“It is It is the result of months of public and private pressure from the United States for Ortega-Murillo to release the people unjustly detained.“, said Eric Jacobstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, in a call with the media.
In fact, he said, “The Nicaraguan regime got nothing” in exchange for the release of the 135 prisoners who were transferred to Guatemala, but it was “a unilateral action” by the Nicaraguan government.
Thus, what happened does not imply a change in the United States’ policy towards Nicaragua, which they continue to view as a country governed by a “repressive regime.”
“Ortega and Murillo continue to repress democracy, disrespect the human rights of Nicaraguans, and deepen Nicaragua’s collaboration with authoritarian governments like Russia and China, so we will continue to promote accountability,” Jacobstein said.
Among the 135 people released are 13 members of the Texas-based NGO Mountain Gateway, as well as lay Catholics, students and others whom the Biden administration, Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo say “consider a threat to their authoritarian government.”
Jacobstein confirmed that the United States facilitated the transport of the prisoners to Guatemala and thanked its president, Bernardo Arévalo de León, for having received them.
“Guatemala was an obvious partner for this, given its leadership in the region, given President Arévalo’s leadership on all issues, including human rights in the region,” he added.
Regarding the prisoners’ health, the undersecretary – who was present at the release operation – recalled that they are people “who have been victims of torture and who have gone through extremely difficult times” but who, in general, are “in very good health and in good spirits.”
“They got off the plane saying: God bless the United States, God bless Guatemala. Very grateful and in good spirits. Obviously, they are now receiving health and psychosocial support. They also received health support on the plane, but in general, we consider that they were in good condition,” he said.
Once in Guatemala, former prisoners will have the option of staying in that country, seeking legal means to reach the United States through the Refugee Admissions Program, or beginning the process to go to other countries.
In February 2023, the Nicaraguan government released 222 political prisoners and expelled them from the country. On that occasion, after their release, they were transferred to Managua International Airport to board a plane bound for Washington.
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#Nicaragua #exchange #release #political #prisoners
Table of Contents
US Secures Release of 135 Nicaraguan Political Prisoners
In a significant development, the United States has successfully secured the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners, who have been transferred to Guatemala. This move comes after months of public and private pressure from the United States on the Nicaraguan government to release the unjustly detained individuals.
According to Eric Jacobstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Nicaraguan regime did not receive anything in exchange for the release of the prisoners, and it was a “unilateral action” by the Nicaraguan government [[1]].
The released prisoners include 13 members of the Texas-based NGO Mountain Gateway, lay Catholics, students, and others who were considered a threat to the authoritarian government of Nicaragua [[2]]. The US facilitated the transport of the prisoners to Guatemala and thanked President Bernardo Arévalo de León for receiving them.
The prisoners, who have been victims of torture and have gone through extremely difficult times, are in good health and spirits. Upon arriving in Guatemala, they expressed gratitude to the United States and Guatemala, saying “God bless the United States, God bless Guatemala” [[3]].
The former prisoners will have the option of staying in Guatemala, seeking legal means to reach the United States through the Refugee Admissions Program, or beginning the process to go to other countries. This move is seen as a significant step towards promoting accountability and democracy in Nicaragua, which has been governed by a repressive regime.
The US has been critical of Nicaragua’s human rights record and has continued to promote accountability in the country. As Jacobstein stated, “Ortega and Murillo continue to repress democracy, disrespect the human rights of Nicaraguans, and deepen Nicaragua’s collaboration with authoritarian governments like Russia and China, so we will continue to promote accountability” [[1]].
This is not the first time that Nicaragua has released political prisoners. In February 2023, the Nicaraguan government released 222 political prisoners and expelled them from the country. However, this recent move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Nicaragua.
the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners is a significant achievement and a testament to the ongoing efforts of the United States to promote democracy and human rights in the region. The move is seen as a positive step towards promoting accountability in Nicaragua and is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to support democracy and human rights in the country.
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What motivated the United States to secure the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners?
US Secures Release of 135 Nicaraguan Political Prisoners
In a significant development, the United States has successfully secured the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners, who have been transferred to Guatemala. This move comes after months of public and private pressure from the United States on the Nicaraguan government to release the unjustly detained individuals.
According to Eric Jacobstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Nicaraguan regime did not receive anything in exchange for the release of the prisoners, and it was a “unilateral action” by the Nicaraguan government [[1]]. The released prisoners include 13 members of the Texas-based NGO Mountain Gateway, lay Catholics, students, and others who were considered a threat to the authoritarian government of Nicaragua [[2]]. The US facilitated the transport of the prisoners to Guatemala and thanked President Bernardo Arévalo de León for receiving them.
The prisoners, who have
