The young Nicaraguan opposition leader José Alberto Montoya delivered a letter to representatives of the Semilla Movement of the Guatemalan government, requesting support to denounce and demand the release of political prisoners still held by the Daniel Ortega regime.
“We, the Nicaraguan youth, are writing to salute the democratic process that is taking place in our sister country of Guatemala, headed by the leadership of the Semilla Movement. We appreciate the solidarity shown to the victims of the repression of the Sandinista dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo,” the letter reads.
For the young opponents, the Government of Bernardo Arévalo has shown signs of a coherent line of action regarding the demand for justice, peace and democracy in Latin America, so they hope to count on his support in denouncing the repression of the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship, which, according to their criteria, affects the entire Central American region.
“In Nicaragua we continue to face the permanent suspension of our constitutional rights and the systematic violation of human rights.” The letter also reports that more than 147 opponents are currently in prison, and 351 people have been murdered by paramilitaries and Sandinista police, in the service of the regime.
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The document mentions the depatriation of 316 Nicaraguans, in addition to hundreds of thousands who have been forced to live in exile, and the closure of civil society organizations, universities, businesses and spaces for participation that allowed for the full development of youth.
“We respectfully request that the Semilla Movement, from its bench in the Guatemalan Congress, call on the Nicaraguan government to promptly release all political prisoners, in addition to supporting Nicaraguans in their efforts to recover democracy and get rid of the dictatorship,” the text says.
In the letter delivered, the exiles ask the Arévalo government to provide refuge to the political prisoners who are in Nicaragua. They also mention that the economic and political stability of Guatemala and the Central American region will be affected by the actions of the Ortega government, so they urgently demand that the regime respect democracy.
The letter was signed by 18 young people, including Max Jérez, vice president of the Nicaraguan University Alliance AUN; Valeska Valle, president of the University Movement 19 April, MU19A; and Samantha Jirón, a former political prisoner. It was received by deputy Ronalth Ochaeta Aguilar, of the Semilla Party.
