Nicaraguan police investigate ex-foreign minister, alleging “treason”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Nicaraguan National Police announced on July 28 that it had launched an investigation into former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Francisco Xavier Aguirre Sacasa for alleged “treason,” less than four months before the elections in which the country’s president Daniel Ortega will seek a new reelection.

In a statement, the Police force indicated that it is investigating Aguirre Sacasa, a former Nicaraguan ambassador to the United States during the administration of Arnoldo Alemán (1997-2002), “for committing deeds which undermine independence, sovereignty and self-determination, inciting foreign interference in internal affairs,” among other crimes which “injure the nation’s supreme interests.”

Failing to clarify Aguirre Sacasa’s offense, the Police based its accusation on the Law for the Defense of the People’s Rights to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-Determination for Peace, urgently passed last December by the Sandinista-majority National Assembly.

This controversial law promoted by the government classifies “traitors to the homeland” and disqualifies them from holding public office.

“The National Police is conducting all relevant investigative proceedings and will forward them to the relevant authorities for prosecution and determination of criminal liability,” it added.

The former Nicaraguan foreign minister, who served in the World Bank, is also being prosecuted for the alleged theft of two antique bronze bells from a parish church in the colonial city of Granada (Pacific), which he allegedly bought from suspects.

OPPOSITION LEADERS TARGETED

In the framework of the electoral process, Nicaraguan authorities have arrested opposition presidential hopefuls Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Félix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Miguel Mora, Medardo Mairena and Noel Vidaurre under investigation for alleged treason.

Two former vice-chancellors, two historic dissident Sandinista ex-guerrillas, an entrepreneur, a banker, a former first lady, 6 opposition leaders, 2 student leaders, 2 peasant leaders, a journalist, a commentator, 2 former NGO workers and Cristiana Chamorro’s driver have also been arrested.

María Asunción Moreno, a law professor and constitutional attorney, whom the opposition Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy proposed as presidential pre-candidate, although she was not accepted, on Sunday announced that she decided to leave the country after the police raided her house “due to the harassment, persecution and threat” of “imprisonment by the Ortega Murillo dictatorship.”

Meanwhile, former Contra leader Luis Fley, one of the 11 opposition presidential hopefuls, left Nicaragua and announced last week, from exile, that for security reasons he decided to withdraw his candidacy.

Investigations and arrests of opposition leaders are taking place in the run-up to next November 7 elections in which Ortega, a former Sandinista guerrilla who returned to power in 2007 and who since 2017 governs alongside his wife Vice President Rosario Murillo, will seek to extend his mandate for another 5 years.

The president, about to turn 76 years old and coordinator of a Government Junta from 1979 to 1984 and president of the country for the first time between 1985 and 1990, has accused opposition leaders of trying to overthrow him with the support of the United States branding them as “criminals.”