Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

According to sources, "national" or "general" strikes took place in Nicaragua in June 2018 (DW 14 June 2018; Confidencial 13 June 2018) and May 2019 (Al Jazeera 24 May 2019; RFI 24 May 2019).

According to sources, a 24-hour national strike consisting of an economic shut down or labour stoppage occurred on 14 June 2018 (La Prensa 22 May 2019; DW 14 June 2018; Confidencial 13 June 2018). Sources report that the strike was organized by the political opposition to pressure President Daniel Ortega to respond to their demands (DW 14 June 2018; Confidencial 13 June 2018). Another reported aim was to protest against the state's repression (La Prensa 22 May 2019; DW 14 June 2018; Confidencial 13 June 2018) against activists and protesters (DW 14 June 2018). According to sources, the strike was called by the Higher [Superior] Council of Private Enterprise (Consejo Superior de la Empresa Privada, COSEP) (DW 14 June 2018; Confidencial 13 June 2018), which "represents many businesses in the private sector" (DW 14 June 2018). Sources indicate that the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy (Alianza Cívica por la Justicia y la Democracia, ACJD) [1] was also involved in the strike (ACJD 14 June 2018; Confidencial 13 June 2018).

Sources note that another 24-hour national strike was called by the opposition for 23 May 2019 [2] (Garda World 23 May 2019; AFP 22 May 2019; Confidencial 22 May 2019). Some sources use the phrase "National Strike for Nicaragua" (Paro nacional por Nicaragua) to describe this strike (La Mesa Redonda 22 May 2019; Change.org [16 May 2019]). Sources state that it was called by the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy (Confidencial 26 May 2019; RFI 24 May 2019; La Razón 23 May 2019). Some sources indicate that Blue and White National Unity (Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco, UNAB) [3] was also involved in its organization (La Mesa Redonda 22 May 2019; AFP 22 May 2019). According to sources, the aim of this strike was to obtain the release of political prisoners (Al Jazeera 24 May 2019; RFI 24 May 2019; La Razón 23 May 2019). Sources also report that an impetus for the strike was the killing of a political prisoner, Eddy Montes [Praslin], in Modelo prison on 16 May 2019 (Confidencial 22 May 2019; La Mesa Redonda 22 May 2019).

Sources note that the May 2019 strike was the fourth national strike (Confidencial 26 May 2019; La Prensa 22 May 2019) since 14 June 2018 (La Prensa 22 May 2019). According to Al Jazeera, it was "the fifth national strike to take place since a political crisis gripped the country more than one year ago" (Al Jazeera 24 May 2019). Information on the other strikes could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on the "National Strike for Nicaragua" as an organization or on the treatment of members by authorities and by society could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy (Alianza Cívica por la Justicia y la Democracia, ACJD) is a civil society group made up of organizations and citizens who advocate for justice and democracy in Nicaragua and participate in "the National Dialogue convened by the Nicaraguan Conference of Catholic Bishops with the objective of reviewing Nicaragua’s political system from the ground up to achieve an authentic democracy" (ACJD n.d.).

[2] According to the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa, the strike was to be held on 24 May 2019 (La Prensa 22 May 2019).

[3] Blue and White National Unity (Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco, UNAB) is a "'common front'" of different social groups, including the ACJD, which came together in 2018 to oppose Daniel Ortega's government (Today Nicaragua 6 Oct. 2018).

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 22 May 2019. "Nicaragua Opposition Calls Strike, Government Vows Prisoner Release." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Alianza Cívica por la Justicia y la Democracia (ACJD). 14 June 2018. "Press Release #8." [Accessed 8 July 2018]

Alianza Cívica por la Justicia y la Democracia (ACJD). N.d. "Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy." [Accessed 4 July 2019]

Al Jazeera. 24 May 2019. Manuel Rapalo. "Nicaragua: General Strike Anger over Political Prisoners." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Change.org. [16 May 2019]. "Llamado a paro nacional por Nicaragua." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Confidencial. 26 May 2019. Iván Olivares, Maynor Salazar and Maynor Salazar. "What the 24-Hour General Strike in Nicaragua Demonstrated." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Confidencial. 22 May 2019. "Nicaragua: National Strike Set for Thursday, May 23." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Confidencial. 13 June 2018. Carlos Salinas Maldonado. "National Strike Called for Thursday in Nicaragua." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 14 June 2018. "Nicaragua Opposition Stage General Strike." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Garda World. 23 May 2019. "Nicaragua: Opposition Group Calls for Nationwide Strike May 23." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

La Mesa Redonda. 22 May 2019. "Paro nacional por Nicaragua es este jueves 23 de mayo." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

La Prensa. 22 May 2019. Wendy Alvarez and Mabel Calero. "Así va Nicaragua al cuarto paro nacional de 24 horas a un año de la crisis política. Esto es lo que debes saber." [Accessed 4 July 2019]

La Razón. 23 May 2019. Ángel Sastre. "Paro nacional en Nicaragua para exigir la liberación de los presos políticos." [Accessed 4 July 2019]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 24 May 2019. "Grève nationale sous pression au Nicaragua." [Accessed 3 July 2019]

Today Nicaragua. 6 October 2018. Rico Torres. "Nicaragua Has a New United Front in Opposition to Ortega." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Political Handbook of the World; UN – Refworld; US – Department of State; Washington Office on Latin America.