AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Bishop of Matagalpa: "The future of our country is at stake"

Wednesday, 7 October 2020 social situation   politics   laws   bishops  

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Matagalpa (Agenzia Fides) - After Mgr. Mata had already commented on the latest bills (see Fides, 1/10/2020), Mgr. Rolando Álvarez, Bishop of the diocese of Matagalpa, also spoke during a press conference last Sunday: "Nicaragua is experiencing a very delicate and complex moment. We are playing with our future, the future of the country. The political protagonists of the country should not widen the existing social gap, but think of the common good and enact laws on the basis of the constitution".
According to Mgr. Álvarez: "the people are sovereign, from whom political power arises", for this reason "those responsible for laws must humbly listen to the people and know their needs well". The bills, however, are expected to be approved on October 13 without consulting civil society.
Regarding the cybercrime bill, the Bishop warned that the State "must be very careful not to violate fundamental freedoms and universal human rights, such as the right to truthful information and freedom of expression".
Since the cybercrime proposal entered Parliament, several organizations opposed to Daniel Ortega's regime and independent journalists have denounced that this law is intended to silence critical voices, as it also provides for imprisonment for ordinary citizens who are believed to spread false news "through information and communication technologies". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 7/10/2020)


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