In a stark warning, United Nations experts have exposed how the Nicaraguan government has systematically dismantled all checks to its authority, weaving a fabric of authoritarian rule through egregious human rights violations. Under the governance of President Daniel Ortega and First Lady Rosario Murillo, dissent has been crushed, particularly since the violent suppression of protests in 2018, driving countless citizens into exile. The experts observed that the government has morphed into a singular entity of oppression, intertwining with the ruling Sandinista party, which effectively operates as a ‘repression machine.’
Jan Simon, chair of the UN Group of Experts, emphasised the extensive nature of surveillance conducted by Ortega and Murillo, who function as a “tightknit duo overseeing an intelligence apparatus that targets dissenters. They cast a wide net of oppression, cementing their hold over the populace with strategic governmental and political moves. Their latest constitutional reforms, backed by a compliant congress, grant them sweeping powers and establish them as co-presidents, entrenching their family’s dominion further.
The recent reform, effective from February 18, expanded presidential terms and eliminated any barriers to absolute power, consolidating Ortega and Murillo’s grip on the nation’s authority. The UN experts detailed the regime’s favourite tactics, including arbitrary detentions, forcible expulsions, and the confiscation of property from political adversaries. A list of individuals implicated in these acts has been compiled, anticipating international scrutiny and sanctions.
The panel urged immediate action from the international community to broaden targeted sanctions against those engaged in oppression and bolster protections for those who have fled the oppressive regime. As the situation intensifies, the plight of Nicaraguans remains critical amid an unyielding atmosphere of fear, repression, and relentless state control.
United Nations experts have reported that the Nicaraguan government has dismantled checks on its power, leading to severe human rights violations under President Ortega and co-president Murillo. Their reports indicate a total transformation into an authoritarian regime post-2018 protests, marked by arbitrary detentions and constitutional reforms that consolidate their power. The experts call for international action against the regime and protection for exiled citizens.
The UN experts highlight the alarming transformation of Nicaragua into a thoroughly authoritarian state under Ortega and Murillo, marked by severe human rights abuses and the dismantling of democratic institutions. With new constitutional changes cementing their rule, urgent international intervention is necessary to protect exiled Nicaraguans and address the repression gripping the nation.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
