1 de octubre 2024
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On Sunday, June 9, 2024, three weeks into house arrest ordered by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, retired General Humberto Ortega Saavedra—who passed away in the early hours of September 30 at 77 years old—recorded an audio message during a phone call to CONFIDENCIAL. He used a cell phone that he kept hidden in his house after the police confiscated all his communication devices during a raid on May 19.
The full message from the former Army Chief, in which he declared himself a "political prisoner," was kept by CONFIDENCIAL according to his wishes. To protect the security of his communications, he requested that a report be published on his state of isolation, the worsening of his health, and his demand for freedom, attributing it to "sources close to his family."
Two days later, CONFIDENCIAL reported that on the night of June 11, retired General Humberto Ortega was rushed to the Military Hospital with symptoms of a heart attack. He was placed in a room on the fourth floor of the hospital, where he remained in complete isolation until his death.
Furthermore, the whereabouts of Angélica Chavarría, Humberto Ortega's partner who had been with him for over three weeks of house arrest, are unknown. She is currently considered a victim of "forced disappearance."
Neither the Nicaraguan Army nor Daniel Ortega's regime acknowledged the transfer of the retired general to the Military Hospital or provided any information on the health condition of the political prisoner in that hospital. It was only three and a half months later, on September 29, that they issued a statement, ten hours before he died while under the custody of the Police and the Army.
Humberto Ortega's Last Audio Message
Humberto Ortega Saavedra died in the early hours of September 30 as a political prisoner of his brother Daniel Ortega's dictatorship. He stated in an interview with Infobae that if the FSLN leader were to die, his regime would have no successors, and free elections with international oversight should be called. His final message is the audio he recorded for CONFIDENCIAL on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in which he prophetically warned, "The stress caused by my unjust imprisonment could lead to a fatal outcome at any moment." He began the message with these words: "Urgent, Humberto Ortega Saavedra."
CONFIDENCIAL is now publishing the audio and transcript of his last message.
"I am retired Army General Humberto Ortega Saavedra. Today, Sunday (June 9, 2024), marks three weeks since I became a political prisoner under house arrest.
All my freedoms have been revoked, as have those of my partner, Angélica (Chavarría), who supports me morally with her firm libertarian principles and assists me, as I have been paralyzed in my arms since 1969. This (paralysis) is the result of a gunfight, when I led the attempt to rescue Carlos Fonseca, the founder, leader, and martyr of the Sandinista Popular Revolution, from prison.
My home and Protection Unit assigned to me were raided and sealed off by dozens of heavily armed National Police units and special forces, and the head of the Unit, retired Colonel Johnson Laínez, and his wife have been reported missing.
I am being denied visitors, including those of my close family members. I am completely isolated, without a phone, computer, radio, or television. The phone I am using now has been hidden for emergencies.
I am being denied medical treatment at the private Vivian Pellas Hospital. My health is in a critical state, and just a few hours ago, lesions developed on my legs, that threaten to spread an infection to my heart. The stress caused by my unjust imprisonment could lead to a fatal outcome at any moment.
The Government of Nicaragua, led by President Daniel Ortega, has the immediate solution for my unconditional release in its hands, which, I reiterate, I am convinced would help to quickly improve the overall situation in Nicaragua so that we can seek reconciliation, necessary agreements, and well-being for all of us Nicaraguans. As in the historic past, President Ortega and I worked together to solve problems of war, grief, and pain.
With an always firm and optimistic spirit, I call for this unfortunate chapter to end now.
Retired Army General Humberto Ortega Saavedra.
Managua, Nicaragua. Sunday, June 9, 2024."
This article was published in Spanish in Confidencial and translated by our staff. To get the most relevant news from our English coverage delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Dispatch.
