(CN Spanish) – According to the official website El 19 digital, the Nicaraguan government released more than 1,000 prisoners this Friday under what it calls a “coexistence allowance” and as part of the Christmas holidays. Among them are four people who are considered political prisoners by human rights organizations.
The released ordinary prisoners were handed over to their families in a ceremony chaired by Deputy Interior Minister Karla Salinas at La Modelo prison in Tipitapa.
The Nicaraguan government has not explained under what legal status it released the four opponents. The family coexistence allowance, which has been in place by the government for nearly a decade, means that former inmates move in with their relatives and are supervised, albeit usually with freedom of movement within the country. In the case of political prisoners, they have on previous occasions come out under the figure known as “house for prison,” implying house arrest.
CNN has requested information from the Communication and Citizenship Council, which is coordinated by Vice President Rosario Murillo, but has not yet responded to our request.
The opposition coalition Blue and white national unity posted a video this Friday of Juana Estela López Alemán, 59, reuniting with her family.
Emotional moments of Doña Juana Estela’s return to her home. Doña Estela was one of more than 100 people kidnapped by the dictatorship.
We still lack much, no one can be imprisoned for demanding respect for their constitutional rights pic.twitter.com/B0SWNxOv1b
– Blue and White National Unity (@UnidadNic) December 18, 2020
“Doña Estela was one of more than 100 people kidnapped by the dictatorship,” the alliance said on its Twitter account, noting, “We are still lacking much, no one can be convicted of demanding respect. for their constitutional rights. ” .
María Oviedo, a lawyer for Nicaragua’s Permanent Commission on Human Rights, also reported on López’s release, saying she did not know the legal status under which he was released from prison.
According to the Permanent Commission on Human Rights of Nicaragua, Juana Estela López, along with other opponents, was arrested on April 18 as they commemorated the second anniversary of the start of the protests against Daniel Ortega’s government, and was dismissed by the Public Prosecution Service. accused of obstructing police officers’ duties and injuries.
Oviedo confirms that López is innocent of the charged crimes and that they have filed for house arrest on several occasions, not only because of his age, but also because he has several health problems, including high blood pressure and wear and tear on his right knee that prevents him from walking.
The second opponent to be released this Friday is Margarito de la Cruz García, who reported on his social networks that he was at home, although he did not explain the legal figure under which he was released from prison.
The video has been shared by the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy.
García told CNN he was an employee in the judiciary and they accused him of hiding and stealing documents, crimes he denies. He urged the people of Nicaragua to keep fighting for the freedom of political prisoners and for the freedom of Nicaragua.
Yonarqui Martínez reported on Justo Rodríguez’s release through his social networks.
According to Martínez’s version, Rodríguez was taken to a hospital in Managua this Friday by prison system officials. Rodríguez, 69, was detained during the April protests on Ometepe Island, in the south of the country.