Nicaraguan crisis talks ‘at a
standstill’
 |
| A man hold a Nicaraguan flag |
The spokesman for Nicaragua’s Bishops Conference says crisis
talks with the government of Daniel Ortega have stalled, ahead of a deadline to
release political prisoners.
By Devin Watkins
Bishop Mata Guevara, of Diocese of Esteli, has told the
Fides news agency that the government of President Daniel Ortega has
demonstrated no desire to resolve Nicaragua’s year-old crisis.
“We have said it several times: this regime does not have
the political will to reach an agreement for the good of the country,” the
Bishop says.
Political prisoners
The Catholic Church is helping to mediate talks between the
opposition and Ortega’s government, and has repeatedly called for the release
of political prisoners.
President Ortega promised the National Dialogue, as the
talks are known, to free them within 90 days. The deadline expires on June 18th.
Opposition leaders claim more than 640 people are being held
for political motives. Most were arrested during anti-government protests.
Unrest has wracked Nicaragua since demonstrations broke out
against the government in April 2018. Some 325 people have died and more than
50,000 have fled the country.
Talks at standstill
Despite the situation, Bishop Guevara says the government
has “no intention of seeking a peaceful solution to the socio-political
crisis”.
President Ortega, the Bishop notes, “is the only one
responsible for the crisis in the country”.
Bishop Guevara also claims Ortega is gumming up the work of
the National Dialogue.
“He is responsible for all the strikes in the country, for
the violation of freedom of expression, for not allowing changes for the good
of the citizenry, and for international sanctions,” the Bishop says.
Vice President Rosario Murillo has denied the claims of
obstructing crisis talks, saying the government is doing its part at the
negotiating table.
Meanwhile, the Ortega regime has reportedly removed its
delegates from the talks for the past two weeks, and has cancelled an agreement
that would have sped up the release of political prisoners.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét