The National Assembly of Nicaragua, totally controlled by Ortega, approved this Thursday, June 1, 2023, the initiative of the “Organic Law of the Red Cross” with which it authorizes the new organization in the hands of the State to use the emblem and the flag of the International Red Cross, as if they could also appropriate the symbol of the institution, passing over the trademark rights that are still in force throughout the world.
“The Nicaraguan Red Cross may use the emblem and flag of the International Red Cross, the use of these emblems being prohibited by individuals,” indicates article 5 of the proposed Law, approved unanimously by the deputies of Parliament, without specifying if said norm has been authorized by the world organization of the Red Cross.
The Organic Law of the Nicaraguan Red Cross is made up of 17 articles that, according to the parliamentarians, will allow “a better functioning of this entity that serves the people.”
Related news: The International Red Cross “is deeply concerned” by the dissolution of its subsidiary in Nicaragua
On May 10, the National Assembly urgently closed the Nicaraguan Red Cross, an organization that had been operating in the country since 1931, and ordered that all its assets be transferred to the State and that they be administered by the Ministry of Health (Minsa).
The Executive, through its deputies, accused the Nicaraguan Red Cross of “attacking the peace and stability” of Nicaragua, for attending and providing first aid to injured and dead citizens during the 2018 social protests, which were repressed by the government. .
A “humanitarian and impartial” Red Cross
The Organic Law of the new Nicaraguan Red Cross establishes that the organization will have as its principles “humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.”
The regulations also state that this decentralized entity will refrain “from taking part in hostilities, and at all times, in controversies of a political, racial, religious, and ideological order,” which is interpreted as the Sandinista imposition that they cannot care for opposition people who are injured by actions of state or para-governmental groups, because for the government that will mean taking sides on the side of the victims.
Regarding the assets of the Red Cross, the bill indicates in article 14 that all movable and immovable property and financial resources, registered or not, will be administered by the new entity controlled by Ortega.
The Law also details that the president of the new Red Cross will be appointed by the Minsa, and this will be in charge of complying with the guidelines issued by the National Board of Directors; that he will be the highest authority of the organization.
This board of directors will be made up of the minister of health, representative of the Minsa Administrative Directorate, president of the Red Cross, the general director of the Red Cross and a representative of the workers. The board of directors of the CRN will have a secretary.
