Ortega-Murillo Police and Sympathizers Harass Amnesty Recipients; Intimidation Seemingly Unsuccessful.

June 13, 2019

Nicaragua

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Even though the Ortega-Murillo government has fully released 106 political prisoners under an Amnesty Law, several amnesty recipients have denounced police harassment, and there are at least two people who have been unable to return home at all.

Olesia Muñoz, from Niquinohomo, and Irlanda Jerez, of Managua, reported that Orteguista sympathizers made it impossible for them to go home. Muñoz’ house is reportedly surrounded by Ortega-Murillo sympathizers. In the case of Jerez, the Orteguistas forcefully occupied the property on Tuesday.

Muñoz recorded this video, stating that she was told to seek refuge elsewhere. “I cannot go to Niquinohomo today because I fear for my life,” she said. She also asked people to be careful. “It is not safe out there. There are still crazy people out there who are trigger happy.”

This morning, journalist Emiliano Chamorro, of La Prensa, went to Jerez’ home in the neighborhood of Villa Fontana, in Managua. He was told by a guard that “she does not live here,” and to “go look for her at her house.

In León, student leader Byron Estrada went up to the police officers stationed outside his home and filmed them. Estrada asked them to stop the harassment.

“There is no reason for you to be out here, harassing me. What are you looking for? Just tell me what you want. Enough is enough! you’ve made Nicaraguans suffer. […] We’re not scared of you. The fear is over.”

In Bluefields, Jeffry Jarquín also confronted special operations officers and a police commissioner surrounding his home. Jarquín asked why, if he had received amnesty, he was not allowed to exercise his constitutional right to protest. Jarquín accused the police for the murder on Angel Gahona, the killing of Eddy Montes, and his own torture while in police custody.

“The silenced Angel Gahona, but there is a black Angel Gahona, there is a woman Angel Gahona, there is my mother, who suffered with me. She know what I went through. She knows what they did to me; they tortured me by order of of Commissioner Mayra Quiroz and Commissioner Luis Valle.”

Police presence was also noticeable in Masaya on Wednesday afternoon, when the Ortega-Murillo police, led by Commissioner Ramón Avellán, posted several units around the Church of San Miguel Arcángel. The deployment took place as the people of Masaya attended a thanksgiving mass for the release of the political prisoners.

Pictures of Avellán, sitting at a park bench outside of the church, circulated widely over social media. One image shows the commissioner and another officer photographing the church.

In spite of police intimidation tactics, the people of Masaya not only attended the service, but also staged a picket outside of the church, right in front of Commissioner Avellán, who stood there while people chanted “si se pudo”, yes we can.

This is another angle of the picket.

Inside the church, the people of Masaya were also defiant.

Article 3 of the Amnesty Law states that amnesty beneficiaries “must abstain” from “repeating the conduct that generated the crimes” for which they were granted the amnesty. Increased police surveillance of amnesty recipients is likely to be explained as permitted by Article 3.

The Ortega-Murillo police has yet to issue any clarification on this matter. However, their PR division released a music video paying homage to the officers of the special operations division. The song is titled “pure heart.”

 

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