4 de octubre 2019
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Nicaraguans who’ve been victims of the Ortega regime’s brutalities have spoken with the High-Level Diplomatic Commission of the Organization of American States (OAS) about the violations they’ve suffered under Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo’s authoritarian regime. Among their “accomplices” are “members of the military”, according to Carlos Trujillo, US ambassador to the OAS and a member of that diplomatic delegation.
During a brief interview broadcast on the internet news program Esta Noche, the ambassador stated that Nicaraguans have pointed to those responsible for the human rights violations. “Also, something that many of us hadn’t heard before: the great complicity of the military in these violations.”
The victims had to travel to El Salvador between Tuesday and Thursday of this week to meet with the OAS Commission, because the regime had blocked the Commission’s entry into the country, under the argument that they hadn’t requested the presence of this regional organism. The commission is made up of representatives of the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Argentina and Paraguay.
The diplomats have a maximum of 75 days from last August 30 to deliver a report about their activities. Trujillo indicated that although they weren’t able to meet with government authorities, they have the “necessary information to produce the report.” He added that it would be “conclusive”.
How has the work of the Commission on Nicaragua been advancing?
Carlos Trujillo: Very conclusively in the last thirty days since we began. We’ve met with nearly a hundred individuals: many of them human rights victims; many people who have followed the topic of Nicaragua; and many people who have documented their testimony.
Why were the meetings held in El Salvador?
We were refused entry into Nicaragua a few weeks ago. We had the commitment and the mandate from the OAS ambassadors to meet with leaders of civil society, and thus we did so in El Salvador.
What is the Commission’s assessment after these meetings with the Civic Alliance, the National Blue and White Unity, and the organizations of victims and their family members?
I believe that what we’ve seen and heard in these days, is the quantity of human rights violations that still exist in Nicaragua. We’ve heard a lot about those who are responsible for the violations, and also something that many of us hadn’t heard before: the – very – complicit involvement of the military in these violations.
Have you been able to speak with representatives of the government? Is the Nicaraguan government maintaining its rejection of the commission?
They maintain their rejection and have no interest in speaking with us.
What about the agenda that you have as a high-level diplomatic commission, and that of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro – are they the same?
Yes, we’re working with the secretary general. He has his team here, brought together by his chief of staff, Gonzalo Koncke.
So you’re both maintaining the same agenda and working together?
Yes, we’re working in conjunction with each other.
What’s left on your agenda before the delivery of the report you have to present?
There are several people with whom we haven’t been able to meet. We’re trying to organize those meetings.
Do you have a tentative date for presentation of the report?
It will be before the deadline is up.
What are you seeking to lay out in that report? Do you have the elements necessary for elaborating it, even without the government as a source?
We had the hope of meeting with the government, but it wasn’t necessary. We have the necessary information to write the report.
What other actions are you called upon to realize as a part of this commission?
The most important is the conclusive report that we’re organizing.
Given your relationship with the general secretariat and with Luis Almagro as the head: Do you know if the government has attempted to communicate separately with Almagro to continue with the idea they had of effecting unilateral electoral reforms?
I don’t know, I have no information about that.
