The move comes months after Daniel Ortega’s government cracked down on civil society groups and protesters.
The Nicaraguan parliament, led by President Daniel Ortega’s allies, has condemned the closure of 25 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as the latest example of its months-long crackdown on dissent.
Opposition groups called for a boycott of the by-elections on Wednesday, with 74 abstentions and 15 abstentions.
Lawmakers have argued that NGOs have violated Nicaraguan law and failed to disclose financial statements. Most groups work on human rights issues and carry out social and cultural work.
“There is no need for the government to have any organizations: to register human rights violations,” said Marcos Carmonona, head of the Human Rights Commission, one of the organizations affected by the move.
The Ortega government has continued to crack down on dissent and other political opponents in the wake of a long-running crackdown on a long-term leader for the fourth time in November.
Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.
More than 20 of those arrested are currently serving long prison terms.
Late last month, Nicaragua’s ambassador to the United States resigned, condemning the government’s crackdown on human rights abuses.
Officials in Europe and the United States have repeatedly called on Nicaraguan authorities to release all protesters, saying “political prisoners” are in dire straits.
According to Sergio Ramirez, secretary of the Coin Foundation and Nicaragua secretary and former vice president of the Central American Chamber of Commerce, they are among the non-governmental organizations currently in exile.
As in previous cases, the assets of the groups will fall into the hands of the government in accordance with the decision of the legislature.
Pro-government Wilfredo Navaro said: “Most of these non-governmental organizations, such as microfinance companies, can continue to operate fully under the Ministry of Trade regulations.”
A.D. Central American authorities shut down 163 non-governmental organizations in the wake of the 2018 uprising against the Ortegan government.
