OH NO

Nicaraguan Police Raid Offices of NGOs

After linking them to an attempted “coup” against President Daniel Ortega.

Nicaraguan police raided the offices of five nongovernmental organizations and one independent media outlet after claiming they participated in an attempt to overthrow the government, The Associated Press reports. Police reportedly raided and took materials from the Nicaragua Center for Human Rights, Segovias Leadership Institute, River Foundation, the Center for Communication Research and the Foundation for Municipal Promotion and Development on Thursday. They also reportedly took documents and electronics from media outlet Confidencial, which is run by the head of the Center for Communication Research. Earlier this week, the National Assembly voted to strip the legal status of the targeted NGOs—claiming the organizations “promoted and financed” the attempted “coup” against President Daniel Ortega. According to the AP, the raids come after April anti-government street protests prompted Ortega to re-consolidate his power and go after his “perceived enemies.” “Riot police entered the office like thieves, they came in through the roof,” Vilma Nunez, president of the human rights center, said. Monica Baltodano, who runs the Foundation for Municipal Promotion and Development, told the AP the government seeks to “sow terror by closing and assaulting” the offices of the NGOs. “They believe that is going to end the unrest of the people who call for justice, freedom and democracy, but they’re wrong,” Baltodano said.