Nicaragua judge sentences lieutenant for criticizing military's crackdown on canal protesters
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Nicaraguan military court judge on Friday sentenced an army lieutenant to 3½ months in prison for criticizing the armed forces' role in cracking down on civilians during protests against a Chinese company's project to build a canal across the country.
Judge Efrain Garcia issued the sentence for conduct unbecoming an officer against the lieutenant, an army doctor.
Lt. Yader Montiel Meza was serving at a medical post when he was arrested Jan. 8 for suggesting the military acted improperly by breaking up a Christmas Eve protest by hundreds of farmers opposed to the canal. Dozens of protesters and five police officers were injured.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gonzalo Carrion of the Nicaraguan Human Rights Center criticized the verdict, saying it was intended to limit freedom of expression.