The judicial process orchestrated by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo against the seven political prisoners: Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Tamara Dávila, Violeta Granera, José Pallais, Félix Maradiaga and José Adán Aguerri, was extended for a sixth hearing, this Tuesday, February 22. Sources close to the case expect the political trial to end between Wednesday or Thursday.
This Monday they questioned six police witnesses —who maintain a repetitive speech—, but three and the presentation of documentary evidence are still missing, sources close to the relatives said.
The trial by Ortega judge Félix Ernesto Salmerón Moreno, of the Fifth Criminal District Court of Judgment, is eight days old this Tuesday since it began on February 15.
Since the second hearing, held on February 16, the serious physical and mental deterioration suffered by the seven defendants, who have been incarcerated since mid-2021, was evident.
carried early
After the political prisoner José Pallais fainted in the trial that takes place behind closed doors in El Chipote, and Arturo Cruz showed “signs or symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease”, the Public Ministry transferred both of them together with the former diplomat, Francisco Aguirre Sacasa to their homes, under house arrest.
This Monday, both Pallais and Cruz were taken to El Chipote early, so they could wear prison uniforms. They still look bad, without recovering. Pallais still walks weakly and Cruz perceives pain when moving, sources confided.
Relatives of some of the prisoners of conscience denounced, in an interview with CONFIDENTIAL, that the state of the seven political prisoners is “alarming”. All show severe weight loss; the bones are noticeable; weakness to walk and get up from the chairs where they are placed; insecurity and fear when speaking.
House for jail for all
The Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners publicly requested that the authorities of the Nicaraguan prison system send home all 177 prisoners of conscience of the Ortega and Murillo regime, due to their poor health conditions.
“We ask those who control the institutions, the justice system, to hand over our relatives to us with the change of measure from house to jail with the necessary measures, we see that we must take care of our relatives humanitarianally, because the health and Everyone’s life is in great danger and we do not want more deaths, “they requested this Monday during a press conference.
As explained by Ulises Rivas, former political prisoner, relative of an inmate and member of this association, the health of all inmates is delicate and that is why they make the request in general and not just a few cases. “Many have diseases and illnesses that have become chronic,” he notes.
He also explains that “we cannot give him medication because they always deny it to us and now the harassment inside the cell is stronger. They don’t even have headache pills.”
The most common ailments among political prisoners are high blood pressure, kidney infections, and respiratory problems. Relatives also denounced that the prisoners do not have access to blankets or blankets, they sleep on planks and in recent months they have lost a lot of weight due to these precarious conditions.
“The death of Hugo Torres He has filled us with anguish and we accompany his family in their mourning. We have always known that they are in danger of death,” the relatives said in the statement.
Family members also point out that there are three inmates who have already served their sentences, but have still not been released. However, their relatives have not authorized their names to be revealed for fear that they will not be allowed to leave.
