The United States is going to impose visa restrictions on approximately 100 Nicaraguan municipal officials for their role in alleged attacks on human rights.
In an official statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken came up with the announcement on Friday.
This move is part of a broader effort by Washington to address the ongoing human rights concerns in Nicaragua, particularly within President Daniel Ortega's administration.
Previous sanctions had already been imposed on key figures in the Ortega government, including Vice President Rosario Murillo, three of her children, as well as high-ranking government officials, police, and military leaders.
Numerous human rights organizations have voiced their concerns, accusing Ortega of suppressing opposition politicians, silencing independent media outlets, targeting business leaders, and even clashing with the Catholic Church in recent years.
Blinken revealed that the U.S. State Department is taking action to implement visa restrictions on approximately 100 municipal officials from Nicaragua, further escalating the measures already taken. To date, the total number of such restrictions has exceeded 1,000.
Highlighting the alarming developments, Blinken pointed out that President Ortega and Vice President Murillo have forcibly closed and taken control of Central American University and the Central American Institute of Business Administration. These institutions were renowned centers of higher learning in Nicaragua, and their seizure was carried out under what he described as arbitrary and unfounded justifications. He emphasized that the Ortega government's targeting of independent academic institutions has disrupted the aspirations of Nicaraguans who seek to build a brighter future within their own homeland.
The context surrounding these actions is equally troubling. In March, a team of human rights experts appointed by the United Nations made a damning assessment, declaring that Nicaragua's government had committed grave and systematic violations that amount to crimes against humanity. This three-person team documented acts of torture, extrajudicial executions, and arbitrary detentions dating back to 2018, and it specifically implicated both President Ortega and Vice President Murillo in these violations.
Daniel Ortega's political journey began with his leadership in the left-wing Sandinista guerrilla movement, which successfully overthrew the Somoza dictatorship during a revolution in the 1970s. Although he held intermittent positions of power over the years, Ortega returned to the presidency in 2007 and has maintained a firm grip on power since then. These recent actions and the international response reflect the ongoing challenges facing Nicaragua and its leadership.
BDST: 1217 HRS, SEP 30, 2023
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