Four days after the voting in Nicaragua, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presented its report to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) Concentration of Power and Weakening of the Rule of Law in Nicaragua, in which he details the lack of independence in the different powers of the State, denounces the suppression of the freedoms of Nicaraguans and warns that Daniel Ortega “seeks to perpetuate itself in power by holding elections that do not provide the minimum guarantees”.
“The report that we present to you today shows the cancellation of the legal status of three political parties and the harassment of civil and human rights organizations through continuous closure of the democratic space and the independent press. With these actions, the Government seeks to perpetuate itself in power by holding elections that do not provide the minimum guarantees of freedom, access to information, transparency and plurality“said the president of the IACHR and special rapporteur for Nicaragua, Antonia Urrejola.
The commission also indicated that “the serious deterioration of human rights in Nicaragua“, is a situation that has been brewing since 1999 with the pact between Ortega and Arnoldo Alemán – then president of Nicaragua – through which “a bipartisan system was established in order to facilitate the co-optation of the highest positions in the administration public, and that to date continues in force “.
Pdta. @ totonia68 from #CIDH shared before @CP_OEA Findings and recommendations of the report “Concentration of Political Power and Weakening of the Rule of Law in #Nicaragua”, Highlighting challenges to reestablishing democracy in the country.
? Speech: https://t.co/20LkkC1619 pic.twitter.com/Y71PpDTdzk
– IACHR – IACHR (@CIDH) November 3, 2021
Prior to the approval of the agenda, the alternate representative of Nicaragua to the OAS, Michael Campbell Hooker, rejected the IACHR report and described it as “an evil, manipulative and notoriously biased script.”. The official he questioned the independence of the commission and then left the virtual session.
“The topic to be known today, presented through a report by Mrs. (Antonia) Urrejola, is a replica already used repeatedly in this forum to try to show a case that is only in the minds and interests of the scriptwriters that the they write. Basically, it repeatedly tries to cover up the atrocious and very serious attacks on the facilities of the central government, the municipalities and, above all, the population victim of the terrorists“Campbell claimed.
“We will not participate in this session, because it is intended to implant an image that only seeks to legitimize and justify harmful acts, promote coups d’état and fuel terrorism as a formula to destabilize national sovereignty.“said the diplomat, who is the son of the Nicaraguan ambassador in Washington, Francisco Campbell, and the nephew of Lumberto Campbell, an FSLN magistrate in the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE).
States ask for more pressure on the regime
For the Costa Rican representative to the OAS, Alejandra Solano, it is “evident“ that the conduct of the Government of Nicaragua has caused “a rapid erosion of the democratic institutionality“, the breach of the rule of law and the violation of human rights, for which he called on the Ortega regime to accept the recommendations of the IACHR “as the only way to overcome the crisis, reestablish democratic institutions and guarantee fundamental freedoms.“.
Costa Rica “coincides in the absence of conditions and guarantees required in democracy to accredit the current electoral process (of Nicaragua) as transparent, credible, independent, fair and inclusive.“Solano said during his speech. “We join the call to the State of Nicaragua to release without delay all political prisoners“ and “we urge them to hold free, transparent and inclusive elections, put an end to repression and arbitrary detentions“added.
The interim representative of the United States to the OAS, Bradley A. Freden, pointed out that the general elections in Nicaragua will be held “in a climate of repression and a closure of the country’s democratic forums.“ in which people who expressed their intention to participate were imprisoned.
“The people of Nicaragua know that all hope that the November 7 elections will be free has evaporated“ and with the regime’s decision to remove legal status from opposition parties, “Sunday’s elections have lost all credibility“, he stressed.
The OAS “must continue working to ensure that there are consequences for disregarding the resolutions“noted Ambassador Freden. “The United States will continue to use the diplomatic means at its disposal to support greater freedom, accountability, and free and fair elections. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo do not have the consent of the Nicaraguan people to turn Nicaragua into a one-party dictatorship“added.
For his part, the representative of Canada, Hugh Adsett, called on the OAS member states to “not keep silent“ in view of the serious human rights violations in Nicaragua. “The event that is about to take place on November 7 is a parody of elections“.
“We as an organization must reflect on how to work with States that would endanger the democratic principles that are at the base of the OAS.“added the Canadian ambassador.
Adsett also announced that, given the lack of electoral conditions in Nicaragua, the results of the vote will be “illegitimate.” Therefore, “Canada invites member states to oppose the Ortega regime and its disdain for inter-American values.“.
The Ambassador of Uruguay, Manuel Juan Washington Abdala, regretted that the capacity for action of the international community is limited. “There is very little we can do, but the least we can do is raise our voice, claim, be aware of the international community and insist and not bend because the dictator is going to seek eternalization.“.
