Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Washington: Amidst strong criticism from the United States, Nicaragua’s withdrawal from the Organization of American States (OAS) Charter took effect today.
The United States said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo’s decision to “further isolate” Nicaragua from the international community “demonstrates their desperation to avoid any effort by the OAS or like-minded partners to hold them accountable for egregious human rights abuses”.
The US claims that their abuses include unjustly detaining, convicting, and mistreating political prisoners – including Bishop Rolando Alvarez; attacking independent journalists; and forcing hundreds of civil society organizations and educational institutions to close or hand over operations to the state.
“Nicaragua’s actions are an affront to the Western Hemisphere’s commitment to democracy. Despite Ortega and Murillo’s denunciation of the OAS Charter, Nicaragua remains bound by its human rights and governance obligations under remaining treaties and instruments, including the American Convention on Human Rights,” a US State Department spokesperson said.
The US said it was working with its partners in the OAS, to continue to review all available and appropriate tools to hold Ortega, Murillo, and their “surrogates” accountable for their actions.
“We renew our call for the Nicaraguan authorities to uphold their obligations and fulfill the recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights,” the State Department said.
The OAS serves as the preeminent multilateral organization in the Western Hemisphere and has a long history of supporting the democratic advancement of all nations in the Americas.
“The United States reiterates our support for the people of Nicaragua and their pursuit of fundamental freedoms, human rights, and democracy,” The US State Department spokesperson said.
– global bihari bureau
