At Least Seven Nicaraguan Journalists Exiled in Costa Rica Report Surveillance and Threats Originating from Nicaragua
A report by the Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy attributes the harassment to agents linked to the Ortega-Murillo regime, citing surveillance, threatening calls, and the exposure of personal information.
At least seven Nicaraguan journalists who have sought refuge in Costa Rica have been subjected to surveillance, threats, and intimidation allegedly carried out by agents linked to the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, according to a report released Wednesday by the Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED). The report, titled Exile Is No Longer a Safe Haven: Nicaraguan Journalists Face Transnational Threats and Lack of Protection, warns of growing risks for independent journalists extending beyond Nicaragua's borders.
According to information gathered by FLED, a member of the regional network Voces del Sur, exiled journalists have been monitored near their homes, threatened through social media, exposed through the publication of personal information, intimidated in public spaces, and contacted through anonymous phone calls. The organization also reported that Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) informed several of the journalists that their lives and personal safety could be at risk while residing in Costa Rica, according to the EFE news agency.
One of the incidents forced a Nicaraguan journalist to leave Costa Rica urgently after receiving warnings that remaining in the country placed her in serious danger. Other journalists, acting on recommendations from human rights organizations and law enforcement authorities, have been compelled to relocate or move to different parts of the country out of fear of reprisals.
FLED argues that these incidents reveal a strategy of "transnational repression" orchestrated by the Ortega-Murillo regime against independent journalists operating outside Nicaragua. The organization warned that Costa Rica's geographic proximity to Nicaragua increases the vulnerability of exiled journalists, recalling the assassination of Nicaraguan opposition figure Roberto Samcam—stripped of his Nicaraguan nationality, a retired Army major, and later naturalized as a Spanish citizen—who was shot and killed in San José one year ago after seeking exile there.
FLED's Appeal
"Exile is no longer a guarantee of safety for Nicaraguan journalists. Cases of surveillance, threats, and digital attacks have been documented, all aimed at silencing critical voices even beyond the country's borders," FLED stated in its report, as cited by EFE.
"The response must include identifying journalists who face the greatest levels of risk, establishing clear communication and response protocols, and creating conditions that protect their lives and physical integrity without forcing them into silence or preventing them from continuing their work," the organization added.
FLED urged Costa Rican authorities to strengthen protection mechanisms and develop effective responses to this emerging threat. It also called on the international community to continue denouncing the situation facing Nicaraguan journalism, both within the country and in exile.
The Scale of the Persecution
The report documented 24 cases of attacks against Nicaraguan journalists and media outlets, both inside Nicaragua and in exile, between April and June of this year, representing 20 fewer incidents than during the previous quarter. However, the organization stressed that the decline in reported cases does not reflect an improvement in conditions, but rather the result of forced exile and the silencing of journalists.
Since April 2018, the Nicaraguan regime has shut down at least 54 media outlets, including five that were raided and confiscated, among them La Prensa, Confidencial, 100% Noticias, and La Trinchera de la Noticia, according to FLED. At least 310 media workers—most of them journalists—have fled the country or been forcibly expelled for security reasons.
FLED called on the Nicaraguan State to end the persecution of journalists and independent media, guarantee the free exercise of journalism, and uphold the public's right to receive diverse and verified information.
Source: Infobae
Author: Katlen Urquilla
Picture: Gettyimages