Nicaragua/Venezuela: Covid-19 used as excuse for targeting Christians

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Latin America | 20 July 2020

In Nicaragua:

On 4 March 2020, Fides reported that government supporters stormed into a church service held in memory of the late poet and priest, Ernesto Cardinal. They insulted, attacked and robbed Christians attending.
On 1 April 2020, Despacho505 reported that supporters of Ortega mocked and heckled the Catholic priest of the Corpus Christi church in Managua who was leading a procession and praying for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On 7 April 2020, La Prensa reported that the Ortega government had denied the Catholic humanitarian organization, Caritas, the necessary authorization and tax exemption for operating in the country. All shipments of donations to the country have thus been forced to stop.
On 15 April 2020, Aleteia reported that the Nuestra Seƒ±ora de la Merced church in Managua was vandalized. A large crucifix had been daubed with thick white paint and various sacred objects scattered on the ground.
On 16 May 2020, Article 66 reported that the wife of Daniel Ortega, Rosario Murillo, had publicly referred to Catholic bishops expressing concern for the Nicaraguan people"s health as "demons proclaiming hatred". She made several other accusations in an attempt to discredit churches and present them as traitors.

In Venezuela:

On 11 May 2020, Aleteia reported that Bolivarian National Guard officers entered the San Martƒn de Tours church after breaking the locks to search for possible anti-government "destabilizing mercenaries".

Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nicaragua, the government has deliberately held back health details and provided false information. Given the lack of government measures to combat the outbreak, various sectors - including health services and churches - mobilized to initiate and encourage containment strategies. However, since this contradicts the regime's official line, such initiatives have been regarded as treason and resulted in the defamation of and attacks on Christians. Supporters of the Ortega regime have acted accordingly with total impunity." Rossana Ramirez continues: "Such situations as this make the poorer strata of society increasingly vulnerable. As people become more dependent on government aid, so the risk of greater social control by totalitarian regimes (such as are to be found in Nicaragua and Venezuela) increases. For instance, the Venezuelan government launched the "Discipline and Conscience Bonus" scheme (Asi Somos, 28 May 2020) but this state aid only goes to those possessing a Homeland Card (an ID-card which is only issued to citizens expressing loyalty to the government). In order to survive, some Christians are thus being forced to compromise their principles and give up opposing the regime. Further, this government scheme means that churches cannot offer humanitarian aid without government authorization. If they try to go ahead without authorization, the authorities find ways to prevent it. They cannot allow such "˜competition" since they only want government supporters exerting control over the population.