The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) joined the condemnation of the 94 Nicaraguans stripped of their nationality. He sees with “outrage” that the human rights defender and founder of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh), Vilma Núñez de Escorcia, is on this list.
“Almost all of them are outside Nicaragua, having made the painful decision to leave the country to safeguard their integrity. Vilma Nuñez de Escorcia, president and founder of Cenidh, from 1990 to date, remains in Nicaragua vindicating her right to defend the victims of human rights violations and to demand a democratic transition. Faced with this new situation, FIDH requests that its integrity and security be guaranteed, “says the complaint from the international organization.
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Likewise, they highlight her trajectory for the defense of human rights from 60 years ago, when she confronted the Somoza dictatorship, survived the Student Massacre of 1959. Imprisoned, tortured and prosecuted by a Military Court at that time, she later came to to be one of the first women magistrates in the High Courts of Nicaragua and for 10 years vice president of FIDH.
“The new turn that the Ortega Murillo regime has taken is aberrational. The international community must condemn the arbitrary and absolutist behavior of the State. It will take time, but the actions of these police officers, officials and judges who flout the rule of law and the dignity of Nicaraguans will not go unpunished”, said the director of the Americas of FIDH, Jimena Reyes.
The Daniel Ortega regime snatched the nationality of 94 Nicaraguans this Wednesday, including journalists, activists, human rights defenders, former officials of the regime and opponents. The dictatorship also ordered the confiscation of “all real estate and companies that the defendants have registered in their favor, either personally or legal persons or companies in which they participate as partners, to answer for the crimes committed.”
FIDH highlights that nationality constitutes a non-derogable right and its arbitrary deprivation in this case is a serious violation of human rights at the international level. Given this, it considers that the actions of the Court of Appeals continue a clear and serious path of criminalization and harassment of civil society in Nicaragua by the presidential couple.
They request the international community to continue closely monitoring the situation in Nicaragua, particularly in relation to Vilma Núñez and the other people who remain in Nicaragua, “ensuring that their freedom and their physical and psychological integrity are respected; as well as to renew and strengthen the Resolution on Nicaragua in the United Nations Human Rights Council”.
The 94 people declared “stateless” join the 222 political prisoners who were exiled to the United States and the Bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, who have lost their Nicaraguan nationality by order of the Ortega and Murillo dictatorship.
