The former ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Arturo McFields, called on the United States Government to promote a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaraguans who migrate to the United States fleeing from the state police imposed by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
“What I ask is that they give them a TPS of hope, because it is not fair for thousands of Nicaraguans who have been fleeing the regime, terror and political violence in Nicaragua, who continue to suffer in the United States. They need to work, have peace, have hope,” McFields said during a panel organized by the Wilson Center, the prestigious think tank based in Washington. Also participating in the debate were Cinthya J. Arnson, director of the Latin Program at the Wilson Center, and John Feeley, former US ambassador to Panama.
McFields mentioned that during his speech that after his defection as ambassador of the Ortega regime, he seeks to focus on being one more voice that calls for the release of the political prisoners of the dictatorship and on getting the Joe Biden government to recognize the situation of violence. who lives in Nicaragua and grants TPS to Nicaraguans.
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted by the Executive Branch of the United States to eligible citizens of designated countries, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, according to the political situation in said nations.
“Inhuman and degrading treatment has no forgiveness from God”
“My cry is for freedom for those who are suffering cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment in the El Chipote prison. They are rotting in jail. That has no forgiveness from God. And I also ask for a humanitarian and hopeful TPS. Every day Nicaraguans die trying to reach the United States. What I want is that at least, when they arrive, they don’t have to be suffering and hiding, as if they were in Nicaragua,” added McFields.
The former ambassador was asked how he has coped with this new stage of his life, after his historic speech before the OAS Permanent Council on March 23, 2022, in which he denounced the regime’s abuses against public servants and the cruelty in the treatment of political prisoners.
“I do not regret a single centimeter of the decision made. Because there are people from prison who have heard the message we gave and have regained hope. We were even informed that those in jail sang the national anthem in protest. They don’t know how, but they regained their strength. This message of hope that public officials are tired of so much cruelty, reached El Chipote”, he stated.
“When incidents like the expulsion of the nuncio (Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag) happen, these are blows to the liver of Nicaraguan morality, because Nicaraguans are people of faith and peace. The Nicaraguan does not endorse torture. That is what has government officials tired. In the corridors, in the corridors, civil and military officials, they tell you in private and there are many more. We are talking about ministerial levels. Even humble and hard-working people who at some point believed in the government model, as did the private company”, he added.
Foreign Ministry excluded in relations with Cuba, Venezuela, Russia
McFields was also addressed by the other two panelists about the system with which the regime’s diplomacy works, with Rosario Murillo making all the decisions about the country’s international positions and defining Nicaragua’s geopolitical priorities.
“The closest relations are Venezuela and Cuba. That is not even handled by the Foreign Ministry. They handle them at the highest level. The relationship with Russia is kept very secret. The most open things that people see are the donations of wheat and the buses. It is the visible side of cooperation. It is carefully cared for. The relationship with the Chinese is a new relationship, which they take great care of and at the highest level, but that is a relationship that is still in its infancy”, she opined.
Lack of opposition unity is what sustains the dictatorship
The former ambassador questioned the opponents of the regime for their inability to structure a cohesive and solid political unit to confront the regime.
“To achieve change in Nicaragua we need three things: unity, unity and more unity. As long as they continue to devour each other’s opposition, the government will remain there for a thousand years. The lack of unity, the personal egos, the internal power struggles in the opposition, is what really holds the regime in power in the country. Not even the paramilitaries are the ones that support the regime, it is the lack of opposition unity”, he opined.
