Nicaragua police beat journalists in crackdown on free press

Earlier this week police occupied the offices of prominent editor Carlos Fernando Chamorro, along with buildings used by several civil society organizations it had banned.

Riot police dislodge journalists from the main entrance to police headquarters in Managua, Nicaragua December 15, 2018. (Source: REUTERS)

Nicaraguan police on Saturday beat at least seven journalists with batons, including one of the country’s best known editors, in an escalating crackdown on independent media in the aftermath of protests against President Daniel Ortega.

Earlier this week police occupied the offices of prominent editor Carlos Fernando Chamorro, along with buildings used by several civil society organizations it had banned.

Journalists on Saturday gathered outside the police headquarters in the capital Managua. Chamorro asked officers outside for information about what he called the illegal raid on his offices, in which officers confiscated equipment and papers.

After his request, policemen in anti-riot gear emerged from the headquarters swinging batons at and kicking Chamorro, his colleagues and reporters who were at the scene to cover the event.