W
When Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe, it brought a wave of positive news to Nicaragua. Celebratory crowds gathered in the streets of Managua for the first time since the violent suppression of mass protests in 2018.
The authoritarian government of Nicaragua, fearful of any form of opposition, initially praised Palacios but has now intensified its suppression of festivities. This is partially due to Palacios’ involvement in the 2018 protests, which have made her a symbol of resistance and inspiration for those against the regime.
Palacios, who is 23 years old, made history as the first Miss Universe from Central America at the 2018 pageant in El Salvador on November 18th.
Elvira Cuadra, a Nicaraguan sociologist living in exile in Costa Rica, stated that the news was unexpected and caused immediate joyful reactions in the nation.
Palacios hails from a disadvantaged family that supported her through university by selling buñuelos, a type of fried dough balls, and her experience struck a chord with numerous Nicaraguans.
Her involvement in the 2018 demonstrations also came to light when images of her surfaced online before the Miss Universe pageant.
The demonstrations aimed to overthrow President Daniel Ortega, a 78-year-old former revolutionary leader who played a crucial role in ending the oppressive Somoza regime that lasted for forty years. However, during his current term as president which began in 2007, he has transformed Nicaragua into an authoritarian country.
The demonstrations endured for a span of three months before being forcibly suppressed, resulting in over 320 fatalities.
As the Miss Universe event unfolded, a group of Nicaraguans noticed Palacios’s attire, which included a white dress and blue cape. They interpreted it as a nod to their country’s flag, which had been prohibited since 2018.
During the ceremony, Palacios did not make any openly political statements. Instead, she mentioned being inspired by Mary Wollstonecraft, a British feminist from the 18th century. She then dedicated her crown to “the girls of the world, the girl inside me, and the more than 6 million people of my country.”
The outcome of her win sparked an unusual display of happiness in a nation that has faced few positive developments in recent times.
“Since 2018, Nicaragua has lived in a police state,” said Cuadra. “Lately they haven’t even allowed religious gatherings. But when Sheynnis won, people took to the streets with their national flags, singing the national anthem.”
The government seemed uncertain about how to handle Palacios and the enthusiasm surrounding her win.
Leading up to the competition, the media publicly ridiculed her. A host even suggested she would be more suitable as “Miss Buñuelos”.
Following Palacios’ victory, the government sent a congratulatory message, but it lacked the usual signatures of both Ortega and his wife and vice-president, Rosario Murillo.
However, Murillo proceeded to publicly complain about “coup plotters” who were allegedly scheming to create “fabricated provocations” in the guise of celebrating Miss Universe.
In the meantime, the government arrested a TikTok content creator who spoke out in defense of Palacios against public disapproval. Additionally, they compelled two artists to cover up a mural they had started in her honor in Estelí.
It is uncertain if Palacios will be permitted to go back to Nicaragua as the government has prohibited Karen Celebertti, the director of the Miss Nicaragua franchise, from re-entering the country after also traveling to El Salvador.
On Monday, it was reported that Celebertti’s spouse and child went missing as well.
Juan Pappier, deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, stated that the government has displayed anxiety. However, this is not due to their vulnerability, but rather their paranoia. They are fearful of anything that does not completely align with their beliefs.
Following the failed uprising in 2018, Nicaragua’s descent into authoritarianism has sped up.
Pappier expressed concern about the widespread loss of freedoms and rights, stating that over 300 individuals have been stripped of their citizenship and nearly half of all NGOs have been forced to close. Additionally, there are currently more than 80 political prisoners being held in custody.
The Catholic Church has faced persecution, with Ortega accusing them of instigating a coup in 2018.
The Jesuit university, Universidad Centroamericana, which was attended by Palacios and labeled as a “hub of terrorism” by the government, was recently closed.
In February, Rolando Álvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa, was sentenced to 26 years in prison after he refused to be deported to the US with 222 other political prisoners.
Pappier stated that there is currently no concept of civic or public life in Nicaragua, and that the repression is all-encompassing.
In 2018, more than 600,000 individuals from Nicaragua have departed the nation, primarily to the United States and Costa Rica.
In recent weeks, Nicaragua officially left the Organisation of American States after facing backlash for multiple human rights abuses.
Pappier stated that this is the equivalent of North Korea on our continent in terms of organized oppression and exclusion from the global community.
Source: theguardian.com
