Media Center

Press Release


Statement of the OAS General Secretariat on the Situation in Nicaragua

  November 17, 2019

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) expresses its concern and condemns the latest acts of repression and detention of protesters reported in Nicaragua.

The siege and harassment of the families of political prisoners in the church of San Miguel de Masaya is a blatant violation of the rights of people who are expressing themselves peacefully for the freedom of their relatives.

In the same way, the OAS General Secretariat rejects the detention of at least 13 people who were showing their support for the relatives of prisoners and calls for their immediate release. There arrest is even more deplorable as these people were under the protection of the Catholic Church, an entity recognized by all political actors in Nicaragua.

The OAS General Secretariat continues monitoring closely the situation in Nicaragua and reiterates the need for the restoration of civil and political freedoms, peace, justice and the return of democratic institutions in the country. Events such as those that have occurred represent a setback in recent advances in Nicaragua, and reaffirm the need to reestablish a framework for dialogue between the different sectors of society in order to avoid the progressive deterioration of the climate of social coexistence and democratic norms.

Reference: E-104/19