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Exiled Nicaraguan Army Officer and Ortega Critic Assassinated in Costa Rica
A retired Nicaraguan army officer living in exile, who became a vocal critic of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian administration, was fatally shot in Costa Rica. This incident raises concerns about political targeting and the safety of exiled dissidents. The assassination highlights the ongoing tensions between Nicaragua and its neighboring countries, as well as the broader implications for human rights and political freedom in the region.
Details of the Shooting
Maj. Roberto Samcam, 66, was killed at his apartment complex in San José on Thursday. Reports indicate that the assailants posed as delivery personnel to gain access.
- The incident occurred in the morning.
- Attackers reportedly shot Samcam multiple times.
Samantha Jirón, Samcam’s adopted daughter, expressed shock and disbelief, stating, “It was something we did not expect, we could not have imagined it.”
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Reactions and Accusations
Nicaraguan rights organizations, along with exiled dissidents, swiftly accused the Ortega government, led by President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, of orchestrating the assassination.
Statements from Family and Associates
- Claudia Vargas, Samcam’s wife, tearfully told reporters that her husband was a “powerful voice” who “directly denounced the dictatorship” of Ortega.
- She emphasized his dedication to “expose human rights violations” in Nicaragua.
Costa Rican Investigation
Randall Zuñiga, head of Costa Rica’s judicial police, noted that the attackers exploited the lack of security at Samcam’s apartment building during the morning hours.
Details of the Attack
- The assailant called out to Samcam before opening fire.
- Zuñiga stated that Samcam was shot at least eight times at close range.
- According to the Nicaraguan news site Confidencial, the perpetrators escaped on a motorcycle.
International Condemnation
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs conveyed its shock via social media platform X, offering assistance to Costa Rica in “holding the assassins and those behind them accountable.”
Arturo McFields, Nicaragua’s former ambassador to the Organization of American States, currently exiled in the United States, denounced the killing as “an act of cowardice and criminal political revenge by the dictatorship of Nicaragua.”
Gioconda Belli, an exiled Nicaraguan writer, commented on social media, “The manner of the crime indicates political motives. This is very serious.”
Neither Ortega nor any government representatives have issued statements regarding the matter.
Samcam’s Background and Activism
Samcam, a political analyst, had been a consistent and outspoken critic of the Nicaraguan government. He fled Managua in 2018 and resided with his wife in Costa Rica.
- In 2018, protests against Ortega’s administration were violently suppressed, resulting in over 300 fatalities, according to UN estimates.
- In January of the previous year, Nicaraguan opposition activist Joao Maldonado was shot, along with his girlfriend, while driving in San José; both sustained severe injuries.
Broader Implications
Former Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís described Samcam’s assassination as an “outrageous and extremely serious act” due to his “frontal opposition to the Ortega and Murillo dictatorship.”
Dora María Téllez, a former ally of Ortega turned critic, currently in exile in Spain, stated, “I feel that Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo are initiating a ‘night of the long knives’ … due to the regime’s weakening.” She referenced the Night of the Long Knives, a deadly purge ordered by Adolf Hitler in 1934.
Téllez conveyed to Nicaraguan news outlet 100% Noticias, “They resort to the execution of a retired ex-military officer, who they believe has a voice that resonates within the ranks of the army.”
Ortega’s Rule and Current Situation
Ortega, now 79, initially served as president from 1985 to 1990, having been a guerrilla leader instrumental in overthrowing a U.S.-backed government.
Since returning to power in 2007, critics say that his rule has become increasingly authoritarian. Hundreds of opponents, both real and perceived, have been imprisoned in recent years.
- Ortega’s government has closed over 5,000 non-governmental organizations since the mass protests of 2018, which he dismissed as a U.S.-backed coup attempt.
- Thousands of Nicaraguans have sought refuge in exile.
- The regime faces sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
- Most independent and opposition media outlets operate from outside Nicaragua.
Pro-government media in Nicaragua have not covered Samcam’s death.