Article Author:
Associated Press
Gabriella Celser
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaraguan police Friday raided the residence of a Roman Catholic bishop, apparently killing him and several others. detained people. Two weeks after the police set up a cordon.
Nicaraguan authorities last week accused Bishop Rolando Alvarez, the diocese of Matagalpa, an outspoken critic of Daniel Ortega's government, from "organizing violent groups" and "carrying out hateful acts." I incited it," he accused. against the people.
Early Friday morning, Matagalpa Diocese posted on social media, "#SOS #emergency. At this point, the National Police entered our Matagalpa Diocese Anglican rectory.
In a video message, Pablo Cuevas, a lawyer for the non-governmental organization's Permanent Commission on Human Rights, condemned Alvarez's detention, saying it was not unexpected.
"What was clearly supposed to happen has happened: the arbitrary and abusive arrest of Monsignor Alvarez," he said Cuevas.
Edwin Roman, a Nicaraguan parish priest exiled to the United States, said on Twitter: Out of curiosity, they took Monsignor Rolando Alvarez with the priests who were with him.
Police said last week the search would target a number of people who would not be allowed to leave their homes during the investigation.
The arrest is the culmination of weeks of escalating tensions between the church and the government of President Daniel Ortega.
The government had previously closed eight of his radio stations and one of his television channels in the state of Matagalpa, north of Managua. Seven of the radio stations were run by churches.
Her Aug. 5 announcement that Alvarez was under investigation was followed by First Lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo, who allegedly referred to Alvarez as a "crime against spirituality." It came hours after he criticized "a display of hatred."
