Roberto Samcam, a retired Nicaraguan military officer and outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortega, was shot dead on Thursday morning in Costa Rica, where he lived in exile. The 67-year-old dissident was killed at his condominium around 7:30 a.m. local time (13:30 GMT), marking a significant escalation in violence against Nicaraguan exiles.
The attack happened after an attacker disguised as a delivery driver was let into Samcam’s home. Claudia Vargas wrote that the attacker shot her husband at least eight times with a 9-mm caliber handgun. Yet immediately after the attack, the shooter ran from the scene. The murder of Samcam has raised the alarm, even more so with those Nicaraguan dissidents living in exile. The episode further raises the specter of violent reprisals against those who oppose Ortega’s regime.
Samcam was instrumental in organizing the youth-led protests that rocked Ortega’s government in 2018. He and millions of others saw the regime as deeply repressive. In the aftermath of the protests, he sought asylum in Costa Rica. There, he continued to unapologetically advocate for human rights and expose the Ortega administration’s purported abuses. In 2022, he published a book titled “Ortega: El Calvario de Nicaragua” (Ortega: Nicaragua’s Torment), which detailed the struggles faced by Nicaraguans under Ortega’s regime.
Samcam lobbied tirelessly to find justice. He continued to do this work while under his own intense pressure to build a legal case against Ortega, collecting testimony and evidence from people impacted by the government’s efforts. His commitment to this cause was evident in his statement:
“We are documenting each case so that it can move on to a trial, possibly before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.” – Roberto Samcam
The sudden passing of Samcam has thrown the Nicaraguan exile community into turmoil. At the same time, it has shined a light on the treacherous conditions that anyone opposing Ortega must contend with. Many fear that this incident may deter others from speaking out against the government or seeking asylum, as it underscores the risks associated with dissent.
As of the date of publication, no additional information has been shared publicly by Costa Rican authorities regarding the investigation into Samcam’s murder. Since the killing, there have been immediate calls for enhanced protective security measures for targeted political exiles. It has served to amplify the call for increased international scrutiny of the deteriorating human rights crisis in Nicaragua.
This horrendous event comes amidst heightened repression in Nicaragua. Today, Ortega’s government is widely accused of repressing dissent and waging a campaign against opposition voices. The regime has often dubbed the protests as a coup in the making, adding an additional layer of danger to the climate for critics such as Samcam.
As this tragic story continues to be uncovered, many are understandably wondering what is next for dissidents who have escaped the Nicaraguan regime’s grip. And so the international community has a responsibility to protect and support these people who are in danger. This frightening act of violence should have a chilling effect on any future dissent against the Ortega regime in Nicaragua.
