Nicaragua: Relatives of Detained Oppositionists Call for Unity Process

This is how Ortega took office for his fifth presidency in Nicaragua 3:20

(CNN Spanish) --

In Nicaragua, relatives of detained opponents urged this Tuesday to form a citizen unification process with the country's authorities and the Catholic Church, aimed at achieving the freedom of their relatives.

"We appeal to the rulers and the forces of the nation, as well as to our Church, to lead and support a process of citizen unification, willing to build bridges, to listen to us, in order to begin to disarm the mutual mistrust that for centuries has divided," says the statement read at a virtual press conference by Martha Lucía Urcuyo, wife of Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Barrios, former Minister of Tourism and brother of former opposition presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro.

"We make our call to this constructive task out of deep love for our prisoners, but let there be no doubt that we are also moved by a serious commitment to the Homeland, for which we wish more hope and less anguish in all its spheres: spiritual, economic , civic, social and political," the statement said.

• Relatives of opponents detained in Nicaragua express concern about physical deterioration

CNN has contacted the Nicaraguan government and the Catholic Church to find out their position, but so far they have not responded.

Meanwhile, Monsignor Carlos Avilés, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Managua, said that a priest cannot take this invitation personally and that the relatives of the detainees must send a formal communication to the Episcopal Conference or to Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop from Managua.

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They reiterate the deterioration of incarcerated older adults

Separately, the relatives of more than 40 opponents detained between May and November 2021 who remain in the Judicial Assistance Directorate, denounced this Monday through a statement that the physical and psychological deterioration of their relatives has worsened, they say, for prison conditions and recurring interrogations to which they are subjected.

In the statement, which was published on social networks after visiting them between January 21 and 23, they denounce that this is due "to an unbalanced diet, the lack of regular access to sunlight and, above all, isolation and incommunicado".

In addition, they add that the "cells remain guarded by police officers, who through threats prevent them from communicating."

The document expresses special concern about the critical health situation of at least four older adults with serious ailments: the jurist José Pallais;

former diplomat Mauricio Díaz;

the activist Violeta Granera and the former priest and former ambassador to the OAS Edgar Parrales, who according to the statement lacks a large intestine and needs adequate food and medication.

• OAS Permanent Council reiterates call to release opponents in Nicaragua, promote electoral reform and hold new elections

"Medications continue to be provided without having specialized medical attention. In most cases, external medical or specialist follow-up has not been admitted, not even in the case of pre-existing health conditions. They have already developed other conditions and their lives are in permanent risk", say the relatives of the detainees.

Trials remain stalled.

According to the complainants, the judges allege workload or superior orders and the lack of legal protection for the detainees persists since, according to them, they have not been allowed to talk with their lawyers.

The complainants also state that former Foreign Minister Víctor Hugo Tinoco, sociologist Irwin Larios and former guerrilla fighter and former Minister of Health Dora María Téllez were deprived of their pension by the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute, a situation that, they say, imposes "greater weight their families, who in some cases are having to deal with high-cost medical treatments".

CNN tried to obtain, through the Communication and Citizenship Council, a reaction from the National Police, the Judiciary, and the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute to these accusations, but is still waiting for a response.

President Daniel Ortega does not recognize the existence of political prisoners.

It affirms that the more than 40 opposition leaders detained between May and November, including seven former presidential candidates accused of acts against sovereignty -of which they declare themselves innocent-, are part of a network that channeled funds to carry out destabilization actions in the country.

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