Voices of the South is a Latin American organization monitoring press freedom.This is the Executive Summary for their report for August 2022 where they document 72 cases of violations to freedom of the press.
August 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Voices of the South regional network presents the report on the violations to freedom of the press for August 2022, in which it documents a total of 16 alerts and provided follow-up on 2 alerts generated in 2021. In total 72 cases of violations of freedom of the press were documented; 65 were perpetrated against communications media (90.2%), and 7 against individuals (9.8%).
Of the 72 total cases recorded, they affected 29 victims, 6 individuals and 23 communications media. Of the individuals 5 were male and 1 female. The female journalist was a victim of verbal aggressions on 2 occasions.
During this month the government of Nicaragua consummated the confiscation of the installations of the La Prensa newspaper. According to what official media revealed, in the building of the newspaper will function the Cultural and Poli-technical Center called “José Coronel Urtecho”, in spite of the fact that the Constitution of Nicaragua prohibits confiscations.
“Confiscation of assets is prohibited. Officials who violate this regulation will respond with their assets at any time for the damages inferred,” reads the text of Article 44 of the Constitution of the country.
The media reported in a note on their website that the installations and machinery that was within the building had a value of close to $10 million dollars at the time of the illegal takeover in August 2021, according to an appraisal done at that time.
Concerning the confiscation, the newspaper published the position of the Board of Directors where they indicated that the newspaper has faced three dictatorships who have looked on “an the Daily of Nicaraguans as an obstacle.” In the communication, in addition, they expressed gratitude for the signs of solidarity and support received, and stated that “once again they want to bury us and as happened on other occasions, they will be the one buried.”
The public condemnation against this governmental measure was not long in coming, Organizations defenders of Human Rights, State representatives and the citizenry in general have demanded the return of the property to its owners and the end of attacks against the independent media.
This measure is in addition to those already carried out against the media entities 100% Noticias and Confidencial; in addition it is similar to the dispossession done of civil society organizations which had their legal statuses revoked. Likewise, it leaves in evidence that the government of Daniel Ortega keeps intact his confiscatory convictions which he practiced in other stage when he was in power.
On completing the de facto confiscation of the installations of La Prensa, as Voices of the South we put an end to the alert about the “Retention of paper and inputs” on the part of the General Customs Office (DGA), while considering that with the forced exile of the collaborators of the newspaper and the seizure of the assets of La Prensa, the possibility of resuming the functioning of the physical section of the newspaper has completely disappeared.
As a network defender of the freedom of expression, press and access to information, we regret the massive closing of communication media of a community and Catholic nature. It is important to stop the revocation of the licenses of Catholic communication media as a reprisal for the differences with the Catholic Church of Nicaragua; it is the obligation of the State to maintain a separation of powers and impartiality in each one of its bodies, offices and negotiations that it carries out.
In August the government of Nicaragua has used the Nicaraguan Telecommunications and Mail Institute (TELCOR) as an “accomplice” institution to perpetrate the arbitrary closings of communications media. The resolutions issued by TELCOR lack valid technical criteria, and contradict the legal spirit of the General Law of Telecommunications and Postal Services.
The justifications so far used by TELCOR have been contradicted by the owners of the media who consider it to be an arbitrary action on the part of the regulating entity.
We want to go on the record that, in August, Voices of the South learned of the closure of at least 4 informational spaces in the country, nevertheless, their board members asked that the cases not be documented to prevent more aggressions on the part of the members of the party in power.
We regret that the exodus of journalists continues to increase in August, at least 9 journalists saw themselves forced to leave the country to protect their lives; among the cases that we were able to document, there are several journalists who acted as directors of media shut down; among them is David Mendoza, a journalist stripped by TELCOR of his RB3 Television channel this past August 2nd.
By the end of the eighth month of the year in this network we have documented the closing of at least 30 communications media, among them 27 radios and 3 television channels, in addition to the closure of 5 local news programs, 1 national one and at least 5 opinion programs.
From Voices of the South we join the demands of the family of the political commentator Jaime Arellano, who have pointed out that he presents “problems in his heart rhythm, constant headaches and lack of balance” without the judicial authorities allowing him access to appropriate health services. Likewise, we lament the physical condition of the sports writer Miguel Mendoza and the General Director of La Prensa, Juan Lorenzo Holmann; presented by official media in recent days. The demand for access to health care and respect for their human rights extends also to those who find themselves under house arrest, facing health problems.
We urge the State of Nicaragua to ensure the free exercise of journalism without restrictions nor threats; in addition conditions for the safe return of those who have seen themselves forced to leave the country.
Governmental authorities should recall that journalism and the communications media will not be extinguished despite pressure and attacks; the violations of their rights only place the state authorities on the list of anti-democratic governments and violators of Human Rights; it is important for the good of the country to change that abominable image, contrary to the international standards for Freedom of Expression and the Press.