Carlos Mejia Godoy Takes Refuge in Costa Rica after Threats

Carlos Mejia Godoy.  Photo from his FB page.

 

“I had to leave Nicaragua because my life was in danger,” said Mejía Godoy, who in the 1970s and 1980s became famous in Latin America for his revolutionary songs in support of the Sandinista struggle and revoution.

 

HAVANA TIMES – Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Carlos Mejia Godoy went into exile in Costa Rica after receiving death threats from alleged associates of Daniel Ortega’s government, the troubadour told La Prensa newspaper, which published the news in its digital edition on Friday.

“I had to leave without telling anyone (…) I was recommended to leave the country as soon as possible,” said the author of well-known topics such as “Nicaragua Nicaragüita” and “La tumba del guerrillero”, who in recent months publicly criticized Ortega, requesting he put a stop to the killing. 

The 75-year-old musician reported that he traveled to Costa Rica where he plans to give several concerts and that he will remain outside of Nicaragua until the necessary conditions for his safety are met.

“I had to leave Nicaragua because my life was in danger,” said Mejía Godoy, who in the 1970s and 1980s became famous in Latin America for his revolutionary songs in support of the Sandinista struggle and revoution.

“I stayed in Nicaragua as long as I could, but I went into exile because I believe that my voice outside of Nicaragua is also important,” he said.

Carlos Luis Mejía, son of the troubadour, confirmed to dpa that his father had received “many threats on social networks” from supporters of Ortega, who governed for the first time from 1985 to 1990, during the revolution that the musician actively supported.

Author of the emblematic “Misa Campesina” and “María de los Guardias”, Mejía Godoy was a candidate for vice president of Nicaragua for the dissident Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) in the 2006 elections won by Daniel Ortega, returning him to power.

Ortega accuses the MRS and other opposition groups of having organized a “terrorist plot” to overthrow him after the student protests that broke out in April.

Since then Carlos Mejia Godoy and his brother Luis Enrique have composed almost a score of songs in support of the student led uprising. The new album titled “Héroes de abril” is part of this new musical production.