Argentina failed to sign UN declaration demanding free Nicaraguan elections

Argentina has adopted an indecipherable path in the face of the atrocities of the Sandinista dictatorship in Nicaragua.

Last week, he abstained in a vote organized at the Organization of American States (OAS) to condemn the detention of opponents by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega. Yesterday, in what appeared to be a turning point in his foreign policy, he called his ambassador in consultation on a common geopolitical strategy with Mexico. And on Tuesday, he took a step in the opposite direction: he did not sign a declaration at the UN demanding free and fair elections.

Fifty-nine countries today signed a joint declaration condemning the violation of human rights in Nicaragua and urge him dictatorship led by Daniel Ortega to guarantee free elections Yes immediately release the presidential candidates stopped in recent days by the diet he commands. Mexico and Argentina – who called their ambassadors yesterday for consultations – did not sign the declaration. The document will be read once Michelle bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, read his report on the Central American country.

“We share the concerns of the High Commissioner in Nicaragua, including the continued impunity for human rights violations since April 2018 and the continued reports of arbitrary detentions. The government must ensure the protection of human rights and hold those responsible to account. We urge the government to end the harassment of journalists and human rights defenders and to allow civil society organizations to operate in safe and supportive environments, without fear of reprisal.Says the declaration signed by the 59 democracies.

In the list, Argentina does not appear. Neither does Mexico, a strategic partner of the government of Alberto Fernández.

Diplomatic sources attempted to explain this position ahead of the consultation with Infobae: “To give an opinion on the Nicaraguan elections would be interfering in the internal affairs of a country and this is something we are not going to do, this is the main reason why we also do not follow the vote in the OEA.”. Non-intervention in the internal affairs of states is also used by the Fernández administration as an explanation for not condemning the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.

However, Argentina has developed a strange ability to apply this principle in international relations. Yesterday he sent a letter to Nicaragua expressing concern over the arrest of opposition politicians, “the revision of which would help ensure that the Nicaraguan electoral process receives appropriate international recognition and support.” Today, quite the contrary: “We cannot get involved in domestic politics. What has changed in just 24 hours?

Among the nations that have signed, there are: Albania, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama , Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain and the United States.

The joint statement continued: “We are concerned that the government did not implement significant electoral reforms before the May 2021 deadline set by the Organization of American States (OAS) and approved by this Council in March. We are deeply concerned that recently enacted laws unduly restrict political participation, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Of particular concern are the arbitrary dissolution of political parties and the criminal prosecution of several presidential candidates and dissidents. We ask for your immediate release”.

“These measures risk preventing the holding of free and fair elections in Nicaragua in November. We urge Nicaragua to engage with the international community, take advantage of technical assistance, allow the presence of international election observers, restore dialogue and renew confidence in democracy. Nicaraguans deserve free and fair elections thanks to a transparent and credible process, and a peaceful solution to the country’s socio-political crisis”, Concluded the document.

The Bachelet report on Nicaragua

The UN analyzes this Tuesday the human rights violations in Nicaragua, under the regime of Ortega. During the session of the Human Rights Council Bachelet will present updates to its previous national reports. The situation in Nicaragua worries the UN, which has already declared that, “in accordance with its resolution 46/2, the Human Rights Council you will hear up-to-date information on the human rights situationIn this nation. It indicates that it will be “presented orally by the High Commissioner”.