Versión Español
On Tuesday, November 27, Donald Trump declared, through an executive order, a national emergency in regard “to dealing with this threat,” as he deemed the Nicaraguan regime, led by Daniel Ortega and his wife, and vice president, Rosario Murillo .
“The situation in Nicaragua constitutes an extraordinary and unusual threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” Trump said.
According to the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANPDH), mass protests against the regime have resulted in the murder and death by excessive force of 535 opponents by security forces loyal to the Ortega-Murillo government.
In view of this “threat to national security,” Trump authorized the Treasury Department to block the assets of those responsible or accomplices in the violation of human rights in Nicaragua.
Immediately, the Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against Murillo, as well as the national security adviser, Néstor Moncada Lau, former member of state security forces, and also Ortega’s personal secretary. It should be noted that Moncada Lau has a criminal record for multiple acts of terrorism.
That is why the actions of Washington are not merely limited to the executive branch, but the legislative branch as well.
In the Senate, both parties approved a bill to sanction the Ortega government for acts of corruption and violations of the human rights of its citizens.
This was confirmed by the former Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who originally proposed the “Nica Act” New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez sponsored in the Senate, where it was passed by unanimous approval. Both Ros-Lehtinen and Menendez are key voices in Washington when it comes to Cuban affairs.
According to the statements of Senator Menéndez, these are the key points of the bill:
Support for a negotiated solution to the crisis in Nicaragua.
Commitment to hold early elections that meet democratic standards.
The cessation of violence.
Sanctions directed against officials of the Nicaraguan government responsible for human rights violations, corruption, or undermining democratic processes.
Restrictions on loans granted by international financial institutions to the Government of Nicaragua, with the exception of ongoing financing for projects that promote democracy and the basic needs of the Nicaraguan people.
An annual exemption that would lift the requirement to impose sanctions if the State Department manages to certify that the Ortega government is taking steps to hold democratic elections, improve human rights conditions, combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law.
Increase in intelligence community reports on the role of Nicaraguan officials in corruption and human rights violations, as well as in the granting of arms to Nicaraguan security forces.
This initiative “seeks to impose additional sanctions on regime officials in Nicaragua,” said the former author of the Nica Act.
But in view of the fact that the US legislative system is bicameral, the approval of the Chamber is still lacking and then it must be sanctioned by the president to become law.
Being a measure of unanimous approval by both parties and having been proposed by both, until now there has been no greater resistance.
For now the Ortega-Murillo regime has not issued any reaction to the approval of the Nica Act.
However, through a statement, the regime responded to the statements of Trump and his executive order with accusations of “interference” on the part of the United States.
However, the Nicaraguan government is curiously silent when it comes to the human rights violations committed by Ortega. On the contrary, he proclaims that they are “an undefeated race, that we do not sell or surrender, and that we demand a free homeland, with the Flags and the Heart held high”. In addition, they affirm that “they have given their lives for a free Nicaragua.”
In this communiqué, the government refers to itself as a government “of reconciliation and national unity, faithful to its historical proposal to work for peace, security, advances in the struggle against poverty, and the full rights of [email protected] [email protected] Nicaraguans.”
That is to say, speaking of unity, he applies the “inclusive language” that the Royal Academy of the Language openly rejected, and heralds himself as a champion of reconciliation when on the street he has murdered more than five hundred opponents.
