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How PBI-Canada is responding to the coronavirus pandemic

By
Brent Patterson
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Dear friends,

I wish everyone good health during this strange and scary time. My heart is with those who are feeling particularly vulnerable, worried about friends and family, wondering about the basic necessities of life, and those who are feeling financially precarious.

As a human rights organization, we are also deeply concerned about the impact this situation will have for at-risk human rights defenders, communities that may experience greater repression at this time, and those seeking refuge from violence.

Our field projects and country groups

We are also staying in communication with our field projects and country groups.

All of the countries where we provide accompaniment and direct support – Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Indonesia and Nepal – have confirmed cases of coronavirus. Our teams in these countries are having discussions about how to continue to keep at-risk human rights defenders safe at this time.

Apart from Canada, the United States and Australia, PBI’s ten other country groups are based in Europe. We are particularly concerned about our friends and colleagues with PBI-Italy and PBI-Spain, countries that have been hit particularly hard by coronavirus.

What PBI-Canada is doing

As a first step, we postponed an advocacy tour we had planned in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal from March 14-19. This tour was going to feature the legal coordinator for the Saltillo Migrant Shelter, which is accompanied by PBI, highlighting concerns including the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement, the reasons why people are displaced, the violence experienced by migrants, and the need for the human rights of migrants to be upheld.

It is our hope that we will be able to hold this tour by the end of the year.

Additionally, PBI-Canada has just one staff person, me, and I am working from home. This is also the result of the closing of our office last year to better spend the donations we receive on program costs rather than on overhead.

And given advocacy tours, public meetings and country visits are not possible at this time, we will continue to do our best to interpret and share human rights updates with you. We will also do all the online advocacy that is possible.

We’ve already joined with World Beyond War, CODEPINK and the Nobel Women’s Initiative to call on the organizers of CANSEC, this country’s largest arms fair, to cancel their planned gathering in Ottawa of 12,000 people from 55 countries after it announced their weapons show would go ahead despite the pandemic.

We have also highlighted and shared via social media the concerns being expressed by a Colombian social leader about a Canadian company possibly fracking near his community’s source of water and the fish that feed their village.

We will also be attempting to do as much of our administrative work online as possible.

It’s unknown how long this pandemic will last. USA Today has reported the cases will peak in late April/early May, while the BBC has noted a “best guess” that cases could peak towards May and June before a downturn.

In the meantime, we will do our best to virtually accompany, keep you informed about the issues faced by human rights defenders, and work to make space for peace.

Brent Patterson, Peace Brigades International-Canada, Ottawa

State measures to contain coronavirus pandemic should not serve to silence human rights defenders

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 16, a United Nations News Update highlighted, “A group of human rights experts urged states on Monday to avoid excessive security measures in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and reminded them that the powers of an emergency situation cannot be used to quell dissent.”

This group of UN Special Rapporteurs and experts from the Human Rights Council stated, “While we recognize the severity of the current health crisis and recognize that international law allows the use of emergency powers in response to significant threats, we urgently remind States that any emergency response to the coronavirus must be proportionate, necessary, and not discriminatory.”

The UN Update highlights that restrictions to respond to the virus should not “serve to silence the work of human rights defenders.”

The Center for Justice and International Law has also noted, “In several countries, measures have been adopted to restrict rights.”

The CEJIL statement adds, “Latin America has a long history of dealing with states of emergency or exception. It is critical to understand that these measures are governed by a series of criteria regarding their proportionality, necessity, temporality, periodic evaluation and guarantee of rights.”

Furthermore, Reuters now reports that “Honduras was in a state of near lockdown on Monday [November 16]”, while this social media post notes “Honduran govt arrests Aleyda Huete, social movement leader in southern Honduras, during coronavirus lockdown & suspension of constitutional rights”, while another social media post suggests that Guatemala has just prohibited public gatherings of any size.

Peace Brigades International provided, “Physical accompaniment, observation and office rounds alongside 705 women and 629 male human rights defenders in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya and Mexico on 1334 occasions in 2018.”

An integral part of our protection strategy is a highly visible physical presence alongside threatened defenders as they carry out their work. PBI entities will be innovating at this time to ensure the continued safety of at-risk human rights defenders.

Four free online PBI-UK films about human rights defenders that you can watch at home

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 17, The New York Times reported, “The more people stay home to avoid the coronavirus pandemic, the more they find themselves glued to their screens.”

It’s also important to get outside if possible and we are aware that for many people paying the cost of subscription entertainment services – like Netflix – may not be feasible as their income is impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

At this time, when more people are at home taking social isolation measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, we are sharing again an article we originally posted on January 20 about four free online films about the work of human rights defenders produced by Peace Brigades International-United Kingdom.

Simply click on the title in bold below to see the film.

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Peace Brigades International-United Kingdom director Susi Bascon has produced four films directed by photojournalist and filmmaker Manu Valcarce.

They are: Media Freedom in Honduras (June 2019), La Búsqueda – The Search (November 2019), The Defenders (December 2019), and SOMOS (January 2020).

Media Freedom in Honduras: “To mark world press freedom day 2019 – Honduran journalist and human rights defender Dina Meza talks to PBI about media freedom and the work of independent journalists in Honduras.” (Manu Valcarce/ United Kingdom/ June 2019/ 10:22/ Spanish with English subtitles)

La Búsqueda – The Search: “In Mexico there are more than 40,000 missing people. PBI UK interviewed the mothers of the disappeared in Ayotzinapa, and spoke with activists and lawyers who support the victims and their families.” (Manu Valcarce/ United Kingdom/ November 2019/ 11:15/ Spanish with English subtitles)

THE DEFENDERS: “The Defenders spotlights the people who put their lives on the line for causes they believe in. (Manu Valcarce/ United Kingdom/ December 2019/ 12:44/ Spanish with English subtitles)

SOMOS: “SOMOS tells the story of Arcoiris, a group of LGBT+ human rights defenders in Honduras. In recent years the organisation has faced mounting attacks and threats following relentless public abuse and stigmatisation. Prejudice from the police and judiciary means that these attacks go largely unpunished, making it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be an LGBT+ human rights defender. Our interviews reveal both the severity of the risks they face and their determination to further their struggle. PBI has provided protective accompaniment to Arcoíris since 2015 and is committed to continuing our support for LGBTI+ communities in some of the most dangerous countries around the world.” (Manu Valcarce/ United Kingdom/ January 2020/ 18:26/ Spanish with English subtitles)

Please watch, discuss and share these films.

To support the work of PBI-UK with a donation, please click here.

PBI-Canada supports the call to cancel the CANSEC arms show given the coronavirus pandemic

By
Brent Patterson
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It’s still not known for sure if the annual CANSEC arms show will take place as planned on Wednesday May 27 and Thursday May 28 in Ottawa.

Despite the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11, the Ottawa Citizen reported on March 12 that, “The military equipment trade show, CANSEC 2020, expected to attract around 12,000 visitors to the EY Centre in Ottawa, will still proceed, according to the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries [CADSI], which organizes the event.”

That news prompted this article on the independent media website rabble.ca, this letter to the editor by peace activist Jo Wood in the Ottawa Citizen, this open letter signed by several organizations, including PBI-Canada, and this online petition by World Beyond War, a global nonviolent movement to end war.

Then on March 13, CADSI issued this statement: “CADSI will have updated information on the status of our upcoming events, including CANSEC, on April 1st.”

There are growing indications that CANSEC will not happen as scheduled.

Closed borders, no international flights to Ottawa

On March 15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada would close its border to those who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. CADSI had boasted that delegations from 55 countries would be present at its arms show.

Furthermore, Global News reported on March 17, “The border between Canada and the U.S. will be temporarily closed to non-essential traffic.” The United States is the largest buyer of Canadian-made armaments and technology.

And as of March 18, only four airports (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal) will receive international flights. That means direct flights from outside the country to the Ottawa International Airport are not available for the time being.

Ottawa Special Events laying off staff

Additionally, it appears that Ottawa Special Events, an event production company,  expects most events at the EY Centre to be suspended or cancelled.

On March 16, Ottawa Matters reported, “Ottawa Special Events is laying off 16 of its 21 full-time employees as local COVID-19-related event cancellations and suspensions continue to affect the business.”

That article highlights, “Partner Michael Wood [says he] expects the majority [of the] upcoming events [he and his crew] would be scheduled to work at the Shaw Centre and EY Centre to be either suspended or cancelled.”

Bars closing, restaurants limited to take-out and delivery

And on March 16, Mayor Jim Watson, who had previously issued this welcome to CANSEC delegates, tweeted, “@ottawahealth has accepted the recommendation from the Province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health that all bars, theatres and entertainment venues should close temporarily, and that restaurants limit operations to take-out and delivery.”

Given the increase in cases of coronavirus is sadly not expected to peak until late-April/early-May or later, it’s not likely that CADSI will be able to do anything else on April 1 other than postpone its arms show for months or reschedule to May 2021.

Sign the petition

Please join with others and help to make space for peace by signing this petition that calls on Prime Minister Trudeau, Mayor Watson, CADSI President Christyn Cianfarani and others to #CancelCANSEC given the pandemic.

Meanwhile, work will continue to have CANSEC permanently cancelled, for all weapons shows to be banned, for Canada to stop the production of military-grade weapons, and for military spending to be redirected to human and environmental needs.

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PBI-Canada has a long history of opposing arms shows in Ottawa.

Minutes from a January 24, 1993 PBI-Canada Board of Directors meeting state: “Alan Dixon reported that a weapons trade show under the title ‘Peacekeeping ‘93’ is being planned for March 16-17th in Ottawa. Dis-ARMX will be held March 16, 5-9 pm. Alan proposed PBI have a booth. He’ll do the groundwork. Toronto Office will supply materials for display, pamphlets, T-shirts to sell, etc.”

Additionally, Murray Thomson, who helped to found Peace Brigades International in 1981, was a regular presence at protests against CANSEC over the years, including the one below in May 2018. He passed away in May 2019 at 96 years of age.

Canadian banks have funneled more than $481 billion into fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 18, the Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance and Sierra Club released this report that shows that 35 banks have poured a total of $2.7 trillion into fossil fuels in the four years since the Paris Agreement was adopted (2016-2019).

This financing included more than $481 billion from Canadian banks: the Royal Bank of Canada (at $140.6 billion), Toronto Dominion ($103.4 billion), Scotiabank ($97.7 billion), the Bank of Montreal ($82.1 billion) and CIBC ($57.7 billion).

The report notes, “The world’s fifth biggest fossil funder is Canada’s RBC.”

It also notes, “The U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, [now scheduled to start on November 9th] on the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Paris climate agreement, will be a crucial deadline for banks to align their policies and practices with a 1.5° Celsius world in which human rights are fully respected.”

Johan Frijns, director of BankTrack, says, “It is high time banks recognised that reaching the Paris climate goals requires an immediate end to finance for all new fossil fuel projects, and a rapid phase-out of existing fossil finance.”

Frijns highlights, “This should be the Global Glasgow Goal for all banks.”

On March 18, The Guardian reported, “Ministers and officials have privately discussed the possibility of postponing the Cop26 talks scheduled for Glasgow this November [because of the coronavirus pandemic], but no decision has yet been taken.”

Climate change and human rights

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has commented, “We call on leaders and governments to recognise that climate change and environmental degradation severely undermine the human rights of their people.”

Katharine Rall of Human Rights Watch has stated, “The frequent attacks and threats against environmental rights defenders throughout the world are an example of why governments need to include protecting rights in their climate policies.”

In recognition of this, the UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution that “stresses that human rights defenders … must be ensured a safe and enabling environment … in recognition of their important role in supporting States to fulfil their obligations under the Paris Agreement [reached at the COP21 climate summit in December 2015].”

Peace Brigades International accompanies environmental defenders and activists in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico as part of our commitment to protect the environment and prevent further climate breakdown.

For more, please see 5 things to know about human rights and climate change. To read the full report, go to Banking on Climate Change: Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2020.

PBI-Canada supports the call for Canada to adopt due diligence legislation to protect human rights defenders

By
Brent Patterson
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In this opinion piece published in The Globe and Mail on March 11, University College London law professor Barnali Choudhury (who also holds a law degree in Canada) argues that Canada should adopt due diligence legislation.

Choudhury begins by highlighting that the Supreme Court of Canada in its recent Nevsun Resources Ltd. v. Araya decision – which is summarized here – concluded that customary international law applies to companies.

She then notes, “The court’s finding in this area may work toward helping establish norms of corporate liability for human rights at the international level.”

“The government has already publicly committed to advancing corporate social responsibility in the extractive sector through its 2014 strategy, partly titled Doing Business the Canadian Way. …However, the strategy has mainly resulted in the creation of an ombudsperson for responsible enterprise [that can be read about here], which given its relative lack of powers, has been branded by critics as toothless.”

“A better approach would be for the government to develop due diligence legislation that creates specific standards of conduct expected of Canadian companies.”

“Due diligence legislation is a common practice in a number of different countries. Already, Britain, Australia, France and the Netherlands have adopted some form of due diligence legislation, with the European Union expected to enact similar legislation throughout the EU shortly.”

“While due diligence legislation can take different forms, generally it requires companies to engage in human rights or environmental due diligence, address the issues identified by the due diligence and work to minimize future related issues. Failure to comply with due diligence obligations can result in penalties or fines.”

Choudhury also notes, “Some forms of due diligence legislation can also create private actions for victims of corporate abuse, although the general aim of such legislation is about preventing or minimizing corporate abuses before they occur.”

PBI and due diligence

In March 2019, Peace Brigades International signed this open letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on it to “increase the demands on States and businesses with regard to conducting due diligence on business and development activities.”

Then in November 2019, PBI and allies organized this session at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva that emphasized, “the obligation of states to protect human rights defenders at risk by encouraging and/or mandating robust human rights due diligence by both international and national financial institutions and companies.”

The following month, on International Human Rights Day, PBI joined with others in this statement that highlights, “There is a growing expectation for companies to exercise human rights due diligence and adopt a zero tolerance approach on reprisals and attacks on defenders not only in their own operations but also when they are linked to such attacks through their value chain and business relationships.”

PBI has also previously called on the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights to discuss “how to ensure better, fairer, culturally sensitive consultation processes (both in terms of state obligation and due diligence of companies) with full access to information.”

Furthermore, PBI-Germany supported this report that asked that the German government, “Develop implementation guidelines on human rights due diligence for business enterprises, also in relation to their subsidiaries, suppliers and distribution channels, and make these a legal requirement in Germany.”

PBI-Switzerland has called for “effective access to justice and remedy to reduce the current climate of impunity that many powerful companies enjoy.”

PBI-Belgium has signed this statement calling on development finance institutions, governments, and businesses to “adopt a policy commitment to respect human rights and implement due diligence to prevent human rights violations.”

And PBI-UK in its ‘Revision of the UK National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights’ briefing stated, “In order to ensure companies adopt due diligence policies that genuinely address risks, it is important that the government advocates more strongly for the uptake of independent, transparent and publically available Human Rights Impact Assessments.”

While the Canadian government has agreed to hold a consultation on whether new legislation is needed mandating companies to conduct due diligence on eliminating forced labour and child labour in their supply chains, PBI-Canada supports the call that this scope should be broadened to include all human rights.

Colombian social leader concerned about Canadian company fracking near Puerto Patiño, Cesar

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 15, EFE reported, “Puerto Patiño – which faces the Doña María swamp on the Magdalena river, Colombia’s main river artery – is a candidate for a fracking project to extract oil less than a kilometer from the town center.”

The town of Puerto Patiño is located about five hours from Valledupar, the capital of the department of Cesar in northern Colombia.

“[Social leader Javier Vega] fears that the project that the Canadian oil company ConocoPhillips plans in the area will dry up the Doña María swamp, from which the fishing village has been feeding for more than fifty years and is vital to its traditions.”

While ConocoPhillips is an American-based transnational, it does have an office in Calgary and has partnered with Bogota-based CNE Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Calgary-based Canacol Energy Ltd., to frack the VMM-3 block in northern Cesar province.

Calgary-based Parex Resources also interested in fracking

Additionally, on March 8, 2019, Reuters had reported that Colombian Mines and Energy Minister Maria Fernanda Suarez named Parex Resources as one of the companies interested in the fracking pilot projects.

Pilot projects expected to begin in second half of 2020 or 2021

Reuters adds, “[In March the government] published regulations for pilot projects that permit the drilling, fracking and measuring of non-conventional deposits. …Further rules for developing the pilot projects depend on several government ministries…”

Some news articles have reported that the pilot projects could begin in the second half of 2020, while NBC recently reported, “The industry expects regulation for fracking to be defined this year, so permits and licenses can be granted for work to start in 2021.”

Court ruling expected by July of this year

Furthermore, Reuters reported on March 11 that a ruling from the Council of State, Colombia’s highest administrative court, on the exploration of non-conventional energy deposit (fracking) could come in the next four months.

Council Magistrate Ramiro Pazos says, “The court thinks this process is sufficiently advanced and a decision will be taken in the first half of this year.”

That article explains, “The Council ordered the temporary suspension of non-conventional exploration in 2018. It upheld the moratorium last year, but after widespread misinterpretation, it was forced to clarify a week later that the suspension did not block pilot projects.”

Toronto-based Frontera Energy owns pipeline that could be used to move fracked crude

Reuters has also reported that a 236,000 barrel per day pipeline from the Magdalena Medio region to Coveñas on the Caribbean coast could “move increased crude output” if fracking is approved beyond the pilot projects.

That article notes that Frontera Energy is a minority owner of that pipeline.

Fracking and human rights

The Alliance for a Colombia Free of Fracking has stated that fracking would violate the Colombian constitutional principles that guarantee citizens the right to life, the right to water, and the right to a healthy environment.

PBI accompaniment

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project accompanies the women’s legal collective CCALCP and the human rights organization CREDHOS.

PBI-Canada helped host a visit by representatives of those organizations in November 2019. Both CCALCP and CREDHOS highlighted their concerns to Members of Parliament and government officials about the impact of fracking on human rights.

Photo by @estefanyquincha:“This is the La Maria swamp in the Puerto Patiño district of the municipality of San Martín Cesar, it is part of the most important swamps complex in the middle Magdalena and today the implementation of the fracking pilots is threatened.”

PBI-Honduras shares report by CEHPRODEC on mining concessions that notes Canadian companies

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 13, the Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project posted on their Facebook page, “According to the latest report on mining in Honduras by CEHRPODEC, in September 2019 there were 471 concessions for mining projects in the country.”

PBI-Honduras adds, “With this document, CEHPRODEC wants to reach the communities and leaderships that defend natural assets, ‘those people who every day try to take care of their livelihoods against extractive projects and who have felt compelled to resist until death’.”

The 54-page report The State of Mining in Honduras can be read here (in Spanish via Dropbox).

Among the charts and graphs in the report is a listing of foreign companies or natural persons that held concessions in the departments of Olancho, Choluteca and Valle in 2019.

That list includes:

First Point Honduras S.A. (the report lists four names associated with the company who are Canadian and who live in British Columbia), page 44

Cobra Oro de Honduras S.A. (linked in the report with Glen Eagle Resources Inc., Quebec; Sociedad Mercantil Santa Barbara Mining Inc, Vancouver, British Columbia; Breakwater Resources Inc., Canada), pages 49-50

American Pacific S.A. (linked in the report with Morumbi Resources Inc. and Ascendant Resources in Toronto, Ontario), page 50

In May 2014, CEHPRODEC contributed to the report The Impact of Canadian Mining in Latin America and Canada’s Responsibility that was submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. That report noted:

“The political and economic support Canada gives Canadian companies (through mechanisms such as Export Development Canada (EDC), the Investment Board of the Canadian Pension Plan, and the Canadian International Development Agency) is provided without adequate controls to prevent the violation of human rights in the countries where the companies that receive these benefits operate.”

“Trade agreements usually contain clauses on human rights and environmental protection. However, they lack the legal bases to force the parties — and, fundamentally, Canada — to comply with the obligation to respect and guarantee the human rights that are violated in the host countries by the actions of Canadian mining companies.”

The Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement and parallel agreements on labour and environmental cooperation entered into force on October 1, 2014.

The Justice and Corporate Accountability Project report The Canada Brand: Violence and Canadian Mining Companies in Latin America found that between 2000-2015 there was 1 death related to a Canadian mine in Honduras, 10 injuries, and 85 instances of “criminalization”, including arrests, detentions and charges.

And in April 2014, MiningWatch Canada’s then Latin America program coordinator Jennifer Moore expressed concern to a Canadian parliamentary committee about the Canadian-backed mining law that was passed in Honduras in January 2013.

Moore stated, “This law was developed and passed with strong diplomatic support from the Canadian embassy, and with contributions from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the former Canadian International Development Agency.”

PBI-Honduras began accompanying CEHPRODEC in May 2014.

Photo: PBI accompanies CEHPRODEC at a mass protest against the International Mining Congress, July 2015.

PBI-Colombia accompanies Campesino Association of the Cimitarra River Valley (ACVC) general assembly

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 17, Agencia Prensa Rural reported, “Before the start of the restrictions established to contain the coronavirus pandemic, in the hamlet of Puerto Nuevo Ité, known in the Cimitarra River Valley region as La Cooperativa, the general assembly of the Campesino Association of the Cimitarra River Valley was held.”

That article adds, “Nearly 200 peasants, representing a hundred community action boards from the sidewalks of the Cimitarra River Valley Peasant Reserve Zone, attended the call made by the ACVC to carry out its most important deliberative and decision-making space.”

“The assembly was officially opened [on Sunday March 15], which began with the greetings of sister organizations such as CAHUCOPANA, CREDHOS [and other including] accompanying organizations. International IAP (International Action for Peace) and PBI (Peace Brigades International) that have been together with the ACVC for almost 20 years.”

The full Agencia Prensa article can be read (in Spanish) here.

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project has previously noted on its website, “The Small-scale Farmer Association of the Cimitarra River Valley’s (ACVC for its Spanish acronym) principle objectives are the comprehensive defence of human rights, the struggle for land ownership and land redistribution, and improved and dignified livelihoods for peasant farmers in the short term in order to lay the groundwork to bring about structural change in rural Colombia in the longer term.”

“PBI has accompanied the ACVC since 2007. During 2007 and 2008 the ACVC publicly denounced threats from paramilitary groups and harassment from the National Army. Given the increased threat against members of the ACVC, PBI expanded its accompaniment, emphasizing political advocacy to raise awareness about the problems faces by the organisation and the region in which they carry out their work.”

To read more about the ACVC on the PBI-Colombia website, please click here.

Twitter photo by Agencia Prensa.

PBI-Nicaragua launched to support human rights defenders in exile in Costa Rica

By
Brent Patterson
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On March 16, this article was posted on our global website:

Peace Brigades International has launched an accompaniment project for Nicaraguan organizations, social groups and individual human rights defenders exiled in Costa Rica.  The project seeks to accompany those who have been forced to leave their country due to the escalated political violence but who maintain links with Nicaraguan human rights movements and hope to return once conditions improve.

This is a new and temporary project that aims to offer support for the construction of strategies for organizational and community strengthening and protection, from a peace building approach, and with a psychosocial and gender perspective.

The project seeks to address the mental health impacts that displacement causes, whilst also encouraging the building of networks and trust between defenders in similar situations.  Coupled with protection and security workshops, PBI hopes this approach will help this community to remain active, denouncing human rights abuse in Nicaragua, despite finding themselves outside the context.

Context

On March 11, The Guardian reported, “More than 100,000 people have fled persecution in Nicaragua, with numbers set to rise, two years after the country was plunged into social and economic crisis, the UN’s refugee agency warned.”

That article adds, “Costa Rica, Nicaragua’s neighbour, has received the majority of refugees and asylum-seekers, taking in two-thirds, or 77,000 people. A further 8,000 have fled to Panama and 9,000 have gone to Europe while Mexico is sheltering 3,600 Nicaraguans. In all, 103,600 are seeking refuge globally.”

In September 2019, the Associated Press had reported, [The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights] said 20% of Nicaraguans in exile are students who took part in protests; 23% are human rights defenders or leaders of social and rural movements; and 18% are people who helped demonstrators with food, medicine and safe houses. Others are doctors, journalists and former soldiers or police who refused to participate in the crackdown.”

Part of this crisis has its roots in protests that began in April 2018.

At that time, Reuters reported, “Thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets in protest over controversial changes to social security that will increase worker and employer payments and reduce future pensions.”

A year later, Amnesty International noted, “President Ortega’s government is continuing its strategy of repression and human rights violations, despite the many calls from international organizations and the determined efforts of civil society to find a swift solution that upholds the rights of the population.”

Life is challenging for Nicaraguan exiles in Costa Rica

The Associated Press reports, “Some formerly middle-class citizens are having trouble putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads, while others from the working class are reduced to living in near-indigence.”

The New York Times has highlighted, “Most Nicaraguans who have crossed into Costa Rica since the spring [2018] have moved in with relatives or friends. Others have ended up in de facto shelters set up in cheap hotels, some in San José’s red light district, their rooms paid for by religious groups and other community-based organizations. And still others have slept in parks and on the street or have been taken in by private citizens.”

Earlier this week, the Havana Times reported, “Francisca Ramirez, one of the most recognized leaders of Nicaragua’s social movements, had to leave the country [in September 2018]. …Upon reaching Costa Rica, Ramirez encountered a humanitarian crisis among the Nicaraguans who had fled due to the crisis.” AP notes, “[Ramirez is] often mentioned in the same breath with murdered Honduran environmental activist Berta Caceres.”

The New York Times has also noted, “Nicaraguan leaders of the street protests, who are among the most wanted by the Ortega administration, have sought sanctuary in safe houses. They fear that the Nicaraguan government has sent spies to Costa Rica to hunt down protesters in exile.”

The Human Rights Collective Nicaragua Never Again notes that those who were detained in Nicaragua experienced “sexual violations, suffocation with plastic bags, beatings and kicks, electric shocks, cigarette burns, use of ‘Russian roulette’ and sustained verbal abuse.”

And the BBC has reported, “The huge increase in asylum seekers has not gone unnoticed among Costa Ricans and some have taken to the streets in protest. [In August 2018] about 500 marched into Parque de la Merced, a park in San José frequented by Nicaraguans. Waving Costa Rican flags, they shouted ‘Nicaraguans out’ and physically threatened some refugees. It was Costa Rica’s first anti-foreigner rally in modern times…”

While this new PBI project is based in Costa Rica, PBI has previously worked in Nicaragua.

As noted on our website, “In September 1983, 10 PBI volunteers maintained a short presence in Jalapa, close to the Honduran border, interposing themselves between US-backed contras and the Sandinista forces in order to deter hostilities. This initial PBI work was taken over and continued by Witness for Peace.”

Photo: Asylum-seekers from Nicaragua wait to file their applications at the immigration office in San Jose, Costa Rica. Photo by UNHCR/Roberto Carlos Sanchez

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