Juan Carlos Gahona, brother of late journalist Ángel Gahona, addresses a crowd during a demonstration against the government of President Daniel Ortega in front of the Nicaraguan embassy in San José, Costa Rica, 21 June 2018, EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images We call on authorities to guarantee freedom of expression rights and We express our solidarity with Nicaraguan journalists and media workers, recognising their bravery, courage and unwavering commitment
It is disconcerting to note the unequal, exclusionary and discriminatory treatment received by independent journalists, who are prevented from carrying out their work and denied access to public information – including reliable information about the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, independent journalists are constantly targeted with assaults and violations of their rights. This situation has been documented by national and international human rights organisations, as well as the local media.
February 2021
Criminal groups abducted hundreds in north west, while ethnic and regional tensions ran high in south amid farmer-herder conflict; meanwhile, tensions rose in south east between govt and Biafra secessionists. Criminal groups in Feb reportedly killed at least 112 and kidnapped over 450 people, mostly in Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states (north west), but also in Niger state (Middle Belt). Notably, armed group 17 Feb abducted 42 students and school personnel in Niger state, released them 27 Feb; 26 Feb kidnapped 279 girls in Zamfara state. Meanwhile, Auwalun Daudawa, who masterminded Dec 2020 abduction of 344 students in Katsina state, 8 Feb laid down arms along with five of his troops. Amid rise in herder-farmer and intercommunal violence in south since Jan, clashes between ethnic Hausa and Fulani on one hand, and ethnic Yoruba on the other, early Feb killed two dozen people in Oyo state capital Ibadan (south west). Nobel laureate in literature Wole Soyinka 6 F
Joint statement on the National Day of the Journalist in Nicaragua
Journalists work outside a hotel where a meeting of the National Coalition is taking place in Managua. (Photo by INTI OCON / AFP) (Photo by INTI OCON/AFP via Getty Images) As Nicaragua recognizes the National Day of the Journalist today, the undersigned organizations express our solidarity with Nicaraguan journalists and call on authorities across the country to put an end to widespread harassment of journalists and ensure the media and press freedom organizations can work safely.
Since Nicaraguan officials and state security forces responded to widespread protests in April 2018 with a brutal crackdown on protesters and the media, Nicaragua has become an ever-more hostile climate for the press. News outlets have been forced to close and individual journalists threatened, harassed, sued, surveilled and jailed, as dozens more fled the country for their own safety.
U S Concerned About Escalating Crackdown in Nicaragua voa.gov - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from voa.gov Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Nicaragua’s Foreign Agents Law Drives Nicaragua Toward Dictatorship, Silencing Independent Voices 8 February State Department
The United States is deeply concerned about the escalating crackdown by the Government of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. The regime’s actions under the so-called “Foreign Agents Law” forced the closure last week of two bastions of free expression: the Nicaragua chapter of PEN International and the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation. These developments further suffocate Nicaraguan civil society and take the country further away from free and fair elections in November. Ortega is driving Nicaragua toward dictatorship. This will further isolate his regime from the global community. The Biden Administration is committed to supporting the Nicaraguan people and their demand for democracy. We are focused on empowering civil society and improving respect for human rights. We urge President Ortega to change course now. Ned Pric