UN denounces "impunity" against human rights violations in Nicaragua

Geneva, Switzerland

The UN asked on Friday to put an end to "impunity" in Nicaraguawhere police and pro-government elements continue to engage "serious violations" of human rights in a context of political crisis.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, he said in his report after documenting "serious human rights violations committed since mid-April 2018 in the context of protests" in this Central American country.

"Arbitrary arrests and detentions continued to be a means of repressing the expression of dissent, and cases of torture and ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in connection with the demonstrations persisted" said the document, which calls into question the action of the police and pro-government elements.

The UN notes that "the judicial system has been used to criminalize dissent and guarantee impunity to those responsible for human rights violations, which demonstrates the lack of independence of the judiciary in relation to the executive power".

Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in Latin America, has been led since 2006 by the former Sandinista guerrilla. Daniel Ortega.

The country is going through a serious crisis since April 2018, when a wave of protests broke out against a social security reform, which resulted in a request for Ortega to leave the presidency for the crackdown on protesters.

The violence left more than 325 dead and 2,000 injured, 62,500 exiles, hundreds of imprisoned adversaries and a deep economic recession.

More than five hundred opponents were imprisoned and tens of thousands of Nicaraguans were exiled.

Until July, about 100 journalists left the country.

– Cease arbitrary detentions and release prisoners –

The report indicates that the UN has "documented" a large number of human rights violations, "such as the disproportionate use of force by the police, which has resulted in extrajudicial executions and widespread abuses, recording cases of torture, badual violence in detention centers ".

He also "denounced the abuses committed by those involved in the demonstrations, including the deaths of police and members of the Sandinista party, the injuries inflicted on them, as well as the destruction of public infrastructure."

According to the UN, "the last phase of repression against critical sectors of the government has been characterized by the violation of the rights to freedom of expression, badociation and peaceful badembly".

"Police repression of demonstrations, as well as attacks by government-sponsored armed elements, have had a deterrent effect that has resulted in the cancellation of many demonstrations or the decision of the demonstrators to divide them into smaller concentrations" , he added. report

He points out that the Nicaraguan authorities have not investigated the allegations of abuse and have not brought the perpetrators to justice.

He added that "this situation reflects the lack of willingness to guarantee accountability and strengthens impunity for the violation of human rights, depriving victims of the right to justice, truth and reparation. and guarantees of non-repetition ". This "further undermines public confidence in state institutions".

The report recommends "prompt, thorough and transparent criminal investigation and prosecution for all allegations of serious human rights violations since 18 April 2018".

Calls for "the disarmament and disarmament of pro-government armed elements and the general reform of the security sector".

The High Commissioner calls on the Human Rights Council and the international community to "urge Nicaragua to respect its human rights obligations" and "resume cooperation as soon as possible with the United Nations. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ". Human Rights (OHCHR) and regional human rights mechanisms, to the extent that it allows them access to the country. "

He also recommends that "put an end to arbitrary detentions and release all persons arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in the context of demonstrations or to express critical opinions to the government ".

The report is released when the government concludes negotiations with the opposition this week.