Nicaragua opposition sets forth its agenda in negotiations with gov’t

The opposition Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy on Tuesday set forth its agenda in its negotiations with the Nicaraguan government to overcome the local crisis, noting that - besides expected court proceedings and elections - it desires the presence of international actors and guarantees that any agreements reached with the Daniel Ortega regime will be fulfilled.

In a communique read by constitutional expert and Alliance member Azahalea Solis, the opposition movement explained the five points of its agenda whereby it seeks to establish democracy in Nicaragua and obtain justice for the victims of violence.

The first point deals with the release of “political prisoners” and guaranteeing public freedoms and rights established in the Nicaraguan Constitution, as well as annulling the trials against imprisoned anti-government demonstrators.

The second point concerns the return of democracy via the establishment of a trustworthy electoral system that includes the recommendations and observations for future elections that will be “free, fair, transparent and observed” by international monitors.

In its third point, the Alliance seeks justice via a process of finding the truth, trials, reparations and guarantees that human rights violations will not be repeated, that peace, security and human rights will be consolidated and that impunity will not prevail for rights violators.

The fourth point concerns the implementation of mechanisms so that the agreements can be implemented within the shortest possible time.

The fifth and last point seeks to ensure that the Ortega regime fulfills its promise to implement the 18 recommendations issued in mid-2018 by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to overcome the crisis, among which were an end to repression and bringing those responsible for violent acts to trial.

The details of the agenda were presented publicly so that Nicaraguans may know what the government is accepting and rejecting as the talks proceed, the Alliance said.

Solis said that the agenda was prepared by consulting with assorted sectors of Nicaraguan society and that it is not definitive.

On March 11, the government presented an agenda in which is said it was open to discussing issues such as releasing imprisoned demonstrators, electoral reforms, justice and reparations and methods to ensure implementation of the agreements.

The Civil Alliance has accused the government on numerous occasions of hindering the discussion on agenda issues, which so far - after 12 sessions of talks - have not been agreed to.

The negotiations are being witnesses and monitored by the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua, Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, and by the Organization of American States delegate to Nicaragua, Luis Angel Rosadilla.

Nicaragua is going through a serious crisis that has left at least 325 people dead over the past 11 months, according to the IACHR, although some local humanitarian groups say that 561 people have died.

The Ortega administration puts the death toll at 199 and has complained that the opposition is trying to mount a coup d’etat.

At least 762 people are in jail in Nicaragua after participating in anti-government protests, according to the Pro Liberation of Prisoners and Political Prisoners Committee.

The IACHR says that the Ortega government has committed crimes “against humanity.”