Observers say President Daniel Ortega is attacking opposition leaders and others ahead of the November election.
Police in Nicaragua have arrested a bank teller seizing the opposition political leaders and aspiring candidates to run against President Daniel Ortega are pushing ahead of elections scheduled for this year.
Luis Rivas Anduray, the new president of Banco de la Produccion (Banpro) – the country’s largest – was arrested Tuesday for trying to “disrupt foreign powers,” police said.
Police say Rivas is being investigated “by monitoring and enforcing economic, trade and economic sanctions” and that it would support sanctions in Nicaragua.
Banpro said in his statement that he follows Nicaraguan laws and is “confident” that “what Rivas” explains “.
He is the last of more than a dozen opposition leaders and others arrested this month, after the administration took office attacked the house of President Cristiana Chamorro’s hopes, journalist and daughter of former President Violeta Chamorro, on false charges.
Chamorro, who later imprisonment, denied the charge.
Observers have condemned the arrests – at least 14 people, including opposition leaders, who have been detained so far – in Ortega’s attempt to open the door for re-election in November.
On Tuesday, the Organization of American States (OAS) issued a statement condemning “the recent political unrest and human rights abuses in Nicaragua”.
It accused the government of “abusing the law and actions to intimidate and intimidate protesters and journalists and to refrain from participating in politics” – and called on Managua to put in place “mechanisms to promote transparent, free and fair elections”.
But the Nicaraguan government has defended its recent actions, condemning “US-paid” hijackers for plotting to overthrow Ortega.
Five other opponents were Arrested Sunday, including four of Unamos’ opposition parties, formerly known as the Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS), formed by a majority of opponents of the Ortega Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).
THOUGHTS | “The situation in #Nicaragua”
(Approved by #OAS Permanent Council at a special meeting held on June 15, 2021) https://t.co/gzcc7toqbq pic.twitter.com/JV34S3kIpW
– OAS (@OAS_official) June 15, 2021
The government has criticized party leaders for “promoting intervention” by the US and said it had received “millions of dollars in funding from the American people and even USAID”, a US aid agency.
Unamos denied the arrests in a statement issued Sunday, saying “it is part of the Ortega government’s crackdown on dissent”.
According to a law enacted in December, the Ortega government has the power to declare a citizen a “terrorist” or a coup d’état, and to designate them as “terrorists in their home country” and to prevent them from standing.
The law punishes those who “lead or fund rebels … to promote other interventions, to intervene in war … to formulate ideas or to fix the economy, to clap their hands and promote the establishment of Nicaragua or its citizens”.
Ortega ruled Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 and returned in 2007. He has won two successive elections since then. Now 75 years old, he is being accused by critics and NGOs of increasing violence.
He is expected to seek a fourth term, but has not yet decided to stand for re-election.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called on the Nicaraguan government to “change its approach” and allow Nicaraguans to exercise their free will to the fullest extent possible – including their right to choose their own leaders in free and fair elections “.
Blinken welcomed the OAS proposal issued a day ago, which he said “sent a clear message of support for the people of Nicaragua and their struggle for free and fair elections, respect for human rights, and accountability”.
In the US on June 9th restrictions four of Nicaraguan officials who support Ortega, including the president’s daughter, have accused them of undermining democracy and exercising their human rights.
