A report of a group of human rights experts formed by the United Nations determined this Thursday that the Government of Nicaragua since 2018 is committing widespread human rights violations that constitute crimes against humanity.
Among them are extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, torture, arbitrary deprivation of nationality and the right to remain in one’s country.
The report ensures that it found a pattern of extrajudicial executions carried out by agents of the National Police and members of pro-government armed groups that acted in a joint and coordinated manner during the protests that took place between April 18 and September 23, 2018.
Similarly, it indicates that the Government of Nicaragua obstructed any investigation into these and other deaths.
“These violations and abuses are perpetrated widely and systematically for political reasons, and constitute crimes against humanity of murder, imprisonment, torture, including sexual violence, deportation and politically motivated persecution,” said independent expert Jan Simon. “The Nicaraguan population lives in fear of the actions that the Government itself may take against them.”
Simon added that the high authorities of the Government have managed to instrumentalize the Executive, Legislative, Judicial and Electoral Branches “to develop and implement a legal framework aimed at repressing the exercise of fundamental freedoms and persecuting opposition persons. “The objective is to eliminate, by different means, any opposition in the country.”
They ask for an investigation to be opened
The experts issued a series of recommendations that should be adopted by the Nicaraguan government and the international community in order to “address the documented violations, abuses and crimes.”
Among the recommendations to the Nicaraguan government are the cessation of persecution for reasons founded on political motives, including through criminalization and arbitrary detentions, arbitrary deprivation of nationality and forced deportation.
It also suggests undertaking thorough, independent and transparent investigations into documented violations, abuses and crimes so that those who participated in their commission, including those with the highest level of responsibility, are held accountable.
Similarly, it suggests that comprehensive reparation, reparation and non-repetition, and the right of victims to know the truth be guaranteed.
Regarding the international community, the group of experts suggests initiating legal actions against the individuals responsible for the documented violations, abuses, and crimes, in accordance with their domestic legislation, as well as expanding the sanctions to institutions and individuals involved in the commission of violations. and crimes in international law.
The Nicaraguan government has not yet ruled on the matter, however at the time it was unaware of the formation of this group of UN experts made up of Jan-Michael Simon, an expert in criminal investigation and criminal law; the former Colombian prosecutor, Ángela María Buitrago; and the Chilean, Alexandro Álvarez, former consultant to the IACHR.
Nicaragua also prohibited these experts from entering the country, according to local media.
The report will be officially presented next Monday, March 6, before the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.
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