The communicator, activist and persecuted politician of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Berta Valle, wife of the political prisoner and presidential candidate Félix Maradiaga, published a message one year after the arrest of the opposition leader. In the letter, she highlights the “courage and firmness” of the political scientist in 365 days of captivity.
“A year without you, one more day without you, one day closer to freedom! Today marks one year since the illegal and arbitrary arrest of Félix (Maradiaga), father, husband, human rights activist and professional committed to his country. The conditions in which he finds himself today can only be classified as inhumane and in violation of all his citizen rights,” Berta Valle wrote in Maradiaga’s account.
This day also marks a year of being locked up in the Judicial Assistance Directorate (DAJ), known as “El Nuevo Chipote”, Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Violeta Granera and José Adán Aguerri.
Related news: A year of captivity against Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Violeta Granera and Félix Maradiaga
“His courage and firmness have led him to resist all the abuse of which he has been a victim in the prisons of the dictatorship, his faith keeps him strengthened as well as all the messages of support and solidarity he has received on his social media platforms, same that keep him in the hope that there will be justice and freedom for him and the +170 political prisoners,” Berta Valle posted on the social network.
Victoria Cárdenas, wife of Juan Sebastián Chamorro, also spoke out for the arrest of the opposition leader and denounced that in all this time she and her daughter have not been able to have any kind of communication with Chamorro.
“In these 365 days, my daughter and I have not been allowed any kind of contact with him, not a letter, not even a phone call. This constitutes torture for our family. Today I invite the international community, civil society, human rights defenders, to join the cry of freedom for the release of my husband and more than 180 political prisoners in my country Nicaragua,” he said. Cárdenas in a video released by the Civic Alliance on its social networks.
Berta Valle denounced that Maradiaga is in conditions that can only be classified as “inhumanity and violation of all her citizen rights. The fight continues until the full and unrestricted freedom of each and every one of the political prisoners in Nicaragua is achieved,” she stated.
The activists Berta Valle and Victoria Cárdenas have denounced the physical deterioration to which the regime has subjected their husbands, in addition to the psychological torture implemented against them. They say they fear for the lives of political prisoners.
The outlawed political party Citizens for Freedom (CxL) wrote on its Twitter account: “Freedom for Félix Maradiaga. Unjustly detained for daring to dream of a free Nicaragua.
The Blue and White National Unit (Unab) also posted on its Twitter profile: “Today marks one year since the arbitrary and unjust detention of Violeta Granera, Félix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastián Chamorro and José Adán Aguerri. They are INNOCENT! 365 days of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. We demand their immediate and unconditional release.”
Maradiaga, Chamorro, Granera and Aguerri were subjected to a seven-day marathon trial. The two presidential candidates and Aguerri were sentenced to 13 years in prison each, while Granera was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (CourtIDH) ordered on Monday, June 6, the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo the immediate release of nine political prisoners, including Aguerri, Chamorro, Maradiaga and Granera; and that measures are also taken to guarantee their physical integrity.
