Costa Rica Post

Pura Vida, Every Day
Wednesday, Feb 05, 2025

Torture Allegations in Nicaragua: 229 Cases Documented Since 2018 Protests

A human rights report uncovers startling methods of suppression under Ortega's regime, citing systemic torture designed to instill fear.
In a sobering revelation, the Nicaragua Nunca Más Collective, an exiled human rights organization based in Costa Rica, reported on Tuesday that at least 229 individuals have fallen victim to torture following their detention in Nicaragua, coinciding with protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega since 2018.

This stark figure underscores a persistent pattern of repression that has trailed the authoritarian regime amid escalating international condemnation.

The detailed report catalogs over 40 distinct methods of torture allegedly employed within the country, painting a chilling picture of state-sponsored brutality.

Documented techniques range from beatings and asphyxiation to electric shocks, burns, mock executions, and the forceful extraction of nails or teeth.

The victims are predominantly male, with 183 men compared to 46 women among the survivors who provided testimonies.

The protests ignited in 2018 were met with a swift and heavy-handed crackdown, establishing arbitrary detentions as a mechanism to instill fear and suppress dissent.

These demonstrations, sparked by controversial social security reforms, quickly escalated into a broader backlash against Ortega's increasingly oppressive governance.

Official figures from the United Nations indicate that more than 300 lives were lost within the furious initial months alone.

Denouncing the protests as a coup attempt allegedly orchestrated by foreign powers, mainly the United States, the Ortega administration has staunchly defended its actions, dismissing allegations and international criticisms.

However, the Collective's findings reinforce accusations of grave human rights abuses, highlighting over 2,000 instances of arbitrary detentions, nearly 40% of which involved paramilitary forces functioning as an unacknowledged auxiliary arm of government repression.

Since February 2023, the government's draconian measures have extended to revoking the citizenship of approximately 450 Nicaraguans, including notable political, business, and intellectual figures.

This move, reflecting a sweeping legislative amendment, brands these individuals as traitors, effectively severing their ties to the nation and compounding what the NGO describes as 'civil death'.

The combination of forcible exile and statelessness represents the latest phase in the Nicaraguan government's campaign to cement its control through terror and disenfranchisement.

The international community has been urged to respond decisively, as the systemic nature of these abuses suggests they may rise to the level of crimes against humanity, demanding accountability and justice.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Wins Again as Canada Agrees to Strengthen Border Security
Wall Street Journal Criticizes Trump's Trade War with Canada and Mexico
Trump Freezes Tariffs on Mexico After Agreement on Border Security
Apple Abandons AR Glasses Project Amid Struggles with Technology and Market Demand
U.S. Clinical Study Investigates Medication to Prolong Dogs' Lifespan
Trump: Canada Should Become the 51st U.S. State
Panama Rules Out Negotiations With US Over Control of Canal
The 'Chinese Pearl Harbor' on U.S. Tech: DeepSeek's Launch Triggers Market Collapse
Key Takeaways from the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Suggests Bitcoin Could Reach $700,000 with Increased Institutional Investment
Five Billionaires on Track to Break One Trillion Dollar Wealth Barrier
Celebrity Responses to California Wildfires: Charity, Criticism, and Controversy
Saprissa Withdraws from Costa Rica's Women's Soccer First Division, Sparking Debate and Concern
Miguel Herrera: Farewell Video from Fox Sports as He Takes on Costa Rica National Team
Controversial Reappointment: Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Names Marta Esquivel as Planning Minister
A Long Battle Ends in Tragedy for Shooting Victim in Costa Rica
Triple Homicide in Los Chiles: Couple and Five-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shot
Horacio Elizondo Resigns Irrevocably from Costa Rica's Football Federation Amidst Controversy
Costa Rican Digital Vehicle Licensing Bid Faces Another Setback
Convict Recaptured After Brief Escape from La Reforma Prison Complex
José Giacone: Confident in Saprissa's Enhanced Competitiveness This Season
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Considers Shift to Congressional Leadership
Pope Francis Praises Costa Rican Coffee as the World's Best
Former Honduran General Hospitalized Ahead of Protest Death Trial
Miguel 'Piojo' Herrera Appointed as Costa Rica's National Team Coach
Mónica Taylor Appointed as New President of Costa Rica's Social Security System
Davivienda Acquires Scotiabank's Operations in Latin America
California Wildfires Set to Become Costliest in U.S. History
US Court Ruling Signals Potential Sale of Silk Road's Bitcoin Stash
Leadership Changes Mark New Beginnings in Costa Rica's Public and Private Sectors
Meta Shifts Content Moderation Strategy: Context Notes to Replace Fact-Checking in the U.S.
Costa Rica Closes 2024 with Positive Inflation: Key Price Shifts Analyzed
Cessna Aircraft with Drug Traces Discovered on Clandestine Airstrip in Guanacaste
Tragic Incident as Man Found Dead After Being Swept Away by River in Limón
Elderly Man Severely Burned in Parrita House Fire Blocked by Motorcycle
Elusive Criminal ‘Diablo’ Continues to Evade Capture and Justice
Francisco Rodríguez Transfers from Herediano to Santos de Guápiles
Washington Ortega Embraces Pressure at Alajuelense
Alejandro Bran and Aarón Salazar Eager to Contribute to Alajuelense’s Success
Andrés Carevic Emphasizes Results Above Style at Cartaginés
Chaves Administration Faces Scrutiny Over Increased Emergency Decrees
Óscar Izquierdo Withdraws from PLN Presidential Primary Consideration
Sofía Guillén to Sue TikToker Over False Video Allegations
Mónica Taylor Hernández Appointed as New Head of Costa Rica's Social Security Fund
Understanding Human Metapneumovirus: Recent Outbreaks and WHO's Stance
Costa Rica Unveils Ambitious Mental Health Strategy for the Next Decade
Key Dates Announced for University Admissions at UCR and UNA
Costa Rican White-Faced Monkeys Face Climate Change Impacts
Davivienda's Strategic Expansion: Understanding the Legacy of Grupo Bolívar and the Cortés Family
Nvidia Surpasses Moore's Law: Driving Down AI Costs
×