BREAKING MINUTE: The United States sanctions 20 Sandinista university officials from Nicaragua

The United States Department of State notified the designation of 20 Nicaraguan university officials on the Engel List, a Washington mechanism to punish people linked to acts of corruption in the so-called northern triangle of Central America, which includes Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but more recently corrupt people from Nicaragua were also included.

“Pursuant to Section 353(b) of the Enhanced U.S. Engagement in the Northern Triangle Act (22 USC 2277a(b)) (the Act), as amended, this report is submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and to the Senate Judiciary Committee,” says the document that reports on those sanctioned.

According to the justification of the North American administration, this designation covers people who the president of the United States has determined that “have knowingly participated (1) in actions that undermine democratic processes or institutions; (2) in significant corruption; and (3) in obstruction of investigations into such acts of corruption, in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, including the following: corruption related to government contracts; bribery and extortion; the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption, including through money laundering; and acts of violence, harassment or intimidation directed at governmental and non-governmental corruption investigators.

This report, says the document released this Friday, December 27, includes “individuals who have been determined to have participated in the relevant activity (corruption) based on credible information or accusations of the conduct in question, coming from reports of the media and other sources. “The Department will continue to review the individuals listed in the report and will consider all available tools to deter and disrupt corrupt and undemocratic activity.”

They will not be able to enter the United States either.

The State Department adds that in addition to this measure, it “continues to examine additional credible information and allegations related to corruption or undemocratic activity and will use all relevant authorities, as appropriate, to ensure that corrupt or undemocratic officials are denied safe haven.” safe in the United States.

Those sanctioned

For Nicaragua, the Department of State has designated through Section 353(b) of the Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021 (Div. FF, PL 116-260) 20 university officials who operate as accomplices of the Sandinista dictatorship in the National Council of Universities (CNU), as authorities of the National Council of Evaluation and Accreditation (CNEA) and as authorities of some of the universities that were confiscated and converted into FSLN indoctrination centers.

Below is the list and reasons of the United States Department of State for including these corrupt people.

1. Almarina Oliveira Solis Santos vice president of the National Council of Universities (CNU) of Nicaragua, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the Central American University (UCA) and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing supporters of the ruling party in university administrations.
2. Roberto Enrique Flores Diaz secretary of Nicaragua’s CNU, undermined democratic processes or institutions by engaging in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the UCA and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing supporters of the ruling party in university administrations.
3. Jaime Lopez Lowery Technical Secretary of Nicaragua’s CNU, undermined democratic processes or institutions by engaging in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the UCA and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing ruling party sympathizers in university administrations.
4. Isaias Hernandez Sanchez Director of Planning and Development of the CNU of Nicaragua, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the UCA and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing supporters of the ruling party in the university administrations.
5. Mario José Caldera Alfaro vice president of the National Council for Evaluation and Accreditation (CNEA) of Nicaragua, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the UCA and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing supporters of the ruling party in university administrations.
6. Nivea del Socorro González Rojas, former board member of Nicaragua’s CNEA, undermined democratic processes or institutions by engaging in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the UCA and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing ruling party supporters in university administrations.
7. Francisco Martín Jácamo Ramírez former managing member of Nicaragua’s CNEA, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to repress dissent by taking control of the UCA and at least 25 other Nicaraguan private universities and installing supporters of the ruling party in administrations university students.
8. Luz Marina Ortis Narváez, vice chancellor of the Casimiro Sotelo National University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish professors and students of Casimiro Sotelo University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) political party.
9. Moisés Ignacio Palacios Secretary General of the Casimiro Sotelo National University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using his position to implement policies that punish professors and students at the Casimiro Sotelo University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s Sandinista FSLN political party.
10. Lilliam de Jesús Lezama Gaitán rector of the National Polytechnic University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish professors and students of the National Polytechnic University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s Sandinista FSLN political party.
11. Henry Antonio Balmaceda Zamora vice chancellor of the National Polytechnic University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using his position to implement policies that punish professors and students of the National Polytechnic University. National Polytechnic University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
12. María Alejandra Martínez Guadamuz General Secretary of the National Polytechnic University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish teachers and students from the National Polytechnic University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
13. Johana Elena Torrez Mendoza Rector of the Ricardo Morales Avilés National Multidisciplinary University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish professors and students from the Ricardo Morales Avilés National Multidisciplinary University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
14. José Ramón Velásquez Hernández vice chancellor of the Ricardo Morales Avilés National Multidisciplinary University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using his position to implement policies that punish professors and students from the Ricardo Morales Avilés National Multidisciplinary University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
15. Juan Carlos Benavides Fuentes rector of the Francisco Luis Espinoza National University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using his position to implement policies that punish professors and students from the Francisco Luis Espinoza National University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
16. Noemí del Carmen Obregón vice chancellor of the Francisco Luis Espinoza National University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish professors and students from the Francisco Luis Espinoza National University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
17. José Elías Álvarez Secretary General of the Francisco Luis Espinoza National University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using his position to implement policies that punish teachers and students from the Francisco Luis Espinoza National University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
18. Flower by María Pérez Vélez Rector of the Universidad Nacional Padre Gaspar García Laviana, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish professors and students from the Padre Gaspar García Laviana National University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
19. Javier Guillermo Hernández Munguía Vice Chancellor of the Universidad Nacional Padre Gaspar García Laviana, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using his position to implement policies that punish professors and students from the Padre Gaspar García Laviana National University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.
20. Claudia Patricia Jovel Castillo General Secretary of the Padre Gaspar García Laviana National University, undermined democratic processes or institutions by participating in a coordinated campaign to retaliate against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and repress dissent by using her position to implement policies that punish professors and students at the Padre Gaspar García Laviana National University who do not participate in political activities for Ortega’s FSLN political party.