The Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (Anpdh) closed its doors due to threats and harassment by armed paramilitary groups, who have committed various violent acts during the crisis of more than three months that hits Nicaragua.
The organization works to rescue injured, arrested or harassed protesters during the protests against Daniel Ortega’s government. In addition, they report incidents, as well as deaths. In their reports, the number of deaths amounts to at least 448.
Through a press release, the Anpdh said it received
alarming information about the activation of illegal practices of judicial persecution and criminalization without legal grounds against our human rights defenders.”
The activist Álvaro Leiva is the General Secretary of the group, which has its headquarters in Managua.CRHoy.com visited the organization in July and got to know first-hand the dozens of complaints received each day, both in the capital and outside, since its promoters have moved to different cities.
Now the Association decided to close its offices as a preventive measure,
in order to guarantee the physical integrity and safety of our defenders.”
They will continue their work receiving complaints via digital platforms and telephone in the entire Nicaraguan territory, despite traveling to Costa Rica.
The organization has denounced the existence of a “deep crisis” of violation of human rights in Nicaragua for the repression of the protests that began on April 18. The figure is greater than that estimated by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which last week reported 317 deaths due to the crisis. The Anpdh has helped manage, along with the Catholic Church, the release of hundreds of people illegally arrested, and has indicated the existence of about 600 missing people.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has accused his opponents and humanitarian groups of being part of a “coup” conspiracy financed by the United States. The opposition denounced last week that the government has unleashed a strong persecution against its activists, protesters and leaders of the protests.
In July, Anpdh received the Franco-German Human Rights Award in Nicaragua in recognition of its work.