Political Unrest in Nicaragua

Although Belize was among the nations who abstained during a vote at the Organization of American States on the situation in Nicaragua, today Belize’s Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay told News Five that he and Prime Minister Briceño had “a bilateral with Nicaragua in which we expressed our concerns directly.” The resolution by the O.A.S. condemns the Ortega regime in Nicaragua.  In a statement issued by Bradley Freden, Interim Permanent Representative of the United States to the O.A.S., he says, “it is indeed unfortunate that we find ourselves here today, once again, to discuss the situation of Nicaragua, this despite years of good-faith offers by the O.A.S. and its member states to help Nicaragua ensure that its electoral framework would allow the Nicaraguan people to choose their leaders through free and fair elections.”  A joint statement from the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Spain expresses deep concern over the recent actions taken by the government of Nicaragua. Reuters News Agency reported today that police in Nicaragua are arresting political opponents of President Daniel Ortega.  They are also rounding up dissidents from his Sandinista movement in an offensive ahead of November’s presidential election.  Four of his opponents have been arrested within the past two weeks, including Cristiana Chamorro who was placed on house arrest on June second.  She had just announced her intention to challenge Ortega in the November elections.  Three others have been taken into custody, including insurgents from the Sandinista movement that ushered him into power in the late seventies.