Just one week after the fourth anniversary of the civic rebellion of April 2018, the Blue and White National Unity (Unab) reported that the members of its Political Council have held meetings with groups of Nicaraguans abroad, known as the diaspora, in order to join forces to continue the international denunciation of the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
According to the statement, released on Monday, April 11, by the group, the talks have focused on strengthening opposition unity and “seeking greater international pressure on the regime, through lobbying in various world forums and before the democratic governments.
Related news: UNAB and diaspora will maintain international complaint against Ortega
After the electoral farce of November 2021, more than 40 countries, including the European Union bloc, classified the new mandate of Ortega and his wife as illegitimate, who imposed themselves in power by ordering their main contenders to jail.
Rosario Murillo continues unstoppable with her attacks on the Nicaraguan opposition, speeches that have intensified in tone in April. The spokeswoman and vice president of Ortega has not rested a single day and this Monday she affirmed that understanding and a culture of peace are promoted in the country to “bury the hatred” that was experienced “those days” in reference to the social protests of 2018 .
Murillo insists on attributing the destruction, deaths, injuries and economic decline of the nation to his adversaries, despite the fact that international human rights organizations hold the current regime responsible for the crimes against humanity recorded in that context.
Delegates from the Nicaraguan opposition criticized the United States for its weak execution of the Law to Strengthen Compliance with Conditions for Electoral Reform in Nicaragua, known as the Renacer Law, promulgated by President Joe Biden in November 2021 to pressure Daniel Ortega to that guarantees free, observed, transparent and democratic elections.
Related news: Nicaraguan opposition criticizes “weak” application of the Renacer Law
The political scientist and persecuted politician Manuel Orozco recommended increasing the pressure through sanctions and the revision of the Free Trade Agreement between Central America and the United States (Cafta).
For his part, the director of policies and strategic initiatives of the Seattle International Foundation (SIF), Eric L. Olson, called the execution of the law “almost practically a failure so far.” The grade awarded by the expert was “F for total failure, because there has been no progress in preparing for the implementation of this law.” The statements were exposed in a virtual meeting.
The “war” declared de facto against Nicaraguan journalists by Daniel Ortega, Rosario Murillo and their workers does not cease, as it has been reflected in March 2022, according to the report of the regional network Southern Voicesan organization that monitors attacks on freedom of the press in Latin American countries.
According to the organization, stigmatization, harassment, attacks, police harassment and defamation prevail against the men and women of the press who document human rights violations in Nicaragua. In addition, they denounce the continuity of the closure of NGOs, political trials and cyber attacks against entities linked to the exercise of reporting.
Related news: Murillo says that the social protests were an “evil lightning”
Last month, Voces del Sur documented 103 cases of violations of press freedom; “94 were perpetrated against the media (91.2%), 8 against natural persons (7.8%) and 1 case against a journalists’ union organization (1%)”.
This Monday hundreds of Nicaraguans participated in the traditional “Aquatic Stations of the Cross”which runs through part of the Great Lake of Nicaragua or Cocibolca, in a religious tradition in which devotees recreate, on the water, the suffering of Jesus Christ.
The boats toured some islets located near the coast of the colonial city of Granada. The aquatic pilgrimage, organized by the Diocese of Granada, lasted about four hours. This tradition is considered unique in the world, because only in Nicaragua is the revered image of Jesus of Nazareth – with his hands tied – transported in a boat, decorated with flowers and flags.
