In Nicaragua, an acolyte of Hugo Chavez abuses power

President Daniel Ortega has set out to “harass, marginalize, and discredit” his opponents

Few Canadians will be aware that Peter Kent, the former TV journalist, rookie Conservative MP, and Stephen Harper’s new minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas), is currently on a four-day trip to Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Truth is we don’t pay much attention these days to Central America. Thus, this alarming update on the sorry state of Nicaragua’s politics is timely. It seems Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has set out to “harass, marginalize, and discredit” his opponents-adopting the tactics of Hugo Chavez, and partly bankrolled by the Venezuelan president. 

Committee to Protect Journalists