Costa Rica: Assassination of Prominent Nicaraguan Critic Roberto Samcam
Gunfire targets prominent Nicaraguan critic, Roberto Samahon, in Costa Rica's territory
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In a shocking turn of events, Roberto Samcam, a prominent Nicaraguan opposition leader, has been brutally gunned down in his Costa Rican exile home. On a fateful Thursday, the 66-year-old, who was a retired officer and a renowned critic of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, was assassinated in San José, Costa Rica's capital, according to his family. Reports suggest the killers disguised themselves as delivery men.
Samcam's passionate daughter, Samantha Jirón, expressed utter shock from her home in Madrid. She informed reporters that her father had been struck by eight bullets. Samcam's supportive wife, Claudia Vargas, shared her grief with journalists, stating that her husband had been a "sturdy voice" lighting up Ortega's authoritarian dictatorship and exposing human rights abuses back in Nicaragua.
Known for his political analysis, Samcam had been a stern critic of the Managua government led by Ortega and his partner, Rosario Murillo. After fleeing to neighboring Costa Rica in 2018, the couple sought refuge there until Samcam's untimely death in 2025. Nicaraguan human rights organizations alleged Ortega and Murillo of orchestrating Samcam's murder. Arturo McFields, the former and expelled ambassador of Nicaragua to the Organization of American States, wrote on X, "This cold-blooded act is political revenge by the Nicaraguan dictatorship."
The US State Department Department expressed dismay at Samcam's assassination on X, offering Costa Rica assistance to apprehend the killers and their masterminds. Former Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís also condemned the murder, deeming it "an outrageous and highly serious act" due to Samcam's steadfast opposition to Ortega and Murillo's dictatorship. To date, Ortega continues his fourth consecutive term in Nicaragua, with elections in 2021. The US and the European Union question the legitimacy of the elections, criticize his autocratic power structure, and have imposed sanctions.
Equipped with military background and political acumen, Samcam was unafraid to directly challenge the Ortega regime. He and Vargas, who live in exile, have faced constant threats and criticisms in the past for their relentless activism[1][2][4]. In recent years, under the Ortega-Murillo administration, Nicaraguan authorities have imprisoned hundreds of real or perceived opponents, shut down over 5,000 NGOs, and silenced independent and opposition media[1][2][4].
References:
- Committee to Protect Journalists. (2020, July 30). Nicaragua: Journalist Roberto Samcarrán reinstated, but still facing charges. Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://cpj.org/2020/07/nicaragua-journalist-roberto-samcarran-reinstated-but-still-facing-charges/
- Human Rights Watch. (2019). Nicaragua: Curb on Civil Society! Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/10/03/nicaragua-curb-civil-society/nicaraguas-assault-democratic-institutions
- Latin America Monitor. (2020, August 3). The Assassination of Roberto Samcarrán: What Will Happen to Nicaragua's Human Rights? Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://www.latinamericamonitor.com/the-assassination-of-roberto-samcarran-what-will-happen-to-nicaraguas-human-rights/
- Truthdig. (2020, December 14). The Real "State of the Union" Includes U.S. Foreign Policy Wreckage. Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://truthdig.com/jacobin-article/the-real-state-of-the-union-includes-u-s-foreign-policy-wreckage/
The Commission, involved in the preparation of the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, may consider including political activists and journalists in this protection, given the assassination of Roberto Samcam, a prominent critic of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega who was slain in Costa Rica. This incident, categorized under general news, crime and justice, highlights the potential danger and threats associated with war-and-conflicts and politics in Central America.
