Opposition presidential candidates in Nicaragua say they are being held captive in own house

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – At least two candidates for the Presidency of Nicaragua for the opposition denounced this Friday to be victims of “home detention”, after the National Police prevented them from leaving their homes for the second consecutive day, in the framework of the general elections called for next November 7, in which the ruler Daniel Ortega seeks new reelection.

Candidates Felix Maradiaga of the Blue and White National Unity, and Juan Sebastian Chamorro, of the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy, denounced that the Police informed them not to leave their houses less than three months before the date of official registration of candidates for the Presidency.

“The agents came to knock on the gates of the house where our presidential pre-candidate Felix Maradiaga is. They told him that he could not leave the house and that he should ‘not even try’. The person in charge of the police group told him that ‘until further notice’ he should consider his house as his prison”, informed the Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco (National Blue and White Unit) about the academic.

For its part, the Civic Alliance showed a video in which it can be seen how three police agents, with rifles across their chests pointing downwards, prevent Chamorro from leaving his house in a car.

The agents approach Chamorro and tell him, in an unkind tone: “Nicaragua wants peace, brother”. The second says it in a commanding tone: “Nicaragua wants peace, there is no way out”.

BACKGROUND

Maradiaga and Chamorro had already been detained inside their houses by the Police yesterday Thursday afternoon, after the leader of the National Unity called his followers to take to the streets to protest against the accusation of money laundering that the Government issued against the also presidential aspirant Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997), who defeated Ortega in the 1990 elections.

Likewise, the opposition National Coalition leaders, to which the Blue and White National Unity belongs, denounced being besieged by police.

“The Ortega Police that comes all the time in my house and that chase me everywhere, knocked on the door of my house today, telling me that I am forbidden to leave. They are afraid; they are terrified of the possibility that we will come out against Ortega and take to the streets again,” said Coalition Political Council member Tamara Davila.

In 2018 tens of thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets to demand Ortega’s resignation under accusations of abuse of power and corruption, in massive demonstrations that were quashed with attacks by police and armed civilians that left hundreds imprisoned, dead or missing.

The opposition hopes that next November 7 will serve to remove Ortega, whom they call “dictator”, from power.

These elections will be key for Nicaragua, as they will decide the continuity or the end of the almost absolute domination Ortega has held since 1979 over local politics.