The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution which will set up a group of three experts Investigating possible human rights violations in Nicaragua since April 2018, when a popular revolt broke out, described by Daniel Ortega’s government as an attempted coup.
(Read: The Internal and Critical Rifts Rocking the Ruling Party in Nicaragua)
The resolutionAdopted with 20 votes in favour, seven against and 20 abstentions, resolves to form this investigative mechanism to “gather, preserve and analyze information and evidence” about these possible violations of human rights, “Identification of those responsible”.
(You are interested in: Nicaraguan ICJ lawyer resigns from his ‘moral conscience’ position)
Inauguration ceremony by Daniel Ortega.
Photo:
AFP / Presidency of Venezuela / Zurimar Campos
With an initial mandate of one year, this mission will have a similar mission to that authorized for Venezuela by another Human Rights Council resolution in 2019, making it the second investigative mechanism of its kind for Latin American countries.
The resolution was tabled by Ecuador, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Peru and supported by nearly fifty governments.
The document also expresses concern about “the deterioration of democracy and the human rights situation in Nicaragua,” where there has been “an increase in restrictions on democratic space and suppression of dissent.”
This repression includes “acts of intimidation, harassment, and illegal or arbitrary surveillance of human rights defenders.” highlights a text that deplores the lack of accountability for these events for four years, as well as the ban on peaceful demonstrations and trials without due process.
The document demands that the Nicaraguan authorities end arbitrary arrests and intimidation, the immediate release of those unjustly detained, and investigations into cases of harassment of political leaders, journalists, activists and other critics of the Ortega government.
He specifically mentions and regrets the recent death of political prisoner Hugo Torres, a historic former Sandinista guerrilla fighter, who died “in appalling conditions” on February 12 after months in detention.
The resolution also shows its concern about civil and political rights violations related to last year’s elections and deplores “the failure of the government of Nicaragua to implement electoral and institutional reforms that would guarantee free and fair conditions.”
Before voting on the resolution, Nicaragua Attorney General Wendy Carolina Morales intervened via videoconference to show the Nicaraguan government’s “absolute rejection” of this and other Human Rights Council decisions of recent years condemning the situation in the central American country .
The texts of these resolutions “continue to contain assessments derived from the economic and political interests of imperialist countries whose sole purpose is to harm the dignity and sovereignty of peoples,” he assured.
Delegations from Council member countries that voted against, such as Venezuela, Cuba, China or Russia, agreed to reject a text they say constitutes interference in Nicaragua’s internal affairs with “political motives”.
The investigative mechanism created “does not have the consent of the country and does not contribute to the promotion of dialogue or cooperation and encourages the confrontation and politicization of this council,” the Chinese delegation assured, while Venezuela reiterated that the expert group would have “para-police powers”. .
In Nicaragua, the UN investigative mechanism had already been called for last month by civil society actors such as the 46/2 collective, which brings together 16 national and international human rights organizations.
international writing
*With information from EFE
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