Following the release of 135 political prisoners by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo and then forced into exile by sending them to Guatemala, various sectors opposed to the Nicaraguan regime reacted.
“From the Blue and White National Unity we celebrate the release of 135 political prisoners who were welcomed today in Guatemala, we appreciate the efforts of the governments of the United States and Guatemala to receive the political prisoners and we note that this is a victory for the people of Nicaragua, for the families and prisoners as such, we continue to demand the cessation of repression and the freedom of the political prisoners who are still under the control of the regime,” said the opposition unit.
OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro reacted to the release of the Nicaraguan political prisoners by applauding the Guatemalan government for its welcome to the group, while congratulating and thanking the United States for its efforts to free them.
“I celebrate with profound enthusiasm the release of the 135 political prisoners who were unjustly deprived of their freedom for so long. We have known for some time that the US government was working hard on diplomatic negotiations to make this news possible. Although we recognized the inherent complexities, the Arevalo government worked hand in hand with the US, for which it deserves our recognition,” says opposition member Félix Maradiaga.
According to Maradiaga, with the new reforms applied to the Penal Code ordered by Ortega, the regime will continue to separate families and exile those who oppose his government, so it is vital that the opposition remain united. The exile also stated that political prisoners do not have “complete freedom” because now they will leave their families behind and be forced to live abroad.
Related news: The US announces that it has secured the release of 135 political prisoners in Nicaragua
Wave of repression will continue
“We thank the United States and Guatemala for receiving our released brothers (…) in Nicaragua there should not be any person imprisoned for religious or political reasons, on the contrary, Nicaraguans should have full guarantees to be able to exercise complete freedoms established by the fundamental rights of man,” says opposition member Alfredo Gutiérrez.
For Gutierrez, this release is an important step; however, it does not mean that the Ortega-Murillo regime is making any changes to its repressive policy or its leftist model, but rather that by giving in to these requests from governments like the US, what it is trying to do is to try to reduce the pressure of sanctions and prevent new international sanctions from emerging.
According to the opposition, the regime will continue its repressive policy, as evidenced by the fact that the regime and its official steamroller within the National Assembly have approved important reforms to the Nicaraguan Penal Code and other laws that seek not only to intensify the repression of those in Nicaragua, but also those who are exerting pressure abroad.
“This release is a revolving door, some are released and others are imprisoned again, enough is enough of persecution, this has to stop, the dictatorship has turned Nicaragua into a gigantic prison, in which anyone is imprisoned, teachers, religious people, poets (…) today we celebrate this release with a taste of exile but we know that one day we will return, the dictatorship is cornered,” says the former ambassador and former Sandinista ally, Arturo McFields.
Regime still fears the international community
“It is a great joy to see that 135 people have been released, although there is sadness because they were exiled, they are no longer in the hands of the dictatorship and they will not continue to be tortured. It is not known who has been released because the list has not yet been published. Yes, almost 90% of those we are handling have been released and the number is yet to be confirmed,” says lawyer Yonarquis Martínez.
For the lawyer, the Ortega government, despite its criticism of the United States, continues to maintain this communication and there is a fear on the part of the regime of the international community due to sanctions. According to Martínez, with the approval of the package of repressive laws, Ortega is dealing a blow to every Nicaraguan and is seeking to curb political activism against him, as well as reduce international sanctions.
Related news: UN report on Nicaragua: Persecution, torture and disappearance of political prisoners persist
“They were always innocent. I thank God and join in the bittersweet joy of seeing themselves banished from our homeland, but in the freedom offered to them by sister countries,” the Nicaraguan priest in exile, Edwin Román, posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The United States and Guatemala have made arrangements for the humanitarian release of 135 political detainees in Nicaragua, including members of religious organizations and students, who arrived in the Central American country, according to a White House statement released on September 5.
