The newspaper La Prensa Nicaraguacritical of the government of Daniel Ortega, reported this Thursday that his staff, including journalists and photographers, have left the country in recent days for fear of being imprisoned and will operate from exile in digital form.
“The persecution that the government of Daniel Ortega intensified against the staff of the newspaper La Prensa this month forced the staff of the newspaper to flee the country,” he said on the front page of its digital edition, the only one that has been active since August of the year past.
“Journalists, editors, photographers and other personnel were forced to leave Nicaragua irregularly in the last two weeks, to protect their safety and freedom,” said the newspaper, the oldest in the country, with 95 years of existence.
The outlet said it took this action after the arrest of two drivers of the newspaper on July 6, who were later placed in preventive detention for 90 days to be investigated for crimes that were not specified.
“The arrests (of both workers) were followed by raids on the homes of several journalists, photographers and other media personnel. This situation forced La Prensa to place its personnel under guard and subsequently remove them from the country,” he explained.
The IAPA calls for the freedom of five Nicaraguan journalists and praises the newspaper La Prensa
La Prensa announced that “it is in the process of reorganizing its newsroom abroad to continue reporting.”
On August 14, 2021, the Police arrested the manager of the newspaper La Prensa, Juan Lorenzo Holmann, one day after raiding the newspaper’s facilities.. Since then, the media reported only through its digital platform.
The occupation of the newspaper occurred in the context of the arrest of dozens of opponents, including seven former presidential candidates, prior to the November elections in which Ortega obtained his fourth consecutive term since 2007.
IAPA warns of deteriorating health of Nicaraguan journalists in prison
Among those detained, but under house arrest, there are also two directors of the newspaper: former presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorroand his brother Pedro, both sons of former president Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997).
Cristiana and Pedro Chamorro and Juan Lorenzo Holmann they were sentenced between March and April to sentences of eight and nine years for money laundering.
The Ortega government accuses the detained opponents of conspiring against their government with the support of Washington to destabilize the country.
The NGO Committee for the Protection of Journalists called this week for the release of the detained La Prensa workers. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
