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September 18, 2024 – Source: RSF –
Despite the release of 135 political prisoners in Nicaragua, journalist Fabiola Tercero Castro remains missing, with no updates on her whereabouts since 12 July. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Nicaraguan government to urgently shed light on her case and guarantee her safety, as there are growing concerns the authorities may be involved in her disappearance.
No one has seen or heard from freelance journalist and feminist activist Fabiola Tercero Castro since 12 July 2024, when she reported a raid on her home by government agents under the command of Commissioner Lidia Baltodano.
Unlike journalist Víctor Ticay, Tercero was not one of the 135 political prisoners released on 5 September as part of negotiations mediated by Guatemala and the United States. According to RSF’s information, there are no records indicating that she was transferred to La Esperanza, the prison where women detainees are usually held. Tercero’s prolonged disappearance raises serious concerns – especially as she vanished right after the raid on her home— and suggests the possibility of government involvement.
“We are deeply troubled by the fact that it has been three months since Fabiola Tercero disappeared – right after reporting a raid on her home. There are legitimate reasons to suspect that government officials may be involved, and it is the Nicaraguan authorities’ responsibility to immediately bring forward any information on her whereabouts. RSF welcomes the release of Víctor Ticay but stresses that Fabiola Tercero’s unresolved disappearance highlights the ongoing threats against journalists in Nicaragua.
The possible enforced disappearance of Tercero comes as no surprise given Nicaragua’s vehement repression of journalists. Even the 135 released prisoners, who can now seek political asylum in countries like the United States and Costa Rica under the Safe Mobility Initiative, were subject to one last punitive measure: their Nicaraguan nationality was revoked, barring any return to their homeland. Victor Ticay is particularly notable among these prisoners, jailed since April 2023 for covering a religious ceremony for the privately owned TV broadcaster Canal 10.
Similarly, Nohelia González – a veteran journalist who worked as head of information for the newspaper La Prensa for several decades – was expelled from the country in July for her connection to Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, a prominent critic of the Ortega regime. These incidents are part of a broader crackdown on the media: over 200 journalists have been expelled or forced into exile since 2018, according to The Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy.
On 11 September 2024, Nicaragua expedited a reform to the Cybercrime Law, which intensified the crackdown on critics and journalists. The law criminalizes sharing any information on social media deemed harmful or false by the government but lacks clear definitions – paving the way for arbitrary enforcement.
