By A.M. Costa Rica staff
The representative of Costa Rica at the Organization of American States, Montserrat Solano, confirmed that she received the request from the Secretary General, Luis Almagro, for the application of the Inter-American Democratic Letter in the case of Nicaragua.
"I received the letter from the Secretary General, and as appropriate, it has been circulated among the representatives of the Member States," said Solano.
Despite the busy holiday season, the organization’s members have been in consulation and negotiation in order to make a decision on the removal of Nicaragua from the OAS due to lack of compliance with human rights.
The Inter-American Democratic Letter (according to organization Article #20) can be activated if "in a country member there is an alteration of the constitutional order that seriously affects its democratic order," and any member country or the Secretary General may request the convocation of the Permanent Council to make a collective assessment of the situation and adopt the measures in accordance with the agreements.
Last Thursday, December 27, during the extra session of the Permanent Council of the organization, the representative of Costa Rica appealed to the international community to join multilateral efforts to ensure respect for human rights in Nicaragua.
At the meeting, headed by Costa Rican representative Montserrat Solano, and presented by Costa Rica, Antonio Alarcón said that "as a country of peace, we call on the international community to join multilateral efforts aimed at ensuring full respect for human rights in Nicaragua, the reopening of the dialogue to restore peace, understanding, protect the integrity of the democratic system and promote the normalization of that country."
Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, said "The logic of dictatorship is installed in Nicaragua and the organization must act to protect and defend. We are forced to begin the process of applying Article #20 of the Inter-American Democratic Letter to Nicaragua."
The Permanent Council would have to declare by simple majority, with at least 18 votes, that in Nicaragua there is an alteration to the constitutional and democratic order, said the OAS spokesperson.
If there is no way out through diplomatic channels, the application of Article #20 would be the prelude to the organization approving Article #21, which would completely remove Nicaragua from its participation in this organization.
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A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo
The 2018 Nicaraguan protests began since April, 2018.
It is expected that within the next few days, the Organization of American States will issue the results of the votes of the members concerning the expulsion of Nicaragua from the organization.
Costa Rica served as Chair of the Permanent Council until December 31. Since January 1, that presidency has moved to El Salvador.
The 2018 Nicaraguan protests began on 18 April, 2018, when demonstrators in several cities of Nicaragua began protests against the social security reforms decreed by President Daniel Ortega that increased taxes and decreased benefits. After five days of unrest in which nearly thirty people were killed, Ortega announced the cancellation of the reforms.
The opposition, however, has grown - through the 2013–2018 Nicaraguan protests - to denounce Ortega and demand his resignation, becoming one of the largest protests in his government's history and the deadliest civil conflict since the end of the Nicaraguan Revolution.
On 29 September 2018, political demonstrations were declared illegal by President Ortega. The United Nations condemned the actions as being a violation of human rights regarding freedom of assembly.
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