NICARAGUA
Roger Reyes
Propaganda Trials in Nicaragua
NICARAGUA
Roger Reyes
Propaganda Trials in Nicaragua
Roger Reyes is a lawyer from the city of Jinotepe in Nicaragua. He was a student leader by the time he turned 16 years old; and later on, served as law professor and established his law firm. During the pandemic, he founded a food bank, as well as a virtual clinic to support citizens in Jinotepe. As Member of the Political Council of the Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco and human rights defender, he was committed to support the victims of the political crisis, to implement actions to free political prisoners, as well as to raise his voice for those Nicaraguans forced to exile due to the political crisis.
VITA
Roger Reyes is a lawyer from the city of Jinotepe in Nicaragua. He was a student leader by the time he turned 16 years old; and later on, served as law professor and established his law firm. During the pandemic, he founded a food bank, as well as a virtual clinic to support citizens in Jinotepe. As Member of the Political Council of the Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco and human rights defender, he was committed to support the victims of the political crisis, to implement actions to free political prisoners, as well as to raise his voice for those Nicaraguans forced to exile due to the political crisis.
Many would argue that the dream of the Nicaraguan Revolution has been irrevocably shattered. The authoritarian regime of Daniel Ortega shows many parallels to the one of the dictator, Anastasio Somoza, who governed Nicaragua from 1967 to 1979, and then was overthrown by the Sandinistas under Ortega. Both regimes have brutally suppressed protests, and free media have been under constant pressure. A critical voice (e.g. politicians, journalists, activists, and lawyers) has been either silenced or imprisoned.
The Ortega’s regime holds approximately 170 political prisoners. Félix Maradiaga is one of them, who is one of Nicaragua's most high-profile liberals and human rights activists. He had been the target of threats by President Ortega's government, since the beginning of political crisis in April 2018, and was arrested in June 2021. Mr. Maradiaga was accused of treason, as well as violating the country’s sovereignty. In March 2022, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. His lawyer, Roger Reyes who was also member of the political council of the opposition movement “Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco” was arrested in August 2021. Mr. Reyes was sentenced to 10 years in prison, convicted of undermining the national sovereignty.
The situation of the political prisoners is very critical in Nicaragua. Their family members are allowed to visit them only sporadically every 30 to 40 days. The government holds them captive in small prison cells either in complete darkness or with lights shining 24 hours a day; and they are permitted to be outside in the sun only every 10 days for 10 to 15 minutes. Their physical integrity is not respected and they do not get adequate medical attention, even when they show clear symptoms of illness. Félix Maradiaga, for example, has now a severe ear infection that causes him a lot of pain. Roger Reyes on the other hand shows loss of memory, as well as depression and anxiety. Psychological torture through very long interrogations, even after the judgement is very common under Ortega and access to the lawyers of their choice is not granted to the prisoners. The trial and hearings that started in September 2021 were held secretly within the walls of the prison instead of a public hearing in the court. Félix Maradiaga saw his lawyers, who have to remain anonymous due to the security issues, only twice during the trial sessions in which he was convicted. The state of Nicaragua is permanently violating international treaties in which it is formally committed to respect human rights and uphold the rule of law.
Ein Angebot der
Informationen
Service
Weitere Angebote
Nicaragua