RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Mexico and Argentina, on Monday, June 21, recalled their ambassadors to Nicaragua for consultations, due to “the worrying political-legal actions” of the Government of Daniel Ortega, although without condemning his actions.
In a joint statement, the governments revealed that they instructed the ambassador of Mexico, Gustavo Alonso Cabrera, and the ambassador of Argentina, Mateo Daniel Capitanich, to move to their respective capitals to consult on the actions of the Nicaraguan government in recent days.
“They have put at risk the integrity and freedom of various opposition figures (including presidential pre-candidates), activists, and Nicaraguan businessmen,” the bulletin said.
Nicaragua added this Monday the fifth arrest of an opposition presidential aspirant with the detention of journalist businessman Miguel Mora, less than five months before the general elections in which President Ortega is seeking reelection.
The presidential pre-candidates have been detained amid a wave of arrests against opposition leaders, including two former deputy foreign ministers, two historic former dissident Sandinista guerrillas, a former business leader, a banker, four activists, and two former NGO workers.
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Mexico and Argentina have expressed “their concern”, but refused to support a resolution approved on June 15 by 26 countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) to condemn the persecution of opponents, using the argument of “non-intervention in internal affairs”.
In Monday’s pronouncement, both leftist governments pledged that they “will remain attentive to the evolution of events related to the sister Republic of Nicaragua.”
“And they will continue to unequivocally promote the full respect and promotion of human rights, civil, political and expression freedoms of all people, regardless of their nationality and/or profession,” they maintained.
In the November 7 elections, Ortega will gamble 42 years of almost absolute primacy over Nicaraguan politics. If he wins his third consecutive reelection, the Sandinista would guarantee his fourth five-year term and second with his wife, Rosario Murillo, as vice-president.
Despite international criticism, Mexico and Argentina reiterated “their full willingness to collaborate constructively in promoting dialogue.” “Let the Nicaraguans themselves be the ones to overcome this situation by peaceful means,” they asked.