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| Ortega dictatorship freezes bank accounts of Central American University (UCA) |
In a concerning development, the Catholic Church in Nicaragua faces yet another blow as the country's Jesuit university experiences a freeze on its bank accounts. This latest move adds to the series of attacks on the Church's educational and charitable initiatives, raising concerns about the state of religious freedom and higher education in the Central American nation.
Central American University, the Jesuit institution at the center of this controversy, sent a communication to its students on August 9th, revealing the grim situation. The university conveyed that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, they are not receiving payments for fees or services from various university instances. This disclosure came from Divergentes, an independent Nicaraguan news organization.
According to Divergentes, information from a government source confirmed that the university's bank accounts had indeed been frozen. A subsequent report from the same news outlet on August 10th indicated that the accounts were frozen two months prior under orders from the prosecutor's office, without notifying the Central American University. Strikingly, the university has yet to provide a reason for the payment disruption.
Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Báez, who currently resides in exile in Miami, expressed his strong disapproval of these actions on social media. "As a former student of the Central American University, I repudiate the dictatorship’s aggression against this education center," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized the significance of the university's accounts being frozen, deeming it a direct assault on intellectual freedom and higher education, both critical components of a progressive society.
The freeze on the university's accounts has evoked widespread criticism, with Alianza Universitaria Nicaragüense, an alliance of university students, stating that this move jeopardizes not only the continuity of various projects and investigations but also the welfare of the entire university community and Nicaraguan society as a whole. The Central American University, established in 1960 as Nicaragua's first private university, has historically been a bastion of resistance against the regime of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. The university played a significant role in the protests against Ortega's rule in 2018 and provided shelter to demonstrators fleeing police and paramilitaries.
In 2020, the Jesuit provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean voiced their concerns, demanding an end to the ongoing economic, financial, and physical constraints imposed on the university. These restrictions infringe upon the institution's constitutional entitlement to funding, deepening the challenges faced by the Central American University. Furthermore, reports indicate that the university's accreditation process with the government has encountered difficulties.
The predicament faced by the Central American University is emblematic of a broader context of religious repression in Nicaragua. Numerous members of the clergy and religious figures have been expelled from the country, and Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, a prominent advocate against persecution, remains imprisoned. On August 4th, Álvarez marked the one-year anniversary of his arrest, which followed a raid on his diocesan curia by the police, resulting in his incarceration along with 11 colleagues. Despite his confinement, Álvarez remains steadfast in his commitment to his country, refusing exile.
Bishop Álvarez's unwavering stance has garnered international attention and support. Notably, eight former presidents of neighboring Costa Rica, including Nobel laureate Óscar Arias, released a letter on August 10th nominating Álvarez and Bishop Báez for the Nobel Peace Prize. The letter highlighted the extraordinary resilience of the Nicaraguan people and their need for encouragement in their quest for peace and freedom.
In light of these challenges, it is clear that the Catholic Church in Nicaragua is facing a critical juncture. The freezing of the Central American University's accounts represents a grave threat to intellectual freedom and the progress of society, while the continued persecution of Bishop Álvarez underscores the resilience of faith in the face of adversity.
