Nicaragua shuts down scouting association and several other social and religious groups

Source: Associated Press

Nicaragua shuts down scouting association and several other social and religious groups

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 6:41 PM EST, February 16, 2024

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua’s government has shut down the country’s scouting organization and seven other nongovernmental organizations, state media La Gaceta reported Friday, the latest in an ongoing crackdown that has seen the government toss out religious orders, charities and civic groups.

The Interior Minister, which regulates the operations of NGOs in the Central American country, said the Scouts Association of Nicaragua allegedly failed to report financial statements and accused them of having an “expired” board of directors the government had not renewed since September 2021.

The assets of the eight organizations — four of them religious — will be confiscated by Nicaragua’s government, La Gaceta said.

Since mass social protests erupted in 2018, Daniel Ortega’s government has shut down or outlawed more than 3,500 NGOs, most of which have been closed in the past two years.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-crackdown-scouts-daniel-ortega-ceb7679bad9155e5f69d6cf34e16d606