The opposition says that a negotiated solution to the crisis in Nicaragua is moving away every day
The opposition Civic Alliance warned on Thursday that the possibility of a negotiated solution to the crisis that Nicaragua is going through a year ago "is getting further and further away due to the lack of interest of the Government" by Daniel Ortega.
The chief negotiator of the Alliance, academic Carlos Tünnermann, denounced in a press conference the "repeated lack of compliance of the Government in advancing the agreements" reached in the negotiation, regarding the restoration of rights and citizen guarantees, and the definitive release of the prisoners considered "political" by the opposition.
He recalled that on April 3 the deadline set in the negotiations was reached without finding consensus on the issues of truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition, and those related to the strengthening of democracy and electoral reforms.
"We reiterate that these two points, which include the creation of a credible Truth Commission and the foundation of transitional justice, as well as early elections, are indispensable to overcome the country's socio-political crisis," Tünnermann said.
The delegates of the Executive requested a time to reflect on both subjects, while advancing in the protocols of the two agreed points.
For the Alliance, what should have been a period of reflection for the Government "has become a lost opportunity to show the Nicaraguan people and the international community a minimum commitment to the negotiation process, in these crucial moments facing the homeland".
"When the government demonstrates its willingness to implement the fulfillment of the agreements already signed, the Civic Alliance will be ready to continue the negotiation process," the academician announced.
Tünnermann, who was ambassador to the United States during the first Sandinista government (1979-1990), indicated that the Alliance negotiating team, with the support of witnesses and companions, has focused its work on monitoring and compliance with the agreements reached. till the date.
In this regard, he noted that despite having the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since March 29, the Government has not released "a single political prisoner under the liberation agreement."
"The ICRC has worked extensively on the conciliation of lists, and the Civic Alliance team in the purification of the same, there are already a significant number of prisoners who were on both lists that could be released as soon as possible," he said.
The negotiating table between the Government and the Civic Alliance invited the ICRC two weeks ago to support the definitive liberation of anti-government protesters within a period of no more than 90 days, starting on March 20.
On the other hand, Tünnermann noted that the agreement to strengthen citizen rights and guarantees was violated by the Government with the excessive use of police force less than 24 hours after signing it.
In addition, that the Executive has not shown interest in inviting any agency as an international guarantor of the agreements, despite being planned and agreed on the roadmap.
"It is not enough that the Government says every day through deceptive statements that will be met or presented to the negotiating table, but must do so through concrete actions," he said.
In addition, the Civic Alliance called on the Government to present on 22 April at the negotiating table its proposal for electoral reforms "to return to the Nicaraguan people their right to freely elect the authorities through early, fair and transparent elections".
Nicaragua is going through a serious crisis that has left 325 dead since April 2018, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), although some groups raise to 568 the fatalities, while the Executive only recognizes 199 and denounces an attempt of coup.
