Ortega and Murillo accused of crimes against humanity by UN panel
The expert group found that 452 political opponents were stripped of citizenship, leaving them stateless, as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
By Yuki Melnyk ·
A United Nations expert panel concluded on Wednesday that Nicaragua's co-presidents have established a dictatorship and committed crimes against humanity.
The group, which has investigated human rights abuses in the country since April 2018, documented a systematic campaign to eliminate opposition. Jan-Michael Simon, the panel chair, stated that the regime aims for permanent dynastic rule. He noted that Daniel Ortega declared four months ago that Nicaragua would never hold elections again.
The investigation highlights the legal status of at least 452 Nicaraguans who have been declared traitors and stripped of their citizenship since February 2023. These individuals, who are now stateless, include former Sandinista leaders, a former vice president, and every presidential candidate from the 2021 election. Reed Brody, a panel member, explained that the ruling Sandinista Party maintains total control over the police, courts, and prisons.
Brody pointed out that the constitution adopted last year removed the independence of the legislature and judiciary, placing them under the direct control of the co-presidents. He observed that no opposition parties, independent press, or critical nongovernmental organizations remain inside the country. The panel also identified a transnational surveillance network that monitors and intimidates hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguan exiles.
Since the mass protests of 2018, which resulted in a crackdown that killed hundreds of people, the government has imprisoned or exiled adversaries, journalists, and religious leaders. The state has closed more than 5,000 organizations, most of which were religious, and forced thousands of citizens to flee. The 2021 election, which Ortega claimed as a victory, was widely viewed as illegitimate because the government jailed candidates who could have challenged him. The United States does not recognize Ortega's presidency.
Nicaragua's government rejected the findings, describing the Human Rights Council as manipulated and obsolete. Officials accused neo-colonialist powers of using human rights for political aggression. The government frequently claims that critics are working for the United States to undermine its power. The expert panel urged other nations to bring a case against Nicaragua to the International Court of Justice for violating the convention on statelessness, although Nicaragua is not a party to the International Criminal Court.
Source: Boston Herald
