The independent Urnas Abiertas observatory denounces the “terror” that operates in Nicaragua under the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in the framework of the municipal elections scheduled for November 2022. The organization assures that the main objective of the dictatorship for these elections is “exercise totalitarian control over the citizenry.”
The entity rejects “the persistence of the state of terror that has been possible thanks to the perpetuation in power of the Nicaraguan regime consolidated through the electoral fraud of 2021.” Open Ballot Boxes affirms that this year is marked by the modification of the mechanisms of repression in the country.
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“Although the main form of political violence in the first five months of the year has focused on siege and persecution, citizen reports received point to new forms of violence. It can be seen that the main objective is to exercise totalitarian control over citizens, including opposition figures, Sandinista sympathizers, state workers and citizens in general,” the observatory denounces in its report entitled “Nicaragua: between fraud and terror.” .
According to the complaints collected by Urnas Abiertas, “the demonstrations of human rights violations are being exercised by more state entities, a slight decrease in the participation of individuals and armed groups (police, military and paramilitary) is observed, which is replaced by a series of administrative measures issued by institutions such as: Directorate of Migration and Immigration, National Assembly, Civil Registry, Judicial Power, Public Ministry, Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security, mayors, among others.
This year’s observation by the organization will be focused on documenting the enabling conditions for voting and investigating the type and level of control that the Executive has over local powers, with which they will evaluate the transparency of municipal management and how it is impacts the living conditions of Nicaraguan citizens.
They emphasize that “the electoral-municipal horizon for this 2022 is not favorable as long as no changes are observed in the democratic conditions necessary to hold legitimate elections.”
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They continue to reiterate that “Nicaragua needs a credible, comprehensive and legitimate electoral process. We insist on the importance of restoring
of democratic conditions, which includes; freedom for political prisoners, cease repression and political violence, restructure the Supreme Electoral Council, stop the instrumentalization of the Judiciary and eliminate reforms to the electoral law.
Since 2021, opposition organizations have denounced that there are no guarantees in Nicaragua to hold elections where the popular will is respected, since all the powers of the State submit to the designs of the Executive.
