The cruelty of the government of Daniel Ortega has no limits and requires a firm response from Latin American governments.
A recent report by the UN Human Rights Group of Experts on Nicaragua documented solid evidence of crimes against humanityincluding murder, imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, forced deportation, and politically motivated persecution.
(Also: Prison and exile: this is being an opponent in the Ortega regime in Nicaragua)
On February 9, the Ortega dictatorship expelled 222 political prisoners to the United States. He then stripped them and 95 other critics of their nationality, leaving many stateless.
Many fear for the safety of family members. who are being watched in Nicaragua. A former political prisoner told us that “even death was better than being there”.
He was referring to the “El Chipote” prison, where guards ripped out his fingernailsthey gave him electric shocks and brutally beat him.
(Read: The reasons why Nicaragua wants to cut relations with the Vatican)
There are still 37 political prisoners in the country, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who has been incommunicado since February 9. On March 10, Pope Francis compared the Nicaraguan regime to “rude” dictatorships.
Two days later, the government announced the “suspension” of diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
Some countries in the region, including Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Ecuador, have issued public statements unequivocally condemning Ortega’s abuses, and 17 members of the OAS criticized the deprivation of nationalities. Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama and Brazil offered their citizenship.
While these are positive steps, the severity of the crisis calls for stronger regional action.
The democratic governments of Latin America they should establish a “Friends Group”, made up of governments from across the political spectrum, to contribute to a democratic transition in Nicaragua.
(Also: Pope Francis issues statement on the regime of Daniel Ortega)
Through high-level meetings, this mechanism should design a strategy to exert concerted pressure, public and private, to curb abuses, provide avenues for accountability, and promote free and fair elections. As part of this effort, each government should lead specific initiatives.
Chile and Costa Rica, newly elected members of the UN Human Rights Council, should lead efforts to pass a resolution on Nicaragua during the Council’s current session in Geneva.
Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru have presented a draft resolution to extend for two years the mandate of the UN Group of Experts, which is dedicated exclusively to investigate the situation in Nicaragua.
(Read: The crimes against humanity denounced by the UN in Nicaragua)
Other regional members of the Council, such as Mexico, Argentina, Honduras and Paraguay, should support this resolution, work to obtain the necessary votes for its approval and ensure that the experts receive funding.
Members of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, should ensure that bank financing does not contribute to abuses in Nicaragua.
CABEI, a multilateral development bank, has 25 “active loans” to finance the government, with approved funds totaling more than US$3.5 billion. While most are targeted at infrastructure projects, there seems to be very little transparencyby the bank and the Nicaraguan government, on how these funds are used.
(Keep reading: Sergio Ramírez and Gioconda Belli talk about the stripping of their nationality)
CABEI’s Board of Governors, the bank’s highest authority, should demand an independent external audit of all funds granted to Nicaragua.
This measure would ensure that funds are only used for guarantee the exercise of economic and social rights of the Nicaraguans.
It would also be an opportunity for Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Panama to show commitment to the objectives of their Alliance for Development in Democracy.
(You may be interested: Colombia repudiates Nicaragua’s “dictatorial procedures” and offers nationalities)
Faced with the commission of serious international crimes, governments should also promote criminal investigations applying the principle of universal jurisdiction.
This principle allows prosecute those responsible for certain serious crimes, including torture, regardless of where they occur and the nationality of the victims and suspects.
It is key to accountability since Nicaragua is one of the few countries in the region that is not part of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Brazil recently expressed concern about the human rights violations committed by the Nicaraguan government.
(More news: ‘Daniel Ortega is a dictator’: Boric criticizes his peer in Nicaragua)
Lula’s government, which seeks to position itself as a global leader, has a key role to play in demanding the release of political prisoners and the restoration of democratic guarantees in Nicaragua.
The crisis in Nicaragua has generated an unusual consensus among leaders of different political positions in the region. Now it is crucial to establish a coordinated strategy.
If the region fails to work in concert to support the Nicaraguan people, it will be sending the dangerous message to other authoritarian governments that they have a free hand to commit serious and flagrant abuses.
Taraciuk Broner, acting director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch J
uan Pappier, Acting Deputy Director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch
GDA
Grupo de Diarios América (GDA), to which EL TIEMPO belongs, is a leading media network founded in 1991, which promotes democratic values, the independent press and freedom of expression in Latin America through quality journalism for our hearings.
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