Opponents of the Nicaraguan regime applauded the recent sanction by the Joe Biden government of 13 Ortega and Murillo administration officials, whose US visas were immediately revoked.
Most of those sanctioned are members of the board of directors of the National Assembly, who have been in charge of following the direct orders of the Executive to modify legislation or approve new laws, to the detriment of human rights, the independence of State Powers, with which they have granted the dictator Daniel Ortega greater control over all social spheres in Nicaragua.
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For the political exreo Juan Sebastian Chamorro, This new sanction to State officials is “aimed at attacking the operation of the Ortega dictatorship for the actions against the 222 former political prisoners and the 94 denationalized.”
«Nine women and four men were sanctioned; action that is carried out in the context of July 19 (…) in such a way that this sanction affects the operational structure of the Ortega dictatorship, at a time when there is clearly a weakening in its structures, “he stressed.
For his part, the lawyer and member of the Political Council of the Blue and White National Unity (UNAB) Juan Diego Barberena said to Article 66 that the recent sanctions “are a reflection that Nicaragua continues to be a priority for the United States, sanctioning 13 officials of the Ortega regime.”
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He recalled that among those sanctioned is “a sancudo deputy” in reference to the president of the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN), Alejandro Mejia Ferrettiaccused of being a collaborator of the Ortega regime.
“Among corrupt officials from the northern triangle, we see that officials of the Ortega regime are being placed on this blacklist for the United States, so it seems to me that the effects of the sanctions are very important because they are touching people who are in key institutions,” Barberena said.
“Sanctions show that the US will keep its finger on the sore spot”
According to the former Nicaraguan ambassador to the OAS, Arthur McFieldsyesterday’s sanctions are demonstrating that the United States “is going to keep its finger on the sore point regarding violations of human rights and democracy in Nicaragua.”
He remarked that it is striking that the United States has the Ley Renacer and Nica Act, but this time it is implementing the Engel List, approved in 2020, whose objective is to sanction the actors involved in acts of corruption and attacks on democracy in the Central American region.
“But the message is that – the United States – is using all available tools to send a clear and effective message to the dictatorship, that democracy is needed, respect for human rights, transparency, no more corruption,” McFields said.
He emphasized that the new sanctions are “corrupt judges, and workers of corrupt financial institutions who lend themselves to accuse, to persecute civilians who question power.”
the opponent Alexa Zamora He said that these sanctions are sending a message about the consistency of the foreign policy of the United States towards the Ortega and Murillo regime, which could have been said after the release of the 222 political prisoners and after Nicaragua’s assistance to the EU-CELAC, but it is clear that there will be no impunity for those who commit crimes against Nicaraguan citizens.
