Ortega allies threaten, as opponents are arrested, flee Nicaragua

A prominent journalist leaves Nicaragua as Daniel Ortega continues government repression ahead of November elections.

For the second time in two years, one of Nicaragua’s most influential journalists, Carlos Fernando Chamorro – a former ally of President Daniel Ortega – has gone into exile. The director of the independent media outlet Confidential managed to slip out just before his home was raided by dozens of special forces police on Monday night. Neither his sister, Cristiana Chamorro, nor his cousin, Juan Chamorro, were as lucky. They are two of five presumptive presidential candidates who have been put under arrest ahead of elections due to be held in November. The crackdown also includes at least a dozen other high-profile opponents of President Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, who is also the Vice President. The majority are being held in the El Chipote prison in Managua – many incommunicado – under the new Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self- Determination For Peace Law. They can be held for up to 90 days. In the case of the presumptive presidential candidates, that essentially makes them ineligible to run.