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In this October 17, 2018 photo provided by the Nicaraguan National Police, prisoners arrested and imprisoned in recent uprisings against the government of President Daniel Ortega are shown to the press in Managua, Nicaragua. Left, Eddy Antonio Montes Praslin, shot dead in a prison north of the capital on Thursday, May 16, 2019, in the midst of unrest that injured six prison officials, Nicaragua's Interior Ministry said. . (Nicaraguan National Police via AP)
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – A US-Nicaraguan national who died in a troubled jail in Nicaragua served in the US Navy and was a vocal opponent of President Daniel Ortega's government, his cousin said Saturday.
Eddy Montes Praslin, 56, was shot dead Thursday in La Modelo prison in the capital Managua. Hundreds of Nicaraguans have been jailed in the past year after protesting against the government.
His cousin Marvin Montes told the Associated Press that Montes Praslin had emigrated to the United States at the age of 13, had gone to school in California and had served in the Navy.
He said that Montes Praslin had traveled back and forth between the two countries and had settled more permanently in Nicaragua since 2006. Montes Praslin had studied medicine at some point.
At least 17 others arrested for allegedly participating in anti-government protests were injured in the prison unrest. The government said the prisoners rushed to the guards.
Marvin Montes said his cousin had been jailed in October after complaining to the police that pro-government activists had occupied several acres of his property in Matagalpa, a city in northern Nicaragua.
The Attorney General's office accused him of terrorism, robbery, obstruction of public services and aggression against the Mayor's office in Matagalpa.
The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights represented Montes while he was in prison.
"We have a narrative of the persecution he has suffered on his property for over two years," said Vilma Núñez, president of the center for human rights.
Núñez said that in addition to the property dispute, Montes had offered to testify as a witness of a murder allegedly committed by government agents.
"Eddy was there and saw everything," said cousin Montes.
Lawyer Yonarqui Martínez, who represents more than 70 political prisoners, said via Twitter that there is "evidence" that Montes Praslin was hit by the back rather than during a fight. It is not clear if an autopsy will be performed.
The other inmates looked up at Montes Praslin, the "pastor" caller because he was leading religious gatherings and even "father" because he was much older than the many students in prison .
Student-led protests against social security reforms began in April 2018 and have grown to demand Ortega's resignation and early elections. The demonstrations were forcibly repressed by security forces and pro-government armed militias. At least 325 people were killed during the crackdown, more than 2,000 injured and more than 52,000 fleeing the country, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
His daughter Eddy Jafet Montes, who lives in California, told a Nicaraguan media that she would be traveling to Nicaragua for the funeral, but with some apprehension.
"If they threw my father into jail under any excuse, I feel that they could do the same to us," she said.
The funeral is scheduled for Sunday, according to Marvin Montes.
US Ambassador Kevin Sullivan expressed his sadness at the death of Montes Praslin and said he met with family members on Friday to convey the US government's condolences.
"They deserve a full and credible account of this unjustifiable use of lethal force against an unarmed political prisoner," Sullivan said via Twitter. An official from the US State Department reiterated the government's call for the release of all political prisoners.
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