No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaNicaraguans gather in Costa Rica to celebrate release of political prisoners

Nicaraguans gather in Costa Rica to celebrate release of political prisoners

Sounds of drums, cheering, and the the flash of blue and white permeated the Plaza de Democracia on Tuesday as about 100 people celebrated the release of Nicaraguan political prisoners by the Daniel Ortega regime.

In stark contrast to last month’s demonstrations, which commemorated one year since the deadly Mothers of April Protests, the mood in the air was one of joy and celebration. Though anti-Ortega chats punctuated the music and dancing, there were more smiles than tears.

(Jacob Spetzler / The Tico Times)

Alex Hernandez, a political exile who says he spent more than two months in a Nicaraguan jail for his participation in the 2018 protests, was among the demonstrators at the Plaza.

“This is a first step in proving that the civic resistance is generating change,” he said as the party ended and people gathered their flags and dispersed into the San José night. “This release is a step back for the regime, who is showing itself to be unable to punish the people for asking for their rights.”

Hernandez and other Nicaraguans gathered in response to the Ortega regime freeing at least 100 political prisoners under a new amnesty law. However, that law is being criticized because it could also give immunity to police and civil militias who killed protestors during the bloody 2018 demonstrations.

Trending Now

Costa Rica and U.S. Strengthen Border Scans and Biometric Cooperation

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem met Wednesday with Honduran President Xiomara Castro to discuss security and migration, following her offer in Costa...

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...

U.S. – Guatemala Security Pact Targets Crime and Helps Returning Migrants

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a border security cooperation agreement with Guatemala on Thursday, which includes the use of drones and...

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica