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Nicaragua releases more prisoners after opposition demand
MANAGUA, March 16, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Nicaragua on Friday released 50
prisoners held for taking part in anti-government protests, authorities said,
giving a fresh impetus to peace talks on ending the country’s long running
political crisis.
More than 700 people were detained during a deadly crackdown on rallies
that began last April and quickly grew into broad opposition to President
Daniel Ortega iron-fisted rule.
The crackdown left at least 325 people dead between April and October,
while thousands of Nicaraguans fled the unrest.
The interior ministry said in a statement that the prisoners had been
released on house arrest. A list of those released did not contain any key
opposition figures.
The detainees were driven away from La Modelo maximum security prison,
near Managua, out of the sight of waiting relatives.
The opposition alliance, which is demanding Ortega hold early elections,
had made a return to stalled peace talks with Ortega’s leftist government on
the condition that prisoners were released.
The government returned to negotiations after several months, facing
increasing international pressure and an economic crisis.
Around 100 prisoners were been freed on February 27 at the start of the
fresh talks.
But the negotiations were suspended for several days over opposition
demands for further releases. They resumed on Thursday after the government
offered fresh assurances.
Opposition delegate Azahalea Solis branded the releases “insufficient,”
and refused to attend talks until all political prisoners were free.
– ‘Disappointed’ –
Outside the prison, the family of detainee Wilfredo Brenes — a lawyer by
profession — were among those left disappointed after traveling north to the
capital from Masaya.
“We were all hopeful that my brother was going to be released,” said his
sister, Maria. “I am disappointed to see how this government makes fun of the
population. It is annoying to see that we are powerless, watching our rights
continue to be trampled.”
Elsewhere, the Inter-American Human Right Commission hailed the releases –
– but called upon the government to “clarify the status” of those released
and “free all political prisoners.”
Meanwhile, opposition members called for protests in the capital Managua
on Saturday to reiterate that demand — but the police announced they would
not authorize such a demonstration.
The opposition accuses Ortega, a 73-year-old former Sandinista rebel
leader, of running a corrupt, cruel and incompetent leftist dictatorship in
the poor Central American country.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1411 hrs