Daniel Ortega defied the United States and accused detained opponents of “criminal conspirators”

Daniel Ortega assured that the opponents detained in his country are “agents” of the United States who wanted to overthrow him., while the IACHR attributed the arrests to “a new phase of repression” in the Central American nation, five months before the elections.

About 19 people were arrested on Wednesday for “inciting foreign interference” and “applause for sanctions” against the Sandinista regime, including five presidential candidates, politicians, a banker and even former comrades in arms. from Ortega.

But, for Ortega, it is not a question of “candidates” or “politicians” but of “criminals” who attacked “the security of the country”., trying to organize a “coup”.

“This is what we are pursuing, this is what is being investigated and this is what will be punished in due course,” he said. He accused them of being “agents of the Yankee Empire”, who “conspire against Nicaragua, to overthrow the government”.

“Let them not come with the story that they are candidates, there is no candidate listed here, now is not the time for there to be a candidate”said Ortega, who had been silent since the wave of arrests started in the country.

Amid the demands of the international community to release the detainees, the president assured that “there is no retreat, only to move forward”.

Ortega, a former guerrilla who ruled from 1979 to 1990, returned to power in 2007 with the left-wing Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). and he remains there after two successive re-elections. His vice-president is his wife, Rosario Murillo.

His opponents believe he will run for a fourth term in the November 7 elections.

He is accused by the opposition and the international community of governing in an authoritarian manner, following the brutal crackdown on protests against his administration in April 2018, which left more than 300 dead and thousands in exiles., according to human rights organizations.

“We are not looking for pre-candidates, but for criminals who attacked the country, who are trying to organize another April 18 [en alusión a las protestas de 2018]This is what is being investigated and it will be punished as required by law, ”he said.

Arrests earned US sanctions regime and international condemnation. Ortega assured that his opponents are “on their knees to demand sanctions, in front of the Yankee empire”.

“They think that with sanctions, they will subjugate Nicaragua,” he added.

Before Ortega’s speech, the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Antonia Urrejola, denounced before the Permanent Council of the OAS a “serious escalation” of the situation in Nicaragua with the arrest of opponents.

“The events that have taken place over the past few weeks show a new phase of repression in the face of the upcoming elections, which calls into question the Nicaraguan state’s will to hold free, fair and transparent elections,” he said.

Urrejola recalled that the IACHR has been reporting the violation of the rule of law in Nicaragua since 2018, when Ortega’s response to the massive protests against him led to behaviors that “should be considered crimes against humanity.”

The “de facto state of emergency” in Nicaragua is not only maintained, but has now “intensified”, he said.

Urrejola noted “the approval of laws contrary to international law”, “Lack of minimum judicial guarantees”, “arbitrariness” of the government and “generalized impunity”.

An OAS resolution condemning recent events in Nicaragua was approved on June 15 with the support of 26 of the 34 active members.

In the raids that started on June 2, police arrested presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of former president Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and favorite to face a possible Ortega candidacy.

Also to the applicants Arturo Cruz, Miguel Mora, Juan Sebastián Chamorro (cousin of Cristiana) and Félix Maradiaga.

Among the detained opponents, Urrejola underlined the situation of some arrested with violence, or with untreated health problems.

The IACHR asked the Inter-American Court protect with precautionary measures Juan Sebastián Chamorro and Félix Maradiaga, as well as Violeta Granera (activist) and José Adán Aguerri (businessman).

The Washington-based IACHR had already issued precautionary measures against them in 2018 and 2019.

The interim measures of the Inter-American Court, based in Costa Rica, intervene “in cases of extreme gravity and urgency” and their respect is obligatory for the member countries.

During the OAS session, US Representative Bradley Freden, quoting Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said “it is time for the Ortega-Murillo regime to change course.” and “enable the Nicaraguan people to fully exercise their rights”.

(With information from AFP)

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