Address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Mr Türk reported that the number of people who were arbitrarily detained – either for expressing their political views or because they were perceived as criticizing the government – rose from 195 in September to 225 today.
“This contains Relatives of imprisoned political opponentsallegedly to force the latter to surrender,” he said.
Precarious prison conditions
These people – 26 women and 199 men – are being held in precarious conditions, as noted by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet.
Those detained in the notorious El Chipote prison continue to suffer inhumane conditions, with limited access to medical care, a balanced diet or regular family contact.
Mr. Türk also highlighted other worrying developments.
Civil society crackdown
He said more than 3,000 national and international non-governmental organizations have been shut down, almost half since September alone.
As a result, countless people today are without access to essential services or assistance.
Authorities have also shut down 29 local and international media outlets, muzzled the press.
In addition, a new law passed in October requires registration and government approval for the production, filming and showing of audiovisual material.
“Human rights defenders, journalists, clergy or those who are perceived as political opponents are arrested, harassed, intimidated‘ said Mr Turk.
“Some are being prosecuted for conspiring to undermine national integrity or for ‘faking news’. All part of a systematic effort to quell opposition and dissent.”
Election-related arrests
The preparation and holding of November’s municipal elections “had the trappings of an exercise in autocracy,” he said.
The months before the vote were marked by “a wave of arrests and dismissals of political opponents”.
Political parties that were stripped of their legal capacity in the past year were also barred from participating.
“Supposedly it was election day ripe with intimidation, with checkpoints set up around polling stations to track voters. People who were perceived as political opponents were denied access to polling stations,” Mr Türk told the council.
“After the election, riot police reportedly repressed supporters of the indigenous political party YATAMA, which claimed to have won in the northern Caribbean coast community of Waspam. We are told that at least 19 people, mostly young indigenous people, have been arrested and detained for several days.”
asylum and isolation
The crisis is now spreading beyond national borders.
Between January and October of this year, Costa Rica received 70,000 new asylum applications by Nicaraguans, while more than 147,000 inhabitants showed up at the US border.
Nicaragua also continues to isolate itself from the international community.
The country has failed to cooperate with several UN human rights bodies and has not cooperated with the Inter-American Human Rights System.
Commitment and Commitment
Tackling the situation requires concerted engagement and engagement at national, regional and international levels, based on international human rights standards, Mr. Türk said.
He called on the authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained.
The High Commissioner also called for those excluded from the political and social sphere to be able to freely participate in public life again.
Mr. Türk stressed that basic freedoms of expression, association and assembly must be respected.
“My office is ready to work with the authorities in these areas, and I am applying for access to the land for my employees,” he said.
The UN law chief added that it was important for the international community to ensure this sustained support for civil society organizations in Nicaragua, many of whom continue to operate from exile.
