U.S. Press Leaders Protest Abuse of Journalists in Nicaragua

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 4, 2021

U.S. Press Leaders Protest Abuse of Journalists in Nicaragua

(Washington, D.C.) – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) condemns the escalation of aggression against the press in Nicaragua. Maria Lilly Delgado, a respected local journalist and correspondent for Univision Network in Managua, was summoned by the Public Ministry to testify on a case of alleged financial irregularities and money laundering against Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, a presidential candidate and former executive director of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation for Reconciliation and Democracy.  

The organization had documented freedom of the press violations and supported the development of independent media to keep the world informed about human rights violations in this Central American country. 

Delgado is one of 17 journalists who have been summoned “as a witness” without proper notice. Delgado said she went to the interview and then the situation changed when she requested the presence of her attorney. 

“We told them that we would each go in with our lawyers separately, but they insisted that the lawyers could not be there because we were there as witnesses. They said if we insisted [on] the presence of our defense lawyers, the Prosecutor’s Office would have to change us from the status of witnesses to defendants,” Delgado said when she left the Public Ministry.

Those summoned by the Public Ministry since May 24 include: Fabio Gadea, owner of Radio Corporación; Verónica Chávez, Founder of 100% Noticias; José Adan Silva, Director of Digital Literal; Anibal Toruño, owner of Radio Darío; Argentina Olivas, with Radio Vos; Roberto Mora, with ABC Stereo, a representative of Radio Costeñisima; also Guillermo Medrano, Lourdes Arróliga, Ludwin Loáisiga, and Jaime Arellano, a political pundit. 

The latest effort to investigate opponents has been a common tactic used by President Daniel Ortega’s government to undermine fair presidential elections scheduled for Nov. 7, 2021. Ortega has been in office since 2007 and is pursuing his fourth consecutive term. 

In another chapter of this abuse of power and growing intimidation against journalists in recent weeks, the police raided the temporary recording studio of Esta Semana and Esta Noche and the newsroom of the digital portal Confidencial. Without a warrant, the Nicaraguan police confiscated cameras, tripods, lights, microphones, two computers, several boxes containing organizational and personal documents, as well as other equipment. This equipment was removed without a record, formal receipt, or any other documentation of the seizure.

On Wednesday, the prosecutor’s office filed money laundering charges against Chamorro and requested that she be disqualified from running for office. 

NAHJ National Board is troubled by the government’s coordinated attacks against the press and it stands in support of journalists who are courageously doing their jobs to inform the people of Nicaragua while facing intimidation and harassment from the government.

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UNIVISION

https://www.univision.com/noticias/america-latina/investigacion-lavado-de-dinero-nicaragua-periodistas

IAPA

https://en.sipiapa.org/notas/1214560-serious-abuse-against-freedom-of-the-press-in-nicaragua-says-the-iapa

https://www.dw.com/es/nicaragua-fiscal%C3%ADa-cita-a-mar%C3%ADa-lilly-delgado-de-univisi%C3%B3n/a-57649665

https://www.confidencial.com.ni/english/attorney-general-threatens-journalists-with-indictment-because-they-requested-their-lawyers-presence/

Univision President statement:

https://corporate.univision.com/blog/2021/06/02/univisions-statement-on-the-threats-against-univision-correspondent-maria-lilly-delgado/

“We are deeply concerned by the direct and indirect threats against Univision Correspondent Maria Lilly Delgado by Nicaraguan authorities. Delgado is a respected journalist with many years of reporting experience in Nicaragua. She’s doing essential reporting and should be able to continue doing her job without harassment. The continued intimidation against journalists in Nicaragua raises concerning questions regarding the state of freedom of the press,” said Daniel Coronell, president of Univision News. 

USAID

https://100noticias.com.ni/nacionales/107584-cristiana-chamorro-eeuu-desvio-fondos-usaid/

Confidencial 

https://www.confidencial.com.ni/english/ortegas-second-attack-on-confidencial-press-freedom/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nicaragua-police-raid-ngo-and-news-outlet-offices/2021/05/20/7811619a-b992-11eb-bc4a-62849cf6cca9_story.html

 

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About the NAHJ

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in the news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has over 3,300 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ. 

Media Contact: 

BA Snyder

Veritas Group for NAHJ

512.630.6337

BA@TheVeritasWay.com