Justice officials in Nicaragua, including prosecutors and judges who have sentenced dozens of opponents for political reasons, could face future criminal responsibilities for their “irregular” actions, he told the voice of americathe Guatemalan law specialist Claudia Peace and Peace.
Paz y Paz “considers that there are justice officials who have been part of this mechanism of serious human rights violations and they, without a doubt, have responsibility, different types of responsibility, but even criminal responsibility for their actions at this time.”
The pressure against judges, magistrates and prosecutors has increased this year due to the role they have played in the trials against opponents, including seven presidential hopefuls in processes called “a farce”.
The United States recently imposed visa restrictions on almost a hundred Nicaraguan officialswithin them were said justice operators, according to the State Department document.
Similarly, the European Parliament approved a resolution on June 9 where they ask the European Union to sanction at least fourteen judges and three magistrates for their current role.
MEP Soraya Rodríguez indicates to the VOA via Skype that “it is evident that in Nicaragua there is no separation of powers” and clearly “the rule of law does not exist.”
It underlines that “there are political prisoners in deplorable conditions, inhuman conditions of torture” and detainees “without cause, without a procedural guarantee and a final sentence.”
“We believe that it is clear to identify them (the judges and magistrates); point out their names, that they be sanctioned and that they receive a clear message just like their accomplices,” says Rodríguez, indicating that in Nicaragua “there is a lot of impunity,” but he warns that “this is not forever.”
Claudia Paz y Paz, who currently serves as Director of Cejil (Center for Justice and International Law) for Central America and Mexico, agrees separately with MEP Rodríguez regarding the procedural anomalies.
“All judicial guarantees were violated and there is no basis, neither factual nor legal, for these convictions to be upheld internationally,” he stresses.
According to the expert, in the future, “the reconstruction of the justice system in Nicaragua” will be fundamental. “We would have to start with the most basic: reestablish the judicial, prosecutorial career, to guarantee the presence of independent officials,” Paz y Paz says in this regard.
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