Nicaragua’s Jesuit-run Central American University (UCA) on Wednesday announced the suspension of its activities after a court ordered the confiscation of its property and funds, accusing it of being a “centre of terrorism.”
The measures have been taken "in response to unfounded accusations that the Central American University has functioned as a centre of terrorism,” the UCA said in a note to the university community.
Nicaragua's government accuses the Catholic Church of supporting protesters who in 2018 demanded the resignation of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. The repression of the protests left more than 300 dead, according to the UN.
The UCA explained that on Tuesday it received official notification of the seizure ordered by a court in Managua. The document “orders that the seizure of all the property described (…) be in favour of the State of Nicaragua, which will guarantee the continuity of all teaching programmes,” the university added.
“The Central American University (UCA) is suspending all academic and administrative activities from today (Wednesday) until it is possible to resume them in a normal manner,” the institution stated.
Founded in 1960 by priests of the Society of Jesus, the UCA has some 5,000 students.
In March, the Nicaraguan government ordered the closure of the John Paul II University and the Autonomous Christian University of Nicaragua (UCAN) and the nationalisation of their assets, citing “failure to comply with their legal obligations.”
It was also in March that the Vatican closed its nunciature (embassy) as relations with Managua reached a breaking point after Pope Francis described Mr Ortega’s government as a “crude dictatorship.”
Over the past two years, nearly 3,000 NGOs or associations have been dissolved by the Nicaraguan authorities, citing violations of the law.
