The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, met on Tuesday with a group of Nicaraguan activists released by the government of Daniel Ortega, whom he assured that “their doors are open in the country.”
The meeting between the president and the seven opponents took place within the activities for International Human Rights Day, commemorated every December 10. In September, the Guatemalan government welcomed 135 prisoners politicians released by Managua, thanks to the mediation of the United States.
“Today we fight to be a State of peace, democracy and well-being, where the rights of all people are always protected,” Arévalo said in a video that he posted on his X account, formerly Twitter.
“It was an emotional moment”
Pedro Gutiérrez, one of the opponents who was present at the meeting with the Guatemalan president, told the Voice of America that the meeting “was emotional.”
“We were excited to be received by the first president of this country, who opened his doors to the Nicaraguans who were exiled in September 2024. It was a moment where those of us released from prison expressed to the president what we experienced in prison, what we do in exile and we will continue doing to see a free Nicaragua. He was in solidarity with us,” said Gutiérrez.
“It was important to hear that he recognized religious persecution, that was a great joy. We knew that we were dealing with a person who was no stranger to pain,” he concluded.
In September 2024, the Nicaraguan government released 135 political prisoners who later took refuge in Guatemala. The group included missionaries from the Texas-based Mountain Gateway organization, Catholic laypeople and human rights advocates.
The White House then reported that the group included students and other people who had remained behind bars in the Central American nation. “Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo consider [a los excarcelados como] a threat to his authoritarian regime,” Washington said.
The released prisoners landed at the airport in Guatemala City on a charter plane and will have the opportunity to travel to the United States and other countries under the protection of immigration programs.
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