Central America
Nicaraguan government seizes assets of one of the country’s most prestigious Jesuit universities
August 17|
The Nicaraguan Justice, controlled by the government presided by Daniel Ortega, ordered the Jesuit Central American University (UCA), one of the most prestigious private study centers in the country, to transfer its movable and immovable assets, as well as its bank accounts, to the State of Nicaragua, the educational institution informed on Wednesday.
The UCA, founded in 1960, confirmed through an email to the educational community and shared with EFE, that on Tuesday, at 17:29 hours (23:29 GMT), they received an official notice from Judge Gloria María Saavedra, head of the Tenth Criminal District Court of Hearings Managua District, notifying them of this and other measures.
In the official notice, the Jesuit university was notified of “the seizure of real estate, furniture, money in national or foreign currency from the immobilized bank accounts, financial products in national or foreign currency property of the UCA”, according to the letter.
The judge also ordered “that the seizure of all the goods described in the previous point be in favor of the State of Nicaragua, which will guarantee the continuity of all educational programs”.
Likewise, the judge sent notices to the Public Registry of Real Estate and Commercial Property, to the Superintendence of Banks, to the National Directorate of Registries, to the National Police and to the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic, “for the purposes of their charges”.
“The above measures are taken in correspondence to unfounded accusations that the Central American University functioned as a center of terrorism, organizing criminal groups,” explained the university.
“In the face of all this, the UCA reiterates its commitment to Nicaraguan society for a high quality higher education and faithful to its founding principles for 63 years,” it added.
He also thanked “the trust, solidarity and closeness expressed by students, teachers, administrative staff and the Nicaraguan society that identifies with the principles and values of this Alma Mater”.
In view of this official letter, the Jesuit university, whose rector is the priest Rolando Enrique Alvarado López, decided to suspend as of today “all academic and administrative activities, until it is possible to resume them in an ordinary manner, which will be informed through the official communication channels of the University”.
Last week, Nicaraguan authorities froze the bank accounts of the Jesuit university and immobilized its properties, amidst the friction between the Ortega government and the Nicaraguan Catholic Church.
On the other hand, the Directorate of Alternative Dispute Resolution (Dirac), attached to the Supreme Court of Justice, revoked last Monday the accreditation of the Mediation Center of the UCA, four months after the same entity renewed its accreditation.
In March 2022, Nicaraguan authorities excluded the UCA from the 6% constitutional allocation that universities receive annually.
In September of the same year, UCA Vice Rector Jorge Huete was banned from entering the country after a work trip to Argentina.
Former UCA rector José Alberto Idiáquez, who participated in a dialogue that sought to overcome the crisis Nicaragua has been going through since April 2018, was also unable to return to the country in July 2022, after traveling to Mexico to attend to health problems.
The Jesuit university was the scene of dozens of marches against the Ortega government, in the context of the crisis that Nicaragua has been going through since April 2018.
Also on May 30, 2018, it opened its doors to thousands of students who sought refuge after participating in a massive opposition march in Managua, called “The mother of all marches”, which ended bathed in blood, just after Ortega sentenced in a speech to his followers that “Nicaragua belongs to all of us and here we all stay”.
It also hosted the exhibition “Ama y no Olvida: Museo de la Memoria contra la Impunidad”, promoted by the Asociación de Madres de Abril (AMA), which seeks to remember those killed during the anti-government demonstrations in Nicaragua.
Nicaragua has been going through a political and social crisis since April 2018, which has been accentuated after the controversial general elections of November 7, 2021, in which Ortega was reelected for a fifth term with his main contenders in prison.
Central America
Arrests and clashes in Tegucigalpa as vote count continues after Honduras election
Protesters affiliated with the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre) gathered in a demonstration that led to several arrests, disturbances, the burning of tires, and left at least 15 people injured outside the center where votes from Honduras’ November 30 general election are still being counted.
The group assembled on Monday outside the National Institute for Professional Training (INFOP) in Tegucigalpa, after President Xiomara Castro called on supporters through social media, claiming that a “new coup d’état” was being plotted in Honduras.
“I call on the people, social movements, grassroots organizations, party militants and citizens to urgently and peacefully gather in Tegucigalpa to defend the popular mandate, reject any coup attempt and make it clear to the world that a new coup is taking shape here,” the president said.
Castro has stated that she does not recognize the partial election results, which currently place right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura in the lead with 40.54% of the vote, followed closely by liberal candidate Salvador Nasralla with 39.20%. The ruling party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada, remains in a distant third place with 19.30%, with no realistic chance of a comeback.
Both the Libre Party and the Liberal Party, led by Castro and Nasralla respectively, have alleged electoral fraud. On Tuesday, the two parties agreed to participate in the special review panels that the National Electoral Council (CNE) says will finalize the count by reexamining 1,081 polling records flagged for irregularities.
Former president Manuel Zelaya, Castro’s husband and a senior figure within Libre, said last week that according to his party’s own nationwide tally of presidential ballots, Nasralla—a former Libre member—won the election.
Central America
Bukele says AI partnership with xAI will transform public education in El Salvador
President Nayib Bukele stated on Monday that the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the support of Elon Musk’s company xAI, will help redefine the future of public education in El Salvador.
“El Salvador and xAI will redefine the future of public education. Children will not use Grok the same way we use it,” the president wrote on X.
Last week, Bukele and Musk announced a partnership to provide personalized tutoring through the AI assistant Grok for all students enrolled in public schools across the country.
This pioneering alliance between the Government of El Salvador and xAI represents the launch of the world’s first national education program powered by artificial intelligence.
“Grok will be used in all public schools in El Salvador over the next two years. More than one million students will receive personalized tutoring. Thousands of teachers will receive assistance and support as partners in the educational process,” the president explained.
Meanwhile, FMLN Secretary General Manuel Flores described the incorporation of AI into public school education as “reckless,” arguing that many schools still lack basic services such as electricity and internet access.
“Schools do not even have desks. They said: ‘All schools will have internet’; that promise was not fulfilled. And others used to say: ‘The only promises that matter are the ones that are kept,’” Flores said during his regular Monday press conference.
Flores questioned who would teach artificial intelligence classes, noting that in some areas schools lack televisions or electricity. “How are they going to have internet? Starlink [satellite internet service] has already been announced five times,” he added.
He further labeled the AI-driven education program promoted by President Bukele as “another lie,” comparing it to the “Two Schools a Day” initiative, which he claimed is “pure propaganda.”
The “Two Schools a Day” program was announced earlier this year and involves the construction or reconstruction of public schools nationwide to improve educational quality. The project is being implemented by government institutions such as the National Directorate of Municipal Works.
Central America
El Salvador ranks among top countries in the Americas in fight against organized crime
El Salvador has positioned itself as the country in the Americas with the strongest performance in the Global Organized Crime Index (GOCI), ranking 18th out of 35 countries in the region and 77th out of 193 nations worldwide that are engaged in the fight against organized crime.
According to the index, El Salvador outperforms Mexico, which ranks 2nd in the Americas and 3rd globally, as well as the United States, which holds the 14th position in the Americas and 60th worldwide.
The Global Organized Crime Index evaluates multiple indicators, including criminal markets, human trafficking and smuggling, extortion, arms trafficking, counterfeit goods trade, illicit trade in excisable goods, environmental crimes involving flora and fauna, crimes against non-renewable resources, heroin, cocaine, cannabis and synthetic drug trafficking, cyber-dependent crimes, financial crimes, mafia-style groups and criminal networks.
Within Central America, El Salvador surpasses Panama, which ranks 8th in the Americas and 21st globally; Costa Rica, ranked 13th in the region and 58th worldwide; Nicaragua, ranked 16th and 69th; Honduras, positioned 5th in the Americas and 13th globally; and Guatemala, which holds 9th place in the Americas and 25th worldwide.
Belize is the only Central American country ranked above El Salvador, placing 23rd in the Americas and 103rd globally. However, while El Salvador climbed 25 positions compared to its 2023 ranking—improving from 52nd to 77th—Belize dropped three positions, moving from 106th in 2023 to 103rd in the current index.
El Salvador’s progress in combating organized crime also surpasses that of several countries across the Americas, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Paraguay, all of which rank lower both regionally and globally.
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