Another presidential candidate was arrested in Nicaragua on Saturday, police said — the seventh potential contender detained by Daniel Ortega’s government in the lead-up to elections on November 7. Noel Vidaurre was put under house arrest, accused of “undermining the sovereignty” of the country, in the latest of a series of arrests condemned by the […]
Nicaragua
Human rights body demands protection of Nicaraguan opposition
The Organization of American States’ human rights arm on Wednesday urged its judicial counterpart to protect four opposition Nicaraguan politicians facing “a situation of extreme risk.” All four are critics of Nicaragua’s authoritarian President Daniel Ortega and have been detained in recent days in an expanding crackdown on dissenting voices. The Washington-based Inter-American Commission […]
Nicaragua puffing up status in rarefied world of premium cigars
From “rich and full-bodied” to “complex with hints of licorice,” aficionados exhaust the lexicon to capture the essence of Nicaragua’s most highly-prized produce — not wine, but cigars, which are especially popular in the United States. The recognition turns the vibrant green hills of Esteli, in the troubled Central American country’s northwest, into a hive […]
Nicaragua opposition defies ban to march on deadly protest anniversary
Nicaragua’s opposition said at least 67 people were arrested after defying a protest ban and a heavy riot police presence on the streets of Managua to mark the first anniversary of a deadly uprising against President Daniel Ortega. The opposition National Unity Blue and White (UNAB) coalition gathered in the south of the capital, planning […]
No progress in Nicaragua talks as deadline passes
A Wednesday deadline passed without progress in months-long talks aimed at resolving Nicaragua’s deadly political crisis, with the opposition accusing the government of lacking political will. Talks however did not break down, and both sides could decide to prolong the negotiations. Negotiations began on February 27 between President Daniel Ortega’s government and the opposition but […]
Protests in Nicaragua subside as President concedes concessions
A week of deadly anti-government protests in Nicaragua appeared to be subsiding on Wednesday after concessions by President Daniel Ortega set the scene for talks with powerful business leaders. A prominent rights group, the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, said 34 people had died in the demonstrations that had been brutally put down by security […]
Pressure mounts on Nicaraguan President to end reign of oppression
Leon, a northern city that is a bastion of support for Nicaragua’s ruling Sandinista party, wants President Daniel Ortega to put an end to repression and authoritarianism. It’s a message many in the Central American nation want to get across after a week of violent protests that have been met by a robust police response […]