Nicaragua: Repression continues against potential challenges in Ortega | Election news
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Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has stepped up international criticism after the arrest of four potential presidential candidates last week, calling for the release of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday.
Juan Sebastian Chamorro Garcia was the leader of the last opposition party arrested on Tuesday, hours later Felix maradiaga they were arrested.
Chamorro Garcia, cousin of another presidential candidate arrested Christian Chamorro – Like Ortega’s favorite to win the November vote – He was arrested on Tuesday on charges of “encouraging foreign intervention in internal affairs”.
According to a police note, he is “accused of planning to carry out terrorist acts” to “finance foreign powers”.
Four opposition political leaders have been arrested in Nicaragua since last week, prompting growing criticism that Ortega is becoming more authoritarian and trying to sideline candidates for the upcoming elections.
A spokesman for Guterres told reporters on Wednesday that the UN Secretary-General is calling on the Nicaraguan authorities to fully respect international human rights obligations and release political leaders.
“These developments could seriously undermine citizens’ confidence in the democratic process ahead of the November general election, ”Stephane Dujarric said.
Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, also called on Twitter to release Chamorro Garcia “and #all other political prisoners in Nicaragua.”
He added: “The persecution and oppression of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega must be stopped. Nicaragua deserves to be free and democratic.”
Release of Juan Sebastián Chamorro and all other political prisoners #Nicaragua and that the persecution and oppression of the dictatorship of the patrician Daniel Ortega are put to an end. Nicaragua deserves to be free and democratic. https://t.co/xG8b8hb7Yw
– Luis Almagro (@ Almagro_OEA2015) June 9, 2021
Repression on Tuesday night
The clampdown began a week ago with Cristiana Chamorro, a journalist who was not affiliated with a political party arrested at home about allegations of money laundering, which he sees as widespread.
Chamorro’s mother, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, defeated Ortega in the 1990 presidential election.
Then on Saturday was 67-year-old Arturo Cruz order arrested on remand while prosecutors are investigating allegations of “provocation … and conspiracy to harm the nation as a whole”.
Cruz announced his candidacy for the presidency two months ago with the Conservative Alliance of Citizens for Freedom.
Police said authorities also arrested well-known businessman Jose Aguerri and human rights activist Violeta Granera on Tuesday night for similar charges against Maradiaga and Chamorro Garcia.
Former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla tweeted “It’s a night of long knives, a tropical version”.
Besides @maradiaga Y @Jschamorrog they arrest the president of the year @COSEPNicaragua already a leader @VioletaG
It’s a night of long knives in the tropical version
Where are the democratic presidents of the region establishing ideologies in defense of democracy?#Nicaragua
– Laura Chinchilla M. (@Laura_Ch) June 9, 2021
Maradiaga is a candidate for a non-parliamentary opposition group UNAB, and since 2018 the American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has supported the protests against Ortega that have caused 328 deaths and thousands of exiles.
Chamorro Garcia and Aguerri, meanwhile, are members of the ACJD alliance that is negotiating with the government to end the demonstrations.
“It has become clear that in recent days alone, under President Ortega, Nicaragua is becoming an international pariah, far removed from democracy,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a news conference.
U.S. sanctions
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the U.S. announced sanctions against four Nicaraguan officials supporting Ortega, including the president’s daughter, accused of undermining democracy and abusing human rights.
“President Ortega’s actions are hurting Nicaraguans and deepening the country into tyranny,” said Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“Officials who continue to ignore the will of the United States will continue to be exposed.”
Ortega spent a decade in power in 1979 after Anastasio Somoza was ousted in revolt. He returned to office in 2007, winning elections again in 2011 and 2016, but it has been his last term widespread protests.
75 years ago, the opposition and NGOs denounced the increase in authoritarianism and the harsh removal of demonstrations. He is expected to run in the November election, but has not said so.
The European Union and the United States maintain sanctions against Ortega and his government.
Ortega’s wife and vice president Rosaria Murillo said Tuesday that “justice is late, but it is coming,” because she denounced “not only thieves, but also terrorists, criminals,” against this bunch of thieves.
Last month, the Nicaraguan parliament appointed a majority of magistrates in line with government parties in an election body that will oversee the election.
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