The Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva Duran reiterated that the reasons why Colombia was absent from the session of August 13, 2022 in the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), which condemned the abuses of human rights by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo , were “absolutely humanitarian” and have nothing to do with any negotiation on the right to fish of the Raizal communities of San Andrés in waters that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague declared as Nicaraguan territory.
The head of Foreign Relations of the Government of Gustavo Petro confirmed that there is an effort by the Colombian ruler to achieve the release of 21 political prisoners, including four of the presidential candidates, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez and journalists, which was not attended by the Ortega regime. and Murillo.
“I believe that the imprisoned bishop (Monsignor Rolando Álvarez) has nothing to do with the decisions of the International Court of Justice. This is a government (the Administration of Gustavo Petro) that speaks of total peace, even beyond borders”, he expressed in an interview with the Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell for W Radiohis first appearance before the media since President Petro came to power.
“These efforts (for the release of political prisoners) are absolutely the humanitarian reasons that we refer to. Unfortunately it has not been achieved. I call on all countries to move and assume the same attitude that Colombia has recently assumed. The State has to manifest itself and President Petro, represented by the Foreign Ministry, must clearly state that we are in no way with Mr. Ortega, one thing is a humanitarian action and another is confusion,” he pointed out.
Circumstances arose that there could be a way to try to land Mr. Ortega. We have heard the vice president (Rosario Murillo) talk about crimes against religiosity. What is happening is the last straw”, he added.
The absence of Colombia in the OAS session It has brought various critical reactions both within the Latin American country and from outside, given that this decision was seen as an underhanded support for the Ortega regime.
Foreign Minister Leyva Durán insisted that Colombia’s position on the issue of the human rights crisis with Nicaragua is that the Ortega regime must restore civil liberties in the country.
“Things of public order cannot be treated with kicks, putting enemies in jail, closing the national human rights associations. This is outrageous. And always the same OEA pointed out that the roads should not be closed. So, what better opportunity than now”, insisted the Colombian official.
Foreign Minister Leyva Durán even announced that Colombia will support a resolution of censorship against Nicaragua in Geneva, where the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council is housed.
“There comes a time when you can’t do it anymore. We are naturally on the eve of a motion that arises in Geneva censuring Nicaragua. There are 53 countries that are going to demonstrate, Colombia is included. There comes a time when the will is exhausted, but it does not mean that even signing a resolution, we put aside our concerns about the fate of those who are detained, “revealed Foreign Minister Leyva Durán.
Last Sunday, the journalist Coronell published a column under the title “the price of silence”in which he explained the alleged reasons for the absence of the Petro government in the regional condemnation of the Ortega regime on August 12.
The also president of the magazine Cambio revealed that the absence was due to the search for a negotiation of the new Government of Gustavo Petro regarding the sentence of the CIJ, which allows the Colombian fishermen of the raizales to work in waters adjudicated by the International Court of Justice to Nicaragua since 2012.
Additionally, Coronell indicated that a “Nicaraguan government source” told him that Colombia is carrying out a humanitarian effort to achieve the release of 14 of 205 prisoners of conscience currently in the hands of the dictatorship.
