MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Jesuit university closed in Nicaragua for “terrorism”

The UCA became a meeting place for opposition protesters during and after the socio-political crisis of 2018

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega ordered the seizing of all assets belonging to the Central American University (UCA) which was accused of “terrorism,” it was reported in Managua. The educational institution was run by the Jesuit community.

The UCA thus joined the list of universities dissolved by the Sandinista government this year. All UCA bank accounts were also frozen, according to Interior Ministry sources who spoke to Divergentes on condition of anonymity.

Back in February, the authorities ordered the arrest of Jesuit Bishop Rolando Alvarez on charges of “conspiracy.”

President Ortega and his Vice-President wife Rosario Murillo dissolved this year nearly a dozen universities in what was deemed a repressive measure. Political parties and non-governmental organizations were also closed.

Amnesty International Director for the Americas Erika Guevara Rosas said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that this is “another attack against human rights in the country since the UCA ”has been a stronghold of progressive education and in defense of the student movement.”

The UCA became a meeting place for opposition protesters during and after the socio-political crisis of 2018, in which more than 350 people died.

Bishop Álvarez was one of the opposition leaders to be deported to the United States in a snap operation involving 222 political prisoners who were also stripped of their nationality and hence disenfranchised.