Sandinism captures and "hits hard" four other opposition candidates in a week

First it was Cristiana Chamorro and days later, Arturo Cruz. Today it was the turn of Félix Maradiaga, the third opposition candidate arrested in a week and one of the favorites among the young people who took to the streets against Sandinismo in April 2018.

The standard-bearer of the Blue and White National Unity (colors of the Nicaraguan flag) went to testify to the Prosecutor's Office. Once the process was completed, the police were waiting for him on the street, who arrested him accused of “carrying out acts that undermine independence, sovereignty and self-determination, inciting foreign interference in internal affairs, requesting military intervention, organizing with financing of foreign powers to carry out acts of terrorism and destabilization, propose and manage economic, commercial and financial blockades against the country, demand, praise and applaud the imposition of sanctions”.

Despite such accusations, Maradiaga is not a Central American Bin Laden or anything like it.. Creator of the Civil Society Leadership Institute, this academic and former minister is considered by the presidential couple of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo as one of the great managers of the popular uprising of 2018. A commitment to his country that has cost him constant persecution, assassination attempts and beatings.

“This is one more attempt by the regime to silence an opposition leader,” protested the campaign team of 'Félix, the route of change'. One of Maradiaga's lawyers, who was also detained for a time, denounced after being released that his client was “severely beaten”. The Police also used extreme violence to raid the house of the detainee, an intervention carried out in the middle of the afternoon.

The list does not end with Maradiaga, since for this Wednesday the Prosecutor's Office had summoned another applicant, Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Cristiana's cousin. “My strongest protest at the detention of Felix, which is illegal and arbitrary. Those responsible for these abuses will be sentenced in a Nicaragua of justice,” declared Chamorro, also threatened.

The Police went ahead of the Prosecutor's Office and arrested Juan Sebastián Chamorro tonight in Managua, the fourth candidate imprisoned or kidnapped in the last week. The Sandinistas have not even waited to comply with the protocol.

“The dictatorship is exceeding all repressive levels. At this time, taking advantage of the darkness, he has raided the house of presidential candidate Juan Sebastián Chamorro, who has also been arrested.. We condemn these events that clearly demonstrate the serious human rights crisis in Nicaragua,” denounced the Blue and White National Unity.

The manhunt later continued against two other opposition leaders.. According to a statement made public by the Police, the candidate for deputy Violeta Granera remains in police custody at her home and the business leader José Aguerri was transferred to the feared El Chipote prison, where the candidate Arturo Cruz has been since the weekend. .

Both the business leader and the opposition activist were detained on charges of “inciting foreign interference in internal affairs” and “requesting military intervention” against the government headed by Sandinista Daniel Ortega, the National Police said in a statement.. The same crimes of which Chamorro and Maradiaga are accused.

All this occurs when Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of former president Violeta Barrios, has been kidnapped by Sandinista forces for a week in her own home.. Incommunicado and confined to her room.

Arturo Cruz's residence was also raided by Sandinista agents and his detention extended for three months.. The accusations suffered by this 68-year-old historian, similar to those of Maradiaga, are part of the so-called “Guillotine Law”, one of the government tools to impose a new electoral farce in the November presidential elections, along with new electoral regulations, the disqualification of candidates or the imposition of a Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) at the service of Ortega.