By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
It has been reported on Voice of America, that the
government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega
is promising to free all protesters arrested in
the last year within 90 days.
The release of more than 700 opposition protesters
had been the main demand of the opposition for
continuing talks with the government. In return,
the government is asking for the lifting of
sanctions imposed against the Ortega
administration.
The announcement was made Wednesday by the two
independent figures who are monitoring and
assisting the talks. The papal nuncio in Nicaragua
and a representative of the Organization of
American States said the talks would resume
Thursday, after several days of tension.
At least 325 people were killed last year amid a
security crackdown on the protests, according to
the Inter-American Commission. Thousands more were
wounded, arrested or fled into exile.
In February U.N. human rights chief Michelle
Bachelet is expressing alarm at growing repression
in Nicaragua and warns the increasing
criminalization of dissent is promoting political
and social instability in the country.
Over the past six months, the government of
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has arrested
hundreds of political opponents and activists,
allegedly to muzzle them and keep their opinions
from being heard.
The U.N. human rights office says those arrested
and held in pre-trial detention for long periods
allegedly had leading roles in last year's
anti-government protests between April and July.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele
Bachelet warned these hard-nosed tactics are
seriously undermining proposed efforts to resolve
the growing political and social unrest in
Nicaragua.
The High Commissioner's spokesman, Rupert
Colville, said guilty verdicts and extremely heavy
sentences have been handed down to a number of
prominent opposition and community leaders since
December. He said some of these leaders had
cooperated with the U.N. and have brought a number
of human rights abuses in Nicaragua to its
attention.
"The high commissioner is deeply concerned about
the apparent lack of due process and increasing
criminalization of dissent in Nicaragua. The
arrest and jailing of opposition leaders, she
says, is possibly in some cases a reprisal for
cooperating with the U.N. and it clearly hinders
the creation of an environment that is conducive
to holding a genuine and inclusive dialogue, which
the government says it wants," said the spokesman.
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A.M. Costa Rica wire services
photo
At least
325 people were killed last year amid a
security crackdown on the protests, according
to the Inter-American Commission. Thousands
more were wounded, arrested or fled into
exile.
The government
has blamed protests on criminal groups and
"opposition political groups with specific
political agendas." The government calls them
"terrorists" and says it has "the duty to defend
the security and peace."
Among those convicted
in recent weeks is student leader Jonathan
Lopez. He was sentenced to five years and three
months in prison.
Peasant leaders Medardo Mairen and Pedro Mena
have been sentenced to 216 and 210 years in
prison respectively.
Sentences are pending for two former army
officers, Carlos Brenes and Tomas Maldonado. The
state prosecutor is seeking jail terms of 32 and
34 years respectively.
High Commissioner Bachelet is calling for these
convictions and sentences to be reviewed by
independent experts. This is to make sure their
cases were properly handled at every stage—from
arrest to prosecution.
She said all those arrested for protesting
peacefully and exercising their freedom of
expression should be released.
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Should
international organizations acting the same in
the Nicaraguan crisis as they did on Venezuela?
We would like your thoughts on this situation.
Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com
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