Nicaragua Expels Critics of Canal Project

Washington

In response to Nicaragua’s deportation of human rights defenders, and attacks against human rights organizations, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“Nicaragua’s government deportation of activists from the Center for Justice and International Law is an attack against freedom of association and free expression,” said Carlos Ponce, director for Latin America programs. “The government is increasingly harassing journalists and human rights defenders because of their work on behalf of populations affected by the proposed new canal connecting the Caribbean with the Pacific Ocean.”
 
Background:
On May 15, Nicaragua expelled members of the nongovernmental Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) when they sought to enter the country to participate in the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH)’s 25th anniversary.

CEJIL and CENIDH denounced the Nicaragua’s government at the Inter-American Human Rights Commission for human rights violations related to the canal project. 

Nicaragua is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2015 and Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2015.