The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved this afternoon, Friday, with 25 votes in favor, 7 abstentions, 1 against (Nicaragua) and 1 absent, a resolution “Situation in Nicaragua” Last Sunday, November 7, it declared the general election illegal and sent an immediate assessment of the situation.
“Under the obvious circumstances, declaring the elections in Nicaragua on November 7 to be free, fair or transparent, and not democratically legitimate,” points to point 2 of the draft resolution that LA PRENSA approached and approved. This afternoon.
Five point of the document The Permanent Council is instructed to conduct an immediate joint assessment of the situation, complete it by November 30, and take appropriate action, in accordance with the Charter of the Organization of American States and the Democratic Charter of the United States..
The General Assembly is the highest authority in the 34-member hemisphere.
Prior to the vote, Nicaragua’s alternate representative to the OAS, Michael Campbell, categorically rejected the draft resolution and backed the voting process last Sunday. Citing the re-election of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, he said, “We are full of encouragement, joy and hope.”
“The OAS is not our supreme election council,” said Campbell, a critic of the organization for the proposed resolution.
The situation in Nicaragua was added to the agenda of the Fifty-first Ordinary Sessions of the General Assembly of that organization. It started on Wednesday 10th and ended this Friday 12th November in Guatemala. The inclusion of the Nicaraguan crisis was approved by the Preparation Commission for that measure on October 26th. The regime officially rejected the inclusion of Nicaragua as a topic on the agenda of the event.
The draft resolution on the situation in Nicaragua was submitted to the chair of the OAS Permanent Council this Wednesday. On Thursday, eight countries proposed a draft resolution condemning it, but others insisted it should not interfere in internal affairs.
The document advertised Canada on its own behalf and on behalf of permanent missions in Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
Supported by El Salvador, United States, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados. Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina and Ecuador.
Honduras, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Belize and Bolivia abstained. A delegation did not come: Saint Kitts and Nevis.
After the referendum, the Nicaraguan delegation said, “We have seen the aggression against Nicaragua again.
“In an effort to teach Nicaragua a lesson on how to conduct Nicaragua’s internal affairs and build a genuine and participatory democracy, these governments do not feel or try to cover up the suffering of their own communities,” he added.
Congratulations to the nations
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Rodolfo Solano said: “Costa Rica wants to join the celebration of the new resolution on the worrying democratic crisis in Nicaragua. The crisis became even clearer on November 7 with an electoral process that did not comply with the minimum guarantees to ensure free, fair, inclusive and transparent elections, ”he reiterated his call for the release of political prisoners.
Costa Rica was the first country to ignore the Nicaraguan election results.
For his part, U.S. Representative Bradley Frieden said: “The United States is encouraged by the resolution, which calls for the release of political prisoners, as many OAS member states have joined the resolution. Advises the Permanent Council to take.
Official results in Nicaragua
In a resolution passed last October, the organization warned Daniel Ortega, who launched the General Assembly this Wednesday, They may take other action “in accordance with the Charter of the Organization of American Nations and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”, The regime did not back down, claiming to be the “winner” of the controversial elections, while holding more than 150 political prisoners, including seven presidential candidates.
On Wednesday, The Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) gave Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo 75.87 percent of the vote. One hundred percent turnout boards (JRVs) were scrutinized, according to a recent report by election officials on the regime.
The referendum held in Nicaragua on Sunday, November 7, was characterized by low civilian participation, the withdrawal of protests and the suppression of all forms of critical protests against Ortega.
They reiterate the need to release all political prisoners
The resolution adopted this Friday resolves: Diplomatic and technical initiatives taken by the United States to promote representative democracy and the protection of human rights in Nicaragua since June 5, 2018 have not been successful because they have been ignored or rejected outright by the Nicaraguan government.
They also conclude that based on the principles established in the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Charter of Democracy, democratic institutions in Nicaragua have been severely undermined by the government; And They reiterate their earlier demands for the release of all political prisoners and candidates and for an immediate end to the arrest and harassment of members of the independent media and civil society.
The states will decide to use the Democratic Charter for Nicaragua
On Wednesday, November 10, during a press conference, The Secretary-General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, cited the agency’s actions in the context of the ongoing socio-political crisis in Nicaragua and promised that the United States would be the country that would determine the application of the Democratic Charter. By
However, Almagro added that the 34 OAS member states would make a “joint assessment based on Article 20 of the Constitution.”
Article 20 of the Charter of Democracy describes the steps to be taken “if a member state changes the constitutional order which seriously affects its democratic order” and the following article (21) establishes the expulsion of the offending country, with the support of two-thirds of the member states.
One of the sources in the organization explains that the approval of the application for these two articles (20 and 21) requires the approval of two-thirds of the member states.
At the beginning of the day of the OAS General Assembly, OAS permanent observers echoed the rejection of Nicaragua votes by a majority of Europeans, including Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.
Second, Forty former Latin American foreign ministers have called on the OAS General Assembly to reject Daniel Ortega’s re-election for the fourth time in Nicaragua., With his imprisoned rivals, he should be suspended from the constituency if new elections do not take place.
Pioneer of October 20th
On October 20, the organisation’s permanent council discussed the “situation in Nicaragua”, where the country’s political climate was addressed 20 days before the referendum, and a resolution was passed, with seven abstentions. Support from 26 countries.
The Nicaraguan government announced a day earlier that it would not attend the session, saying in a written statement that it “rejects features that are” absolutely and exclusively applicable to the decision of Nicaraguan citizens. “
Approved resolution indicated “If necessary, take other action in accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America and the Inter-American Democracy Charter, including the assessment of the November 7 elections during the 51st General Assembly..
Argentina and Guatemala are in favor
In the referendum, Argentina and Guatemala took a turn by supporting the resolution, with both countries abstaining from voting, expressing concern over the human rights situation in Nicaragua.
The Argentine government summoned its ambassador for consultation in August, which provoked the Nicaraguan regime’s reaction and summoned its ambassador to Buenos Aires, in addition to its representatives in Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica. Managua.
The Guatemalan government has not approved the results of the latest November 7 referendum.
