Permanent Council Holds Special Session on Nicaragua

April 5, 2019

Nicaragua

The Permanent Council of the OAS met this afternoon to consider the situation in Nicaragua. The PC heard reports from Luis Angel Rosadilla, special envoy to the negotiations between the Alianza and the OrMu government, Joel Hernandez of the IACHR, Manuel Orozco of Inter American Dialogue, Daniel Cequeira of the Fundación para el Debido Proceso, and Ambassador Jennifer May Loten Chair of the Permanent Council Working Group on Nicaragua.

Mr. Rosadilla briefed the Council on the negotiations. “We have been unable to advance, not even by one millimeter”, on the subject of justice and early elections. Rosadilla also said that the “liberation” of fifty prisoners “contributes to an environment that [can lead] to understanding.”

The fifty prisoners were not liberated. They were excarcerated, mostly to house arrest.

Mr. Rosadilla reiterated that his role at the negotiations is that of a witness. “We have stayed in our role, which is to observed without intervening […]. We hope to advance quickly in the issues that are pending,” he stated.

The briefings by Hernández, Orozco, and Cequeira all described a pattern of human rights violations in Nicaragua and the obstacles faced in the negotiation process. Hernández acknowledged the importance of the second dialogue that began on February 27, calling it an “invaluable opportunity to advance towards a peaceful, democratic, and constitutional solution to the grave political and human rights’ crisis [in Nicaragua]”

Hernández spoke at length about the agreements regarding political prisoners. He mentioned the excarcelation of over 200 individuals, including those who were transferred home today. However, he also said that there needs to be a full accounting of the number and names of all political prisoners. The IACHR’s latest list includes 647 names, but “it is updated constantly through a collaboration with human rights organizations and the legal representatives of the detainees. This work has high technical rigor.” Hernández also called for the inclusion of victims in decision making processes regarding “truth, justice, and reparations”

Cequeira and Orozco followed. According to Cequeira, the patterns of repression and human rights abuses are long-standing, and have been observable since at least 2010. After the session, Cequeira posted this image via Twitter. He wrote “Standing outside of the OAS, after the Permanent Council session about Nicaragua. Democracy and rule of law still agonize in the land of the Ortega-Somozas.”

Manuel Orozco’s intervention focused on the negotiation process, which he described as a stalemate. Orozco stated that “there is a serious democratic governance problem in Nicaragua […] The independence of powers is practically non-existent,” adding that Nicaragua was ruled by a single party and that the country experienced high levels of corruption.

Ambassador Jennifer Loten, of Canada, then briefed the Council on behalf of the Working Group on Nicaragua. Ambassador Loten noted that the Ortega-Murillo administration had not shown signs of willingness to resolve the crisis. “In order for the dialogue to work, it must be open, transparent, and trusted by all”, she said, noting that the “government continues carrying out acts of aggression against Nicaraguans,” even after signing agreements that commit it to cease the repression and restore rights.

Following the briefings, the country representatives spoke on behalf of their nations. The envoys from the United States, Canada, México, Chile, Argentina, Perú, Paraguay, Ecuador, Brazil, and Panama all expressed their concern about the situation in Nicaragua. One of the most forceful interventions in this group was that of Ambassador Paula Bertol, of Argentina.

Ambassador Bertol noted Argentina’s concern about the lack of progress in Nicaragua. “That concern has turned into action for some of us. Wherever we can, we do no cease in insisting, in denouncing, and in making [the situation] visible.”

Bertol added that Nicaraguans “want [their plight] to be visible.”  For Bertol, the Nicaraguan crisis deserves as much attention as that of Venezuela, and countries like hers, the United States, and others were making sure that the “constant violations and human rights abuses in Nicaragua that  began in April of 2018, with the violent repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime against peaceful protesters” do not remain hidden.

Bertol closed her remarks by saying that Argentina rejects the stalemate of the dialogue, and that the country’s desire is for peace, democracy, and freedom for Nicaragua.

The Ortega-Murillo administration had supportive statements entered on its behalf, by Venezuela, Bolivia, and St. Vincent and Grenadines. Unlike past interventions, Venezuela did directly refer to “failed attempt at a coup”. However, the Venezuelan envoy denounced “acts of violence” caused by “groups that want to repeat what happened in 2018.”  The envoy, who spoke for less than five minutes, reiterated that Venezuela wants no foreign intervention in Nicaraguan affairs.

Luis Alvarado closed out the session, to read a statement on behalf of the Ortega-Murillo government. Alvarado stated that the Nicaraguan government was coming to the Special Session “with pride for having initiated a negotiations process that seeks to work towards national understanding and peace.”

Alvarado did not make any mention of the “failed coup”, which has been an oft-repeated argument presented by the Ortega-Murillo administration at the OAS and other international fora.

“As we all know, any negotiation process is complex, difficult, and tests the will of the participants. Our delegation has worked daily, showing a high level of national responsibility, maturity, sensibility, and willingness to reach an understanding, as Nicaraguan families and people demand,” read Alvarado.

The statement included a verse by Rubén Darío, often quoted by Rosario Murillo, “we are illuminated by a sun that does not set.”

Alvarado concluded the prepared remarks by stating that the government’s “determination to build peace and a future inhabits all efforts and commitments of a people that unites, in majority, ratifying the will and commitment to harmonious coexistence that demands consideration and recognition of the entire international community.”

 

 

 

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