Freedom of the press in Nicaragua

Last updated

Nicaraguan citizens protesting against Ortega's presidency. 2016 Nicaragua protest June 11.jpg
Nicaraguan citizens protesting against Ortega's presidency.

The Constitution of Nicaragua protects the freedom of the press. However, limitations imposed by the government have restrained the ability of independent media organizations to express divergent views on society and politics. Since 2007, freedom of the press has declined sharply, coinciding with the election of Daniel Ortega as president. [1] Since Ortega's reelection, journalists in Nicaragua have faced escalating violence from the government. [2] As of 2018, Nicaragua is ranked 90th on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.[ needs update ]

Contents

Attacks on journalists

Daniel Ortega's term as president of Nicaragua resulted in the creation of an oppressive and censored environment that caused a decline in freedom of speech. In situations where reporters are trying to do their jobs by covering anti-government protests, the president has tried to silence them through physical violence, arbitrary arrest, confiscation, and destruction of equipment. Journalists have been exposed to an environment of violence that has resulted in the death of at least 300 people and injuries to 2,000 people, as stated by the Nicaraguan Association for human rights. This proves the situation is only getting worse both for journalists and civilians.

Among the victims were Angel Gahona, a local TV producer of the news program El Meridiano, who was killed by a gunshot wound to the head while covering the protest on Facebook Live. The investigation of his death has been interrupted, but speculations are growing about soldiers being present at the moment of his death. [3]

The abuse of power on behalf of the police, was also imminent as reporters from La Prensa were prevented from doing their job as they were threatened at gunpoint and insulted while covering a protest in Managua.

Not only local reporters have been victimized by the armed forces, so have foreign ones. Tim Rodgers, an American reporter was forced to leave Nicaragua, after a harassment campaign led by a group of sandinistas who believed he worked as a spy for the CIA.

Carl David Goette-Luciak, an Austrian-American reporter who was based in Nicaragua for past three years, contributed to media outlets such as British daily The Guardian and The Washington Post . [4] He was harassed through an online campaign of threats originating from Ortega supporters, [5] [6] and his address was published online. [4] Just as Rodgers, Goette-Luciak was accused by law enforcement officers of working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He was deported. One police officer alleged he was being removed from the country for attending illegal protests and distributing false information. [7]

Newspaper shutdowns

As of late-2019, La Prensa is the last remaining print newspaper in Nicaragua since the September shutdown of fellow opposition paper El Nuevo Diario over a refusal to release physical printing supplies by the Ortega government. [8]

On August 12, 2021, La Prensa suspended its physical print edition, claiming the government refused to release newsprint imports. State-run media disputed the claim. On August 13, riot police raided the headquarters of La Prensa, reportedly cutting internet and electricity before removing boxes of material. Police stated they were investigating customs fraud and money laundering by the paper's managers and confiscated printing paper before allowing workers to return to the building with continued supervision. Media and opposition groups assert the raid against La Prensa is politically motivated, as it comes before the 2021 Nicaraguan general election, which has seen Ortega's government bar opposition candidates such as former La Prensa editor Cristiana Chamorro Barrios. [9] [10] [11]

Status of reporters without borders in Nicaragua

Reporters without borders (RSF) is an international non governmental organization based in Paris, France, and its objective is to defend the press freedom in the world. According to the RSF, Nicaragua's media is undergoing a crisis due to the constant violations of press freedom.

The lack of press freedom is backed up by the government and president Daniel Ortega as the established system encourages oppression and censorship that: “has made it extremely hard for the media to operate.” (RSF, 2018).

According to the Nicaraguan Association of Human Rights (ANPDH): “at least 350 people have been killed in the past three months.” The growing crisis has been manifested with physical violence, arbitrary arrest and confiscation, theft or destruction of equipment. Reporters attempting to cover the anti-government protests have often been directly targeted by soldiers and riot police. In response to such actions and as the situation continues, the RSF and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), called on president Ortega in order to cease the current violations to reporters in Nicaragua. Reporters also manifested their intentions to open an investigation and punish attacks against journalists, as well, as to implement the proper measures to protect journalists and their families.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Ortega</span> President of Nicaragua (1985–1990 and 2007–present)

José Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and the 58th president of Nicaragua since 2007. Previously, he was leader of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, first as Coordinator of the Junta of National Reconstruction from 1979 to 1985, and then as the 54th President from 1985 to 1990. During his first term, he implemented policies to achieve leftist reforms across Nicaragua. In later years, Ortega's left-wing radical politics cooled significantly, leading him to pursue pro-business policies and even rapprochement with the Catholic Church. However, in 2022, Ortega resumed repression of the Church, and has imprisoned prelate Rolando José Álvarez Lagos.

Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely. Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through a constitution or other legal protection and security. It is in opposition to paid press, where communities, police organizations, and governments are paid for their copyrights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reporters Without Borders</span> International organisation for freedom of the press

Reporters Without Borders is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization headquartered in Paris, which focuses on safeguarding the right to freedom of information. It describes its advocacy as founded on the belief that everyone requires access to the news and information, in line with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that recognises the right to receive and share information regardless of frontiers, along with other international rights charters. RSF has consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie.

La Prensa is a Nicaraguan newspaper, with offices in the capital Managua. Its current daily circulation is placed at 42,000. Founded in 1926, in 1932 it was bought by Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Zelaya, who had become editor-in-chief. He promoted the Conservative Party of Nicaragua and became a voice of opposition to Juan Bautista Sacasa, for which the paper was censored. He continued to be critical of dictator Anastasio Somoza García, who came to power in a coup d'état.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Press Freedom Index</span> Reporters Without Borders assessment of countries press freedom

The World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) since 2002 based upon the organization's own assessment of the countries' press freedom records in the previous year. It intends to reflect the degree of freedom that journalists, news organizations, and netizens have in each country, and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom. Reporters Without Borders is careful to note that the WPFI only deals with press freedom and does not measure the quality of journalism in the countries it assesses, nor does it look at human rights violations in general.

The working conditions of journalists in Algeria have evolved since the 1962 independence. After 1990, the Code of Press was suppressed, allowing for greater freedom of press. However, with the civil war in the 1990s, more than 70 journalists were assassinated by terrorists. Sixty journalists were killed between 1993 and 1998 in Algeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">María Esther Aguilar Cansimbe</span> Mexican crime journalist who has been declared "missing"

The disappearance of María Esther Aguilar Cansimbe happened 11 November 2009 when the female newspaper journalist who worked for El Diario de Zamora and El Cambio de Michoacán in Michoacán, Mexico vanished. Her disappearance may or may not be linked to her coverage of the Mexican Drug War but both Article 19 and Reporters Without Borders, two international press freedom organizations, have classified her disappearance as an act of enforced disappearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protests against Daniel Ortega</span> 21st-century protests in Nicaragua

The protests against Daniel Ortega were a series of protests against President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega and actions performed by his government, the dismantling of the opposition, and violence against peaceful protesters. The protests began in 2014, when the construction of the Nicaragua Canal was about to begin, and several hundred protesters blocked roads and clashed with police during the groundbreaking of the canal. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans began to protest against President Ortega for what they believe to be a corrupt electoral system.

Freedom of the press in Honduras began with the government of Francisco Morazán as president of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1830, when he enacted the liberal reforms that included reforms to education, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.

Freedom of the press in Djibouti is not specifically mentioned by the country's constitution. However, Article 15 of the Constitution of Djibouti does mention an individual's right to express their opinion "...by word, pen, or image..." and notes that "these rights may be limited by prescriptions in the law and in respect for the honour of others."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the 2018 Nicaraguan protests</span>

The 2018 Nicaraguan protests began on 18 April 2018 following a move by the government of Daniel Ortega to reform social security. Following the deaths of protesters, demonstrations intensified and grew into a large anti-Ortega movement seeking his removal from office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Fernando Chamorro Barrios</span> Nicaraguan investigative journalist

Carlos Fernando Chamorro Barrios is a Nicaraguan independent investigative journalist. He is the founder and editor of Confidencial, a news website and weekly publication combining investigative journalism and analyses of current affairs. He also hosts two television news shows, Tonight and This Week. Chamorro is the youngest son of former president of Nicaragua Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, a Nicaraguan journalist and editor of La Prensa who was shot to death in January 1978 during the Somoza regime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Nicaraguan protests</span> Wave of protests in Nicaragua

The 2018 Nicaraguan protests began on 18 April 2018 when demonstrators in several cities of Nicaragua began protests against the social security reforms decreed by President Daniel Ortega that increased taxes and decreased benefits. After five days of unrest in which nearly thirty people were killed, Ortega announced the cancellation of the reforms; however, the opposition has grown through the 2014–2018 Nicaraguan protests to denounce Ortega and demand his resignation, becoming one of the largest protests in his government's history and the deadliest civil conflict since the end of the Nicaraguan Revolution. On 29 September 2018, political demonstrations were declared illegal by President Ortega.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucía Pineda Ubau</span>

Lucía Pineda Ubau is a Nicaraguan journalist. She is the news director of Canal 15 in Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Nicaragua</span>

Human rights in Nicaragua refer to personable, political and social rights granted to every human in Nicaragua. Nicaragua derives its understanding of human rights from the Constitution of Nicaragua and international law. Nicaragua is a member state of the United Nations which states that fundamental human rights, such as freedom from slavery and freedom of expression, are enabled for all human beings without discrimination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Nicaraguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Nicaragua on 7 November 2021 to elect the President, the National Assembly and members of the Central American Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cristiana Chamorro Barrios</span> Nicaraguan journalist

Cristiana Chamorro Barrios is a Nicaraguan journalist, nonprofit executive and political candidate. Vice-president of La Prensa, she was an aspiring presidential candidate in the 2021 Nicaraguan general election until the Ortega government disqualified her from running and ordered her arrest in early June 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaime Chamorro Cardenal</span> Nicaraguan newspaper editor and publisher (1934–2021)

Jaime Chamorro Cardenal was a Nicaraguan newspaper editor and publisher. A civil engineer by training, journalism was the family business, as his father owned the newspaper La Prensa. Chamorro joined La Prensa in 1974, where he worked for 47 years and served as publisher for 28, from 1993 until his death in 2021.

Carl David Goette-Luciak is an Austrian-American journalist. Carl contributed to media outlets such as British daily The Guardian and The Washington Post and was based in Nicaragua for three years.

This is a timeline of the 2020 Nicaraguan protests. It covers events from February to December 2020.

References

  1. "RSF urges Nicaraguan authorities to investigate reporter's murder". Reporters without borders. May 4, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  2. "Covering Nicaragua's crisis getting more dangerous". Reporters without borders. July 17, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  3. Goette-Luciak, Carl David (May 29, 2018). "How a journalist's death live on air became a symbol of Nicaragua's crisis". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Online smear campaign targets freelance reporter in Nicaragua". Committee to Protect Journalists. September 25, 208. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. Di Stefano, Mark (October 2, 2018). "A Journalist Has Been Deported From Nicaragua After Being Doxxed By An Online Mob". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. Joshua Collins (10 February 2020). "Grayzone, Grifters and the Cult of Tank". Muros Invisibles.
  7. "Nicaragua deports reporter who covered anti-Ortega protests". The Guardian. October 2, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  8. "Nicaragua's Besieged El Nuevo Diario Newspaper Calls it Quits". Confidencial . September 27, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  9. "Nicaraguan police raid opposition newspaper La Prensa". Associated Press . The Guardian. August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  10. Lopez, Ismael; Jorgic, Dragen; McCool, Grant (August 13, 2021). "Nicaraguan police raid La Prensa newspaper, charge directors with fraud". Reuters . Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  11. "Nicaragua: Police raid offices of La Prensa newspaper". BBC News . August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

  1. Mioli, Teresa. "Nicaraguan press covering protests is targeted by death threats, beatings and detentions as nationwide death toll rises". Journalism in the Americas. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  2. "La mala hora de Nicaragua". Semana. 24 April 2018.
  3. "Freedom of the press 2016". Freedom House. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  4. "Alarming decline in press freedom and free speech in Nicaragua". Inter American Press Association. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  5. "Nicaragua expels US-Austrian freelance journalist". Reporters without borders. October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.