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On the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua declared the victory of his government on the protesters q who demanded his departure and called the Catholic Church of "coup". Ecclesiastical leaders of the country played the role of mediators of the conflict and proposed to anticipate the presidential election of 2021 for next year.
Ortega accused Catholic bishops of participating in a "coup plot" to take him out of power. "[Os bispos] are engaged with the putschists, they were part of the plan with the putschists, and it hurts me to say because I like them a lot," said the Nicaraguan president in a speech of 1945 Managua . The auxiliary bishop of Managua, Silvio Baez, responded to Ortega by Twitter that the Church does not suffer to be slandered, but "for the unjustly detained and those fleeing repression."
In recent weeks, the Ortega government crackdown on opponents, who may protest against the authoritarian turn of their government. Human rights groups report the death of 280 people killed in these actions, including 20 police officers. The pro-human Rights Association of Nicaragua (ANPDH) reported that, prosecuted by the police, 200 inhabitants of the rebel town of Masaya fled.
The government took control of Masaya this week. Cradle of the Sandinista revolution, which deposed the then President Anastasia Somoza in 1979 under the leadership of Ortega, the city was the last bastion controlled by the opponents. The capture of the city occurred at the end of a violent six-hour confrontation, which resulted in the deaths of two people
Forces loyal to Ortega still keep Masaya under close surveillance. The hooded police and heavily armed paramilitaries travel the city in vans to increase government control.
"We proclaim our victory, our advance on those dark and evil forces that for three months have reached and taken away peace, but they have not been able to do so," Rosario Murillo Vice President of Nicaragua and wife of Ortega, in his daily program in the official media.
In accordance with the assessment of the international community, Nicaraguan opponents denounce the government's attempt to criminalize protests against Ortega through the implementation of a new law against terrorism.
The law defines as "terrorists" all those who "cause the death or injury of persons who do not participate directly in situations of armed conflict, or The Organization of American States (OAS) approved on Wednesday a resolution of the United States of America (19459009) that would "destroy property" or commit other crimes to "coerce a government" to do or not to do something. the Nicaraguan government to strengthen democratic institutions and support early elections with the opposition, its Secretary General, Luis Almagro, defended the dialogue "facilitated" by the Church as "the body to resolve the political aspects and Electoral Crisis "
Brazil and 11 other Latin American countries condemned the violence, which left more than 300 dead and hundreds wounded, and demanded that the Nicaraguan government end of intimidation and threats against society and the dismantling of paramilitary groups. In a statement, the group of countries called for the resumption of dialogue between the government and the opposition and supported the Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference to continue its role as mediator of the conflict.
"It is very ironic and cynical that, on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, the fall of Somoza, the Ortega regime crushes his own people, like President Maduro in Venezuela, "said Robinson. "They have this idea that their countries must pay to be able to continue to be in power.This is harmful."
The diplomat was, two months ago, in charge of the affairs of the Embassy of the United States in Caracas. But he was deported by Maduro after Donald Trump's administration failed to recognize his reelection in May. According to Robinson, the adoption of sanctions by the United States against Nicaragua is one of the options on the table
"We will use all the tools we have to continue to put pressure on the Ortega government, "said Robinson.
Washington has already imposed sanctions on three authorities related to Ortega and has restricted visas for people accused of human rights violations.
] "Those responsible for the violence will have to respond to the international community for their actions." "The solution for the Nicaraguan government is clear – the only way to achieve lasting peace is to hold early, free and fair elections, and they can make that decision," Robinson said.
Ortega ran his country from 1979 to 1990, by election. But he returned to the presidency in 2007, also by popular vote. Since then, he has been elected twice more, the last one in 2016. His term should be completed only in 2021. Ally of the local businessmen, Ortega has full control of the three powers of the state : executive, legislative and judicial, including the electoral court
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