NICA NEWS ROUNDUP (EVENING EDITION) – Alianza Releases Agenda

335 DAYS

March 19, 2019

Nicaragua

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In this edition:

Alianza Fleshes Out Agenda

The Alianza Civica por la Justicia y la Democracia held its daily press conference at the INCAE, to present a fleshed out negotiation agenda. The organization stated that conditions for a return to the negotiating table are not evident at this time.

Azahalea Solis read the revamped agenda that outlines the coalition’s demands in greater detail. “This does not mean that we’re sitting down to negotiate on these issues today or tomorrow. It just means that the agenda exists”, said Solis.

The Alianza’s agenda focuses on five key topics: Freedoms, Democracy, Justice, Implementation, and Compliance with IACHR recommendations.

Under freedoms, the Alianza contemplates the release of all political prisoners, as well as the nullification of legal proceedings and sentences against them. The coalition also asks for respect for constitutional rights, freedoms and guarantees, and compliance with international human rights agreements that Nicaragua is party to.

Under democracy, the agenda covers a revamping of the electoral system, in order to “reestablish public trust”. The coalition believes that implementing the recommendations given by electoral observation missions is paramount. The reforms should guarantee an early election that is “free, just, transparent, and subject to electoral observation.”

Under justice, the coalition proposes a truth, justice, and reparation process, with guarantees that would ensure that what has transpired in Nicaragua since April of 2018 will not happen again. The process is meant to consolidate peace, security, stability, and respect for human rights in ways that do not lead to impunity.

Under implementation, the Alianza asks for the establishment of an appropriate mechanism that allows for the implementation and monitoring of all agreements. This would include international support.

Finally, under compliance with IACHR recommendations, the Alianza asks for OrMu’s adherence to the recommendations given by the IACHR (see IACHR Report, p. 90-91), as was agreed upon during the first national dialogue. The OrMu government implemented three of these recommendations, all dealing with allowing OAS and the UN to come into the country and begin the process of investigation, documentation, and verification of events, fatalities, and repressive acts that occurred in the context of the 2018 protests.

The OrMu administration would expel the international human rights teams in the following months; therefore,  the administration had not complied with the agreements, though there was “partial and temporary compliance with some of them. We demand compliance with these agreements,” Solis explained.

Azahalea Solis described the agenda as the result of a consultation process, involving different sectors, such as students, private enterprise, the Caribbean Coast, and others. “It is a national agenda”, she stated.

The press conference marked 11 months since the first fatal victims of the repression were recorded. They were Darwin Manuel Urbina, a supermarket employee, Hilton Rafael Manzanares, a police officer within the Division of Special Operations, and Richard Pavon Bermudez, a student from Tipitapa. Solis read their names at the beginning of her remarks.

In contrast, Rosario Murillo did not mention the victims in her daily address. However, she thanked her followers for sending her biblical quotes. Today’s biblical quote was Ephesians 6: 10-18.

Murillo also announced that Daniel Ortega would be inaugurating the new highway overpass at 7 Sur in the next few days. “We bless and thank God our Lord for this new work of infrastructure, of prosperity, victory, and blessing that we receive, so that we can remain thankful and in victory,” she added.

Ortega inaugurated another highway overpass, at Las Piedrecitas, in December. It is expected that he will deliver remarks during the ceremony, as he did before.

If that happens, it would be Ortega’s first public appearance since announcing a new round of negotiations on February 21.

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Porras Commission Issues Statement Supporting Nuncio

The Porras Commission, also known as the Truth, Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation Commission, issued a statement in support of the Apostolic Nuncio Mons. Waldemar Sommertag. The Commission, betraying some ignorance of church etiquette and proper spelling, referred to Mons. Sommertag as “His Eminence” rather of the appropriate form of address, “His Excellency.” The Commission then proceeded to misspell the nuncio’s last name, Sommertag, as Sommerstag.

 

The gallery was not found!

Minor blunders notwithstanding, the Commission stated its support for Mons. Sommertag. He advocated for 165 citizens “protesting outside of the margins of legality, who were released the same night, by order of the President of the Republic,” said the statement.

The Commission then noted its concern about criticisms towards the nuncio, “even more so when he is disrespected via caricatures [mocking] his role as a delegate of His Holiness in Nicaragua,” clearly referring to this cartoon, by pxmolina.

The Commission then added that protests did not contribute to the negotiations, noting that “the negotiations in progress should express a political will, a national vision, and the willingness to reach solutions, avoiding other mechanisms and protests. It is the impression of this commission that there are groups that, using the flag of negotiations, the principles, and the good intentions of others, are trying to intoxicate, annual, and force the failure of these negotiations, plunging them into the darkness of incoherence, manipulation, and uncertitude.”

“The government has shows its political will, and demonstrates its willingness to find a solution […]. The excarcelation of 150 people in the past 18 days is proof of this.”

The letter concluded with a call for unity and tolerance. “All types of violence, no matter their origin, must cease. Let us replace offensive words for the fraternal embrace, in sign of mutual respect.”

 

 

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