Press release October 11, 2016
Nicaragua: Army Seeks to Intimidate Media
Independent Nicaraguan newspaper Confidencial denounced acts of intimidation and espionage allegedly committed by the Nicaragua military.
Washington
In response to Nicaragua’s military acting to intimidate reporters for independent media, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“The government of Nicaragua is trying to silence independent outlets that criticize President Ortega and his attempts to protect what has become one-party rule,” said Carlos Ponce, director for Latin American programs. “The use of the military to intimidate journalists marks a serious deterioration of democracy.”
Background:
On October 7, the independent newspaper Confidencial denounced acts of intimidation and espionage allegedly committed by the Nicaragua military despite constitutional restraints prohibiting the army from engaging in such practices. The newspaper reported that army officials and Ortega’s Sandinista National Liberation Front were demanding sensitive information from the paper’s reporters.
Nicaragua is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2016, and Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2016.