EU asks Ortega to end violence against demonstrators in Nicaragua

[Juppitèr]

The European Union (EU) called today (02.10.2018) on the Government of Nicaragua to put an end to the disproportionate use of force against demonstrators and denounced a weakening of democracy due to the repression of the authorities.

"Five months after the start of social protests in Nicaragua, the situation in the country continues to seriously concern the European Union and its member states," said the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the bloc, Federica Mogherini. "The basic principles of democracy, accountability and the rule of law continue to be seriously undermined by the repression of the authorities, which creates a climate of fear and distrust," laments the EU.

Deterioration of basic democratic principles

Mogherini added that the Nicaraguan authorities continue to "seriously damage" basic democratic principles, such as accountability before the courts and respect for the rule of law, which generates a climate of "fear and distrust."

The EU stressed that the "lack of official cooperation" with international research missions on the prevention of human rights abuses favors "impunity". In that sense, European diplomacy called on Managua to allow the return of the personnel of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the UN and to apply the results of the reports of that UN agency. EU diplomacy also claimed that, in addition to authorizing the return of the OHCHR, Managua provides the necessary support to the Special Follow-up Mechanism of Nicaragua (MESENI) and the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI).

Brussels also demanded that Managua "guarantee that the perpetrators of human rights abuses" be held accountable for their actions and also demanded the "disarmament and dissolution" of armed groups in the country.

According to official figures from the Government of Nicaragua, the current crisis in the country has already claimed 199 deaths and has caused more than 1,000 million dollars in damages. Local and foreign humanitarian organizations raise the death toll to 512 and account for more than 300 "political prisoners".