The former Sandinista guerrilla and now a political prisoner Dora Maria Tellez was awarded the prize Rene Cassin 2022, convened by the Department of Justice, Equality and Social Policies of the Basque Government. According to the jury, the recognition will be given to the historian “for her commitment to the promotion, defense and dissemination of Human Rights.”
The René Cassin award gala will be held next December 10 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, located in northern Spain. However, it was not specified who will receive recognition on behalf of the hostage of conscience
Related news: Dora María Téllez dedicates her honorary doctorate to the more than 200 political prisoners of Ortega
As highlighted by the Irikedia website, “the jury for this award granted by the Basque Government has especially valued, in this edition, the long and persevering career of Dora María Téllez in the defense of human rights, women’s rights and democracy in Nicaragua».
The organizers recalled that as a consequence of the fight “against the reduction of rights and the democratic setback established by the regime of President Daniel Ortega”, the member of the Renewing Democratic Union (Unamos) has been a political prisoner since June 2021.
“Dora María Téllez remains imprisoned in her country along with other prisoners of conscience from different social and economic sectors: businessmen, political and religious leaders, activists, journalists, etc.,” they said.
Also. They emphasized that as a measure of pressure, in September, the historic ex-combatant would have started a hunger strike to demand her release, “as well as that of her colleagues, and to protest against the conditions of Nicaraguan prisons and the treatment received in the same”.
Two awards in a row
This is the second consecutive recognition that Dora María Téllez has received for her commitment to human rights; Before him, she was awarded —on November 28— with the honorary doctorategranted by the New Sorbonne University, in Paris.
On that occasion, the recognition was received —at the request of the opposition— the Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorrodirector of Confidencial, because the hostage of conscience has been held captive for more than a year in the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ) in Managua.
Related news: Unamos celebrates Dora María Téllez’s resistance to torture by the Sandinista dictatorship
Téllez dedicated —according to his brother Óscar Téllez Argüello— his award to the more than 200 political prisoners held in the different prison systems of the country, accused of common crimes or for alleged “treason” or “propagation of false news”.
In addition to these recognitions, the Nicaraguan activist has various titles and recognitions, among them the Honoris Causa Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Helsinki (2011), Master’s Degree in History from the Central American University UCA. (2014).
Among other achievements, it stands out that Téllez was a guerrilla commander in the Sandinista Popular Revolution of 1979, she was also Minister of Health with the first Sandinista government from 1985 to 1990 and vice president of the Council of State. (1980-1984).
The area of conscience was president of the Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS) now Unamos between 1998 – 2007. She was also a deputy in the National Assembly. (1990-1995).
The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega now considers her a traitor and has kept her locked up for more than a year in one of the cells of the Judicial Assistance Directorate (DAJ) known as “El Nuevo Chipote” in Managua.
