Blacklists, arrests, deportations and exile: the drama of musicians and their songs under the regime of Daniel Ortega

As has become frequent, the new wave of repression in Nicaragua was announced the day before by Vice President Rosario Murillo, in her daily monologues at noon, when at the beginning of the month she threatened those who tried to celebrate, in her words, “that nefarious April that we all hate and that will never return”.

This April 19 marked the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of popular protests that shook the regime of Daniel Ortega, and Rosario Murillo has condemned every day against this date that apparently takes away his sleep. “They wanted some, those destroyers of peace, they wanted the world to believe that the insurrection was repeated in Nicaragua. What there was is crime, organized crime, that's what there was, with choreographic montages that simulated the epic of the insurrection. Who believed them? No one!” , said Murillo.

Two musicians were arrested on April 12, another two were expelled from the country, another was banned from entering Nicaragua, some had quietly gone into exile, and many more have denounced sieges, including police requests or patrols in front of their homes amid this new wave of repression. The musicians became the main target of the regime in view of the possibility that their songs might recall the April four years ago that torments the regime of Ortega and Murillo.

On April 12, police arrested Josué Monroy, leader and vocalist of the band Monroy y Surmenage, and Salvador Espinoza and Xóchitl Tapia, owners of SaXo Producciones. Ten days earlier, Monroy gave a concert at Alianza Francaise for the fifteenth anniversary of his band and played songs alluding to the days four years ago. The concert was organized by SaxO Producciones.

So far, the regime has not given any explanation about these arrests, but it is known from relatives that they are being held in the prison known as El Chipote, where most political prisoners detained since May last year are held. “To this day we do not know what the accusation will be and what the argument will be for having them illegally detained in El Chipote,” says lawyer Yonarqui Martínez, legal adviser to the Nicaraguan committee of mothers of political prisoners.

Prior to these arrests, the Police circulated among the owners of bars and restaurants a “black list” of gangs whose hiring they consider prohibited, under penalty of revocation of the commercial licenses of the businesses that hire them, the notified said.

Costa Rican music producer Leonardo Canales, director of La Antesala, and Italian-born singer Emilia Arienti, were expelled from the country without explanation. Canales was also arrested on April 12 and holds dual Nicaraguan and Costa Rican nationality.

“From La Antesala we report that our director and colleague Leonardo Canales has been deported to his country of origin and arrived safely. We appreciate the shows of support provided,” the producer said in a statement announcing “the closure to our cultural space”.

On Tuesday, the Nicaraguan regime banned the entry into the country of the marimbist of the group La Cuneta Son Machín, Carlos Luis Mejía, son of renowned singer-songwriter, also exiled, Carlos Mejía Godoy. Carlos Luis Mejía was returning from the United States to Nicaragua and during his stopover in El Salvador he was notified of the ban on his entry ordered by the Nicaraguan government.

A source linked to the art world assured Infobae that many other musicians are under siege in their homes, hidden for fear of capture, or would have left the country to preserve their freedom.

The persecution of musicians is part of a major repressive wave that includes siege and arrests of activists, politicians and relatives of those killed, given the possibility of commemorations of the events of April, four years ago.

The opposition agency called Blue and White Monitoring reported on Tuesday 77 incidents related to human rights violations between Sunday 17 and Monday 18, including six arrests and seven threats against opposition activists and political prisoners.

“Right now we are all threatened with arrest, in a country where no one can safeguard us,” says lawyer Martínez, who is currently in charge of defending more than 40 political prisoners. Martínez herself has had to protect herself by leaving her home “because the defense of human rights in Nicaragua has been criminalized.”

“They aim to instill fear and use the oppressive weapon they have, the judiciary, the National Police, the volunteer police,” he adds. “An increase in the siege was to be expected. Unfortunately we are defenseless.”

Regarding the persecution of musicians, Martínez recalls that since 2018 there have been reprisals against them and strong threats against those who dared to sing the citizen uprising. Renowned performers and singer-songwriters such as brothers Carlos and Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, Katia Cardenal and Ceshia Ubau, among others, went into exile to protect their lives and freedom.

“Since 2018 there have been reprisals against artists, but not criminalization as there is now,” Martínez explains. “There are songs that are like an anthem in Nicaragua. What they (government) want at all costs is for the people to forget that there are human rights violations and impunity for those killed.”

“By imprisoning the artist they are not going to silence people's voices, rather by imprisoning the artist they create the opposite effect, they arrest the artist, but their songs go viral and have more impact,” concludes the lawyer.

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