On Wednesday, the Organization of American States (OAS) voted in favor of a resolution that condemns Daniel Ortega’s regime and demands early elections, from 2021 to March of the 2019. With 21 votes in favor, three against, and the same number of abstentions, the Ortega regime suffered a wake-up call and a defeat that isolates it from the international community.
In the Nicaraguan capital there were even celebrations and applause in shopping centers. Vilma Núñez, president of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh) highlighted that approval, especially for having the courage to be linked to regulations or documents of the Inter-American Human Rights System.
Núñez said that the pronouncement was necessary and urgent and thanked the leadership and struggle of the Nicaraguan people, as well as other countries. However, she said that there was still a lot of content and pressure on the part of the international community.
It is a diplomatic effort of the country and the countries that make up the OAS. At first it seemed very difficult, because there were no votes. But the resolution sets a precedent,”
said Núñez.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica noted that the text reiterates the
serious concern of the OAS, for all acts of violence, repression and abuses, including those committed by the police, para-police groups, and other actors against the people of Nicaragua, as documented by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH).”
From the original resolution, proposed by Argentina, which was finally voted on, there was a significant increase. Point six of the document reiterates the will of the Permanent Council of the OAS to continue collaborating and take other measures to achieve a peaceful resolution in Nicaragua.
According to the President of Cenidh, during the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship, there was a similar struggle and positioning in the OAS, which finally helped the departure of Anastasio Somoza.
The OAS listed specific acts of violence and repression by the Ortega regime, such as the attack on Catholic priests; the harassment of bishops participating in the National Dialogue; acts of violence at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN), the headquarters of Caritas and other protesters.
The Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Epsy Campbell, welcomed the resolution and said that this country should keep raising its voice, while the Nicaraguan chancellor in the OAS, Denis Moncada Colindres, described the resolution as a biased order of the United States to break the constitutional order.