> Posted by Sergio Guzmán

Credit: El Nuevo Diario, http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2009/09/ 08/nacionales/109207

The microfinance industry in Nicaragua is under siege by a politically motivated group of borrowers who call themselves the No Payment Movement (Moviemiento No Pago).  The Movimiento No Pago includes from 3,000 to 5,000 producers, merchants and microentrepreneurs who are led by the former mayor of Jalapa Omar Vílchez. The movement commenced in Jalapa in the summer of 2008, with the takeover of an MFI and a riot incited by a protest speech.

Recently, the leaders of the movement have demanded that the Congress approve a Moratorium Law to give debtors a 10 year amortization period with interest rates that do not exceed 8 percent APR as a condition to stop harassment of the microfinance industry. The leaders of the Movimiento No Pago from the North and Caribbean regions of Nicaragua have threatened to burn the buildings of MFIs, take hostage MFI personnel and escalate their violence if their demands for a moratorium law are not met.

Credit: El Observador Económico www.elobservadoreconomico.com/ articulo/933

There has been important opposition to this moratorium law from many sectors. Several newspaper editorials and articles speak against the moratorium bill, which has not yet moved toward legislative action. The law was sent back to the economic committee of the National Assembly and Awaits review. 

According to one journalist, “Before erasing two decades of investment and progress with a vote, the National Assembly should investigate how microfinance operates and the reasons for its high costs as well as its social and economic impact as well as its clients’ satisfaction. A law that rewards clientele without willingness to pay and punishes honest and punctual clients, will incentivize a non-payment culture at a loss for all of the social stakeholders involved, including the banking system.”

In separate statements (find here and here), a large group of microfinance investors and a microfinance network stated their concern. They warn that the deteriorating investment climate in Nicarauga might dry up funding sources for MFIs and that non-payment movements in other countries have reduced the growth of microfinance, depriving the people who need it most  from access to services.

For more information go to:

“No pago” en Plan Estatal – Informe de Ortega dice que es un ejemplo de defensa de economía familiar
http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2009/01/13/nacionales/93311

Movimiento del no pago regresa – El dolor de cabeza para los empresarios de las microfinancieras ha vuelto.
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2009/enero/09/noticias/politica/304975.shtml

Nicaragua: Asomif reporta C$80 millones en pérdidas
http://www.ekaenlinea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4397&Itemid=1

Movimiento No Pago en nueva embestida
http://www-usa.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2009/septiembre/01/noticias/economia/346697.shtml

Productores y comerciantes morosos amenazan con quemar microfinancieras
http://es.biz.yahoo.com/04092009/185/productores-comerciantes-morosos-amenazan-quemar-microfinancieras.html

El “no pago” amenaza
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2009/enero/21/suplementos/negocios/307258.shtml

Ortega en guerra contra financieras
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2008/julio/14/noticias/politica/271630.shtml

Asomif no cederá ante amenazas – Dice que los No Pago no tienen respaldo en el interior del país
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2009/septiembre/18/noticias/economia/349854.shtml

ASOMIF Press release available on-line : http://www.asomif.org/uploads/RTEmagicC_Comunicado_Asomif-Asobanp_v04-09-09_01.jpg.jpg

Caruna prospera a la sombra de Ortega – Activos pasaron de US$8.4 millones en 2006 a US$26.4 millones en 2008
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2008/octubre/28/noticias/nacionales/291709.shtml

Protestan frente a la Asamblea de Nicaragua para denunciar a las microfinancieras – movimiento “no pago” cambia su nombre a movimiento “si pago” http://www.soitu.es/soitu/2009/02/12/info/1234397174_067979.html  

English Articles: https://nacla.org/node/6180 and http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/10/08/following-the-no-pago-movement-in-nicaragua/