The Kingdom of the Netherlands described this Saturday, October 1, as “exceptional and unusual” the breaking off diplomatic relations announced by the regime of Daniel Ortega and reported through a statement that they are discussing with other European countries what their response will be to the measure taken by the Nicaraguan authorities.
The Dutch Foreign Minister, Wopke Hoekstra, lamented on his Twitter account the disproportionate decision of the regime and maintained that they took a firm position in the face of the deterioration of democratic structures and human rights violations in Nicaragua.
He also regretted that the Nicaraguan Executive Power has chosen to end the ties between the two countries, since “a critical discussion is always better.”
“Other countries have also noted difficulties in maintaining an open dialogue with Nicaragua. We will discuss our next steps with the European Union”, reiterated the head of Dutch diplomacy.
The Netherlands regrets the disproportionate decision by Nicaragua to break off diplomatic relations. We take a firm stand on the worsening democratic structures and human rights violations in Nicaragua. But a critical discussion is always better than ending relations.
— Wopke Hoekstra (@WBHoekstra) October 1, 2022
They also assured in a statement that their desire is not to break ties—a decision made by Ortega. They confirmed that they had put an end to the Dutch contribution to the construction of a hospital in Nicaragua, a project that they recognized had been suspended since 2018, adding that this was precisely due to the “deterioration of the situation in terms of democracy and human rights.”
“Under the current circumstances, it has been decided to terminate the project definitively,” the Dutch authorities reported.
Ortega reported this Friday, September 30, that Foreign Minister Denis Moncada Colindres met the Dutch ambassador a day earlier. It was she who informed him that the financing of the hospital would be terminated. The dictator did not call the diplomat by her name, christine pirenne, who lives in Costa Rica and is the representative for the Central American region, but Holland confirmed that she was the one who participated in the meeting.
Discuss response with other countries
In addition, the Netherlands took note of the non grata declaration of the United States ambassador, Hugo F. Rodríguez—ratified by the Senate last Thursday—and the departure this Saturday of the European ambassador in Managua, Bettina Muscheidyou, after the Nicaraguan authorities ordered his expulsion also for alleged interference.
“Therefore, this Nicaraguan response can be placed in light of the current position and sanctions of the EU. The Netherlands is discussing with other European countries how they will respond to this move by Nicaragua. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also keeps an eye on the approximately one hundred Dutch people who live in Nicaragua. If necessary, the travel recommendation for Nicaragua will also be adjusted,” they warned.
Read: Daniel Ortega is also isolated before the new Latin American left
In recent months, Ortega has unleashed an escalation of insults and expulsions of diplomats who are critical of him. In the case of the Americans and Europeans, it is a response to the demand for a return to democracy and the release of 205 political prisoners, who are victims of isolation and cruel treatment.
“It is unfortunate that Nicaragua has chosen to respond in this disproportionate way to a critical message about democracy and human rights. The Netherlands has a very clear position on the breakdown of democratic structures and human rights violations in Nicaragua, but it is always willing to discuss this,” they added in the statement.
Insults from Ortega left and right
Ortega described the decision of the Netherlands to suspend financing to the hospital as “human misery” and an “interventionist” act, for which he ordered a rupture between the two nations.
This week, the dictator also insulted the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric. He called him a “lapdog” for also asking for the release of prisoners of conscience, Ambassador Brian Nicholsundersecretary for the western hemisphere of the United States, called him a “bulldog” and the UN secretary general, António Guterres, “a wimp of the Yankees.”
Also: Ortega attacks the president of Chile for demanding the release of political prisoners
For the ruler, the Catholic Church is “a perfect dictatorship” and he publicly wondered who chose Pope Francis, the bishops and priests, whom the dictatorship has relentlessly persecuted for months. The religious have denounced the serious human rights violations committed by the State against the citizens, for which Ortega tries to disqualify them and accuses them of being “coup plotters.”
