medicine for their health problems, chronic as well as coming from the conditions of confinement. Likewise, that they receive the complete cycle of vaccinations for COVID-19.
- The regime for family visits established in the law be followed, including children and the right to phone calls and conjugal visits.
- That reading and writing materials, the Bible or other religious texts depending on their faith, be permitted, as well as letters, drawings and photographs of relatives who have not been able to visit them.
- That all conditions for hygiene, light and ventilation be ensured, which a space should have for providing shelter for a human being. Likewise, changing and improving mattresses, the provision of blankets to fight the cold at night and the establishment of common times for time in the yard and sun, where they can interact with one another and with the space that surrounds them.
- That the autonomous management of packages and medicines be permitted, like in the Penitentiary System. Likewise, proper organization and control over the delivery of packages which would ensure that everything delivered by the family gets to their hands.
- Immediate end to imprisonment in 2×2 meter sealed cells, without ventilation, with lights on 24 hours a day or in permanent darkness and without the possibility of seeing or being seen from the outside, in which are found Miguel Mendoza, Juan Lorenzo Holmann, Medardo Mairena, Yader Parajón, Freddy Navas and Michael Healy.
- Immediate end to the isolation and lack of communication to which are subjected Tamara Dávila, Suyen Barahona, Dora María Téllez and Ana Margarita Vijil.
- Change from a regime of imprisonment to house arrest for all those political prisoners who are elderly or have acute health problems, just as Law 473, Article 120 stipulates. Ensuring all people in this regime access to quality, adequate, specialized and timely health care.
We recall that in the different penitentiary systems and police stations political prisoners are victims of human rights violations, which is why we will continue adding our voices in demand of Freedom for all political prisoners!