and the closure of non-profit organizations
A Permanent Council resolution obtained 27 votes for, one against, four abstentions and two countries absent: Nicaragua and Colombia.
By confidential
HAVANA TIMES – A large majority of countries in the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved a resolution condemning the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, for the persecution against organized civil society, the independent press and priests and bishops of the Nicaraguan Catholic Church, in addition to reiterating the demand for the release of more than 190 political prisoners.
The resolution was approved with 27 votes in favor, only one against – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -, four abstentions: Mexico, Bolivia, El Salvador and Honduras, and two countries absent: Colombia and Nicaragua.
The resolution, promoted by eight countries, “strongly condemns the forced closure of non-governmental organizations as well as the harassment and arbitrary restrictions on religious organizations and anyone who criticizes government policies in Nicaragua.”
It also refers to his “insistence that the government of Nicaragua immediately release all political prisoners and stop harassing and intimidating the independent press and guarantee freedom of expression.”
The resolution states the concern of the OAS that, despite the various calls made in different resolutions and mandates approved by the Permanent Council, demanding that the regime restore democracy and civil liberties, these calls have been ignored by the Ortega government.
“The climate of oppression in Nicaragua has worsened with the growing number of arbitrary arrests and detentions, the forced closure of non-governmental organizations, the autocratic takeover of town halls in five municipalities controlled by an opposition party , intensified repression of journalists and freedom of the press, and attacks on nuns and priests of the Catholic faith,” the resolution reads.
It also underlines the “concern” of the OAS Permanent Council for the attitude of the Ortega regime which “ignored the efforts of the Secretary General (Luis Almagro) to engage the government of Nicaragua in the discussion of the means by which a group of high level could be called upon to assist the Nicaraguan government in restoring respect for and defense of democracy and human rights in accordance with the OAS Democratic Charter.
First voting session of 2022 on Nicaragua
It was the first time in 2022 that the OAS Permanent Council voted on a resolution on the political crisis and human rights in Nicaragua.
The last time the Permanent Council made a statement on the Nicaraguan crisis was on December 8, 2021, when it approved a resolution calling on the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, as a matter of urgency, to release all prisoners. policies and to accept a high resolution. mission at the national level to reach an agreement, since “Nicaragua is not respecting the commitment made in the Inter-American Democratic Charter”.
Argentina, governed by leftist Alberto Fernandez, had already warned Thursday, August 11 that it would vote in favor of a resolution condemning the abuses of the Ortega regime.
Read more about Nicaragua here on Havana Times.
