now the regime of Daniel Ortega demands the arrest of the writer Sergio Ramírez Mercado for “incitement to hatred and violence”

The prestigious writer and former vice-president of Nicaragua, Sergio Ramírez, was accused on Wednesday by the public prosecutor of his country of “including acts which promote and incite hatred and violence”. Besides, ordered his arrest. In a public statement, the novelist replied that “Dictatorships lack imagination and repeat their lies.

This takes place within the framework of the trials open to opponents of the Daniel Ortega regime and two months before the legislative elections.

The charges against the author of “Divine Punishment” are the same ones that the prosecution attributes to more than 30 opponents and detractors of the regime detained between June and August, including seven presidential candidates, under laws approved by the government last December.

Ramírez, Cervantes Prize 2017 and Vice-president of Ortega during his first term (1985-1990), now criticizes the president.

They also accuse him of having received, via the Luisa Mercado Foundation which he directs, money from the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation, the prosecution said in a statement.

The prosecution has requested an arrest and search warrant against the 79-year-old writer, who He is outside Nicaragua and had previously announced that he would not return to the country to avoid retaliation from the government after being summoned by the prosecutor’s office.

Ramírez was accused “of committing acts which promote and incite hatred and violence”; and to have received, through the Luisa Mercado Foundation, money from the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation, “whose main members of its Board of Directors are accused of embezzlement, money laundering, goods and assets “.

Según el Ministerio Público, la mayoría de ese dinero “iba destinado a financiar uno de los principal programas de la Fundación Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, ‘Programa Medios para Nicaragua’, pero en la práctica fueron destinados para otros fines que no eran los propios de the foundation”.

She also argued that these funds had been diverted to financial “to people and organizations looking for destabilization the good progress of the economic and social development of the country ”.

“Acts which fall within the criminal category of conspiracy commit an attack on national integrity, in competition with the crime of laundering money, property and assets, characterized by articles 282, 410 and 412 of the Penal Code, to the detriment of Nicaraguan society and the State of the Republic of Nicaragua ”, added.

In their report, the public prosecution authorities they did not identify the court before which they brought the charge against the Nicaraguan writer.

“Dictatorships repeat their lies”

Ramirez, jury of the Clarin Novela Prize in 2015, responded to the allegations with a public statement. Here is what he said:

“The dictatorship of the Ortega family He accused me through his own prosecution, and before his own judges, of the same crimes of incitement to hatred and violence, undermining national integrity, and others that I have not had the time to read, charges for which there are imprisoned in the dungeons of the same family, many worthy and courageous Nicaraguans.

This is not the first time that this has happened to me in my life. In 1977, the Somoza family accused me through their own prosecutor’s office, and before their own judges, of crimes similar to those of today: terrorism, unlawful association to commit a crime, and order and peace, as I fought against this dictatorship just as I am now fighting this other.

Dictatorships lack imagination and repeat their lies, their wickedness, their hatred and their whims. Son los mismos delirios, el mismo empecinamiento ciego por el poder, y la misma mediocridad de quienes teniendo en su puño los instrumentos represivos, y habiéndose despojado de todos los escrúpulos, creen también que son dueños de la dignidad y la libertad concad others.

As they announce that they are going to loot my house, they are going to find a house full of books. The books of a writer. The books of my whole life.

I am a writer committed to democracy and freedom, and I will not give up in this business from where I am. My literary work over the years is the work of a free man.

The only weapons I have are words, and silence is never imposed on me“.

Philanthropic fines