The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Louis Almagro, described as “arbitrary and unjust” the prison sentences handed down to political prisoners in Nicaragua. The delegate of the continental entity sued the regime of Daniel Ortega “dismantle” the system of repression and torture imposed on prisoners of conscience.
In a release dated April 5, the official indicated that “political prisoners have recently received sentences of 8 to 13 years in prison, all arbitrary and unjust, imposed on them for exercising their right to protest and several for exercising their right to participate in politics, that is, to elect and be elected’.
He reported that he had a meeting with Berta Valle and Jared Genser, wife and lawyer of political prisoner Félix Maradiaga, respectively. During the meeting they discussed the Inhuman conditions in which the political prisoners in Nicaragua remain.
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Luis Almagro denounced that Ortega does not allow prisoners of conscience “to receive visits with the frequency established by international standards on the matter. In the case of Maradiaga, he has received only one visit in the last 55 days».
“Political prisoners do not have enough access to sunlight. They have no access to any reading material or writing aids. They do not receive correspondence. They do not receive adequate medical care, sometimes not at all. And the food is insufficient, with which everyone has experienced weight loss that puts their health at risk, “he continued.
He underlined that in the case of Maradiaga Berta Valle he has proof and evidence “of ill-treatment received, which has contributed to the deterioration of his physical and mental condition.”
The OAS Secretary General demanded “the Nicaraguan regime dismantle this true system of repression and torture” to the detriment of political prisoners.
“These violations of human rights deserve the intervention of international justice in order to be able to carry out a competent investigation, settle responsibilities and administer reparations,” he warned.
In addition, he called on the international community to “increase diplomatic pressure” on the Ortega dictatorship and “multiply the shows of solidarity with political prisoners and their families.”
