Nicaragua: arrest of officials of the opposition Unamos party

Nicaragua, the presidential couple in September 2020: Rosario Murillo, the vice president and wife of Daniel Ortega (D), in Managua.

Cesar PEREZ Nicaraguan Presidency / AFP / Archivos

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Nicaraguan police on Sunday (June 13th) arrested four known leaders of the Sandinista dissent, all members of the center-left opposition party Unamos (ex-MRS).

In the run-up to the general elections next November, the arrests or brought to heel of opposition leaders are increasing in Nicaragua.

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Among those arrested in Nicaragua on Sunday, June 13, are several well-known figures of the Sandinista movement at the origin of the 1979 revolution, who have become figures of dissent.

Dora Maria Tellez and Ana Margarita Vigil Guardian, both leaders of the Union for Democratic Renewal (Unamos), an opposition party, were taken into custody today, police said in a statement.

Hours later, police announced the arrest of Unamos president Suyen Barahona Cuan and party vice president, retired Sandinista dissident general Hugo Torres.

Dora Maria Tellez, figure of the Sandinista movement

Dora Maria Tellez, 65-year-old historian, was commander of one of the Sandinista guerrilla fronts fighting against the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza in the 1970s. She was also Minister of Health in the first Sandinista governments before distancing himself from Daniel Ortega, leader of the FSLN, the Sandinista Front, and current President of Nicaragua.

In 1995, she participated in the creation of the MRS, the Sandinista Renovation Movement, which later gave birth to Unamos.

(2012 archive) Dora María Téllez, one of the leaders of the opposition Unamos party, was arrested on Sunday June 13 in Nicaraga.

Hector RETAMAL AFP / Archivos

Dora Maria Tellez is also one of the most critical voices in Daniel Ortega's government.

In 2018 she denounced the

repression exercised by the regime

against the protest movement which first demanded the abandonment of a

pension reform and

then the departure of the Ortega couple.

Daniel Ortega and his wife - who is vice-president - have reigned over Nicaragua for 14 years and have put the country in line.

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Nicaragua, the Ortega couple face the challenge

Opponents hunted down

According to the police statement, the four detainees "are under investigation for committing acts undermining independence, sovereignty and self-determination, inciting foreign interference in internal affairs. ”, Among other crimes.

In December, Nicaragua passed a controversial law entitled "Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-Determination for Peace", which punishes people who encourage foreign intervention.

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To

read also:

 Nicaragua, passing a law to exclude opponents of future elections

A dozen opposition leaders, including four presidential candidates, have been arrested by police since early June at the request of the Ortega government.

The first was Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of former President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997), accused of money laundering through a foundation promoting press freedom and bearing her mother's name.

She has since been placed under house arrest.

To

read also

: in Nicaragua, the opponent Cristiana Chamorro in the crosshairs of the authorities

General elections are scheduled for next November and Ms. Chamorro was seen as a serious opponent for President Ortega. 

At least three other possible presidential candidates were also arrested: Felix Maradiaga, pre-presidential candidate for a civil society platform that had supported the major anti-government protests of 2018, Juan Sebastian Chamorro Garcia and

Arturo Cruz

.

To

read also:

The: "hunt for opponents" in Nicaragua?

(Press review of the Americas of June 9)

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