“Freedom” in exchange for banishment: how Ortega exchanges one arbitrary act for another
In La Prensa, January 15, 2024
Even though the release of 19 priests from prison, including bishops Rolando Álvarez and Isidoro Mora, causes joy, their banishment is another crime.
Amid the joy over the departure of the priests of the Catholic Church from the jails of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega, dissident organizations have described this release from prison not as any triumph, but the exchange of one arbitrary act for another: life outside of prison for banishment from the country.
In a joint statement about the release and banishment of Mons. Rolando Álvarez along with another 18 priests of Nicaragua, the dissidents point out that “this imposed action of banishment translates into a serious crime, which constitutes a crime against humanity according to international law.”
The dissident and member of the Space for Dialogue and Confluence, one of the signing organizations of the statement, Haydeé Castillo, asked the international community and the Nicaraguan people to not accept this banishment as natural and recalled that the Constitution of Nicaragua establishes that all citizens have the right to remain in the country in freedom.
“This is not a liberation, this is a banishment and therefore a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity, as the Rome Treaty indicates, “said Castillo.
“It is a mistake to celebrate it as a liberation”
One of the signers of the pronouncement, who spoke with La Prensa under condition of anonymity, said that in the document they recognize that it is a “triumph” of the Nicaraguan people and their organizations, because they kept up all type of pressure, and never left the political prisoners and their Church on their own, but insisted on the fact that “forced exile is also an illegal penalty categorized as an international crime.” He also said that this banishment of priests means that the Catholic Church of Nicaragua is being left without pastors.
“A church without pastors is a continuity of religious persecution by affecting the right to worship of the priests and the laypeople who they serve. All of us were happy because they left the jails, but it is a mistake that people would only celebrate it as a liberation when we are facing serious violations of human rights and a new form of religious persecution,” said the dissident.
In the statement, the dissidents highlight the responsibility of the international community to address and prevent crimes against humanity, like forced banishment.
“We call on the international community to assume their responsibility for addressing and preventing crimes against humanity, like forced banishment, which violates human rights for which we will continue championing as part of the fight in favor of the full freedom for Nicaraguan,” reads the document.
Signing organizations
The organizations that signed the pronouncement are: Alianza Civica, Space for Dialogue and Confluence, Peasant Anti-canal Movement, Student Movement in Support of Democracy, Nicaraguan University Alliance (AUN), University Coordinator for Democracy and Justice and the Self-convened Nicaraguan Union (UNA).
The Monteverde dissident organization also issued a statement like the other groups did, pointing out that this “relief is tarnished by the reality of their forced banishment, imposed by the Sandinista dictatorship and the persistent repression which many citizens in Nicaragua face.”
“These acts against religious leaders highlight the alarming lack of freedom of worship and expression in the country, situations which constitute flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, “ the group said.
The spokesperson for Monteverde, Juan Sebastián Chamorro, also advocated for the 90 political prisoners who remain in the jails of the Ortega dictatorship.
“We must redouble our efforts for the quick, absolute and definitive liberation of each and every one of the political prisoners still in Nicaragua,” said Chamorro in a video.
“Forced exile is not a just solution”
Monteverde, in addition, demands in the press release the right of Nicaraguans to remain in their country.
“Forced exile is not a just solution; it is an extension of the injustice and an additional human rights violation, “reads the document.
In recent years the dictator Ortega and his wife and co-ruler, Rosario Murillo, have radicalized their attacks against the Catholic Church, imprisoning priests and prohibiting all religious activities outside of the churches. Particularly in 2023 during Holy Week, the Ortega Police persecuted the participants in traditional processions, among them, the recreation of the Passion of Christ.
The war of the dictatorship of Ortega against the Catholic Church led him to suspend diplomatic relations with the Vatican, after a criticism of Pope Francis over the arrest of priests in Nicaragua.
