“The dictatorship holds back our paper but it cannot hide the truth”, headlines the Nicaraguan opposition newspaper La Prensa, Thursday August 12. He finds himself obliged to suspend its paper edition, from Friday. The daily “Finds itself in shortage of paper to ensure its distribution at the national level due to the seizure by the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) of our raw material”, denounces the newspaper on the front page.
“We are temporarily suspending” distribution of the printed newspaper ” corn La Prensa continues on digital platforms, we continue to do our information work and to be the voice of those who have no voice ”, Juan Hollman, secretary of the Board of Directors of La Prensa.
The DGA, which had in the past already delayed the provision to La Prensa of paper, ink, or equipment, requires payment of taxes to authorize delivery of the paper. But according to the newspaper, the import of media supplies is exempt from taxes.
Disappearance of independent media under Ortega
As this newspaper finds itself confined to the Internet, all eyes are on President Daniel Ortega, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term. He is accused of getting rid of his competitors in the run-up to the presidential election on November 7. Candidate of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), this 75-year-old former guerrilla and his wife and vice-president Rosario Murillo (70) no longer have any serious candidate in front of them.
A total of 32 opponents have been imprisoned or placed under house arrest since early June. Among them are seven potential presidential candidates.
According to the press union, at least 20 independent media have disappeared under the Ortega government, in power since 2007, following confiscation of materials or forced closures. Most of them have ceased their activities due to the political crisis the country has been experiencing since 2018 and the anti-government protests in which more than 300 opponents have died.