Release # 1 United to Dialogue Monday, May 14th, 2018
Together, representatives of students, the countrymen movement, the civil society and the Nicaraguan private sector, we reiterate our willingness to attend to the National Dialogue, although we agree with the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua that the circumstances for such dialogue are not ideal.
We demand the immediate cessation of repression, attack and siege by the government through their paramilitary groups against the population and we categorically affirm that we do not accept their blackmail or the intentions that soften our positions.
We reiterate our solidarity with the population and with all the sectors that continue to peacefully express their rights and that are being violently repressed, accumulating the balance of the dead and wounded.
Rest assured that we are going to defend our rights and we exhort to continue in the peaceful fight, until we see the demands of the Nicaraguan people fulfilled.—-
Release # 2 The National Dialogue is the way for a just and democratic Nicaragua- Managua, May 25th, 2018
We, the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy, reiterate our trustfulness in the National Dialogue and in the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua as mediators and witnesses. The National Dialogue is the path towards democratization and justice, with economic dignity, but with rights. It is also the way to achieve justice for the victims of repression.
With that said, we consider:
1. The National Dialogue is the path; a sign of this is the agreement between the government and the civic alliance to make the recommendations of the preliminary report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) as their own. From this agreement on, the government committed to a follow-up mechanism with the IACHR to verify the implementation of the recommendations on a concrete calendar of new visits. We consider indispensable the formation of this follow-up commission.
2. The IACHR adopted a precautionary measure to protect the rights of members of the student’s movement and their families in Nicaragua, so we demand that the State of Nicaragua adopts the necessary measures for its immediate implementation.
3. We ask all the actors of the National Dialogue for their good faith so that in the mixed commission of six people, three for each party, it will be able to reach the agenda agreement to achieve the objective of a dialogue to review the political system of Nicaragua from its roots to achieve an authentic democracy
4. We support and will continue to participate in civic and peaceful protests, acknowledging them as a legitimate right of the Nicaraguan society. We reiterate in the importance of immediate cessation to repression of the protesters and the arbitrary detention of those who participate in the protests. This dialogue, result of a fight led by the people of Nicaragua and that unfortunately left the loss of several dozen lives, is the path to be able to reach the Nicaragua that we want and in which we must all live.
University and Civil Society Coalition
AmCham, Funides, Faganic, Caribbean Coast, National Council in Defense of Our Land, Lake and Sovereignty – Country Movement, COSEP, Upanic, Civil society— Managua, May 25th, 2018
Release # 3 Committed to the dialogue for the Democratization of Nicaragua– Managua, May 27th, 2018
The members of the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy we reiterate that dialogue is the path towards democratization and justice in Nicaragua and that it is important to contribute to a propitious climate to return to the dialogue. Until now, the government has not complied with two basic conditions for dialogue, such as the cessation of repression and the dismantling of the para-police forces.
The Government has tried to block the National Dialogue through a dilatory strategy, criminalizing the protests, and ignoring the deep causes that provoke them.
We reiterate our solidarity with the Nicaraguan people whom continue to express themselves peacefully in defense of their rights. We invite all sectors to join the different peaceful demonstrations of protest. On Wednesday, May 30th, we will join the tribute to the Mothers of April; we will participate in the march that will depart at 2:00 p.m. from the Jean Paul Genie roundabout. This march, like the rest of the departmental expressions, should be a strong demonstration of unity against repression and injustice.
The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy, reiterates the trustfulness in the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua as mediator and witness, and repudiates the threats against its members and the Church in general.
We reaffirm our commitment to join efforts to make more flexible the road blockages, organized by Nicaraguan citizens, as an expression of civic protest, as long as the Government commits to resume the dialogue in a genuine manner about the country’s democratization agenda.
The National Dialogue is the path towards democratization and justice, with economic dignity, but with rights. It is also the way to achieve justice for the victims of state repression. We must look after and return to the dialogue, which is the result of a struggle led by the people of Nicaragua that has unfortunately has left and continues to leave the lost of several dozen lives. The Dialogue is the way to reach the Nicaragua we want and in which we must all live.
University and Civil Society Coalition: AmCham, Funides, Faganic, Caribbean Coast, National Council in Defense of Our Land, Lake and Sovereignty – Country Movement, COSEP, Upanic, Civil society –Managua, May 27th, 2018
Release # 4 They will not move us–Managua, May 31st, 2018
Throughout the last few days we have shown our determination to seek a peaceful solution to the serious crisis in which the intransigence of the Ortega Murillo regime has plunged the country in. At the time, we agreed to go to a National Dialogue despite the fact that there were no conditions or political will of the regime, which is expressed in time lost in sterile discussions without entering into the main themes of the dialogue: Justice and Democratization.
From the last April, Nicaragua and the Nicaraguans have changed irreversibly. Until then we were made to believe that we lived in a country of peace, security and progress. But in one single night of violence and rampant repression, arise the country that was hiding from us and that had been silenced by repression and the use of the National Police and para-police forces
These protests arose and its sole objective is to build a real country, with peace, democracy, justice. No lies, no cheating, no manipulation and no repression. As has been evidenced in multitudinous manifestations, this is a genuine desire of the immense majority of the Nicaraguan people.
The regime’s attempt to delegitimize and criminalize this protest is a clear violation of the rights of freedom of expression, free mobilization and we hold the government responsible for any act of repression that has its origin in these threats. They have threatened not only members of this alliance, but also members of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua.
This desire for change and to build a democratic country by peaceful means and through dialogue, have had as response from the regime, the worst massacre in times of peace, massacre that has left more than 100 dead, more than a thousand injured, thousands of detainees, hundreds of tortured and disappeared, censorship of the media and other acts of intimidation and harassment that resulted in numerous violations of human rights, confirm in strong reports issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and by Amnesty International (AI).
We continue to believe that the National Dialogue it still is a way to find a peaceful way out to the current crisis. However, after the last events, it will only be possible to continue dialoguing if the conditions set by the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua are fulfilled and if there are independent international guarantors.
The mass mobilizations in Managua and other cities of the country on Mother’s Day are a reflection of the feelings of thousands of Nicaraguans who cry for the restoration of justice and democracy and a sign of the spirit that we must keep alive to redouble efforts in all the fronts. First, to unmask the true nature of this regime, and second, to reaffirm that it is we, the people of Nicaragua, who have in our hands the construction of the Nicaragua that we all desire without exclusion and with dignity.
From this Alliance, which unites students, farmers, workers, civil society, the private sector and the Caribbean Coast, we call on intensifying the different forms of peaceful protest:
• Intensify and organize the fight for university autonomy.
• Reinforce and organize the road blocks and plantings, as well as denounce the road blocks organized by the regime.
• Strengthen centers for the collection of medicines, donations of blood and food.
• Reinforce the different expressions of solidarity and support that never cease to amaze us.
We acknowledge as a very positive step the pronouncement of the main representatives of the private sector that join the demand for a quick, just and democratic exit from the Ortega Murillo regime.
We raise our demands to the international instances so that all the legal mechanisms are activated to protect and save Nicaragua from the repressive government that we have. We welcome the joint resolution of the European Parliament condemning the acts of repression, as well as the communication from the Congress of Deputies of Costa Rica, among other expressions of solidarity.
We demand that the regime permit the presence in Nicaragua of the United Nations High Commissioner for the Office of the Rapporteur for Human Rights and compliance with recommendation 15 of the Preliminary Observations of the Working Visit of the IACHR to Nicaragua, which states: “Commit to a follow-up mechanism with the IACHR to verify the implementation of the recommendations issued in the framework of this visit, and the report thereof. Schedule a concrete calendar with the IACHR for new visits ”
We demand from President Ortega the immediate cessation of the actions of the para-police forces, organized by the regime, to stop the violence that every day stains Nicaragua with blood. We are not for speeches, nor for beautiful words, we do demand concrete actions that shown that they want a peaceful solution to the crisis, as well as respect for life and the end to repression.
University and Civil Society Coalition: AmCham, Funides, Faganic, Caribbean Coast, National Council in Defense of Our Land, Lake and Sovereignty – Countrymen Movement, COSEP, Upanic, Civil society –Managua, May 31st, 2018
Release # 5 No to the criminalization of civic protest–Managua, June 6th, 2018
Tie together a civic protest with criminal and terrorist networks is condemnable and regrettable. This criminalization comes from the State of Nicaragua, which, according to the preliminary observations of the work visit of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) “According with hundreds of testimonies, the repression was carried out by the National Police, its anti-riot forces and para-police groups, which would have acted with the support of state agents” The same report has repeatedly urged to the cease of the repression against the civic protest that began in Nicaragua last April.
These serious violations of Human Rights, reflected in the preliminary observations of the work visit of the IACHR, have been “characterized by the excessive use of force by state security forces and armed third parties.”
This fight, led by the students, to which the people of Nicaragua have joined and has left a balance – to date – of more than 127 dead, 1000 wounded and an undetermined number of disappeared and tortured.
Given this, we condemn the criminalization of civic protest among them the cases of Felix Maradiaga, Aníbal Toruño of Radio Darío, Brandon Cristhofer Lovo Taylor and Glen Slate, unjustly prosecuted for the murder of the journalist Ángel Gahona. We urge the State of Nicaragua not to make the criminalization of protest a state policy that threatens hundreds of young Nicaraguan citizens, students and countrymen, among others.
Today more than ever it is important that the State of Nicaragua full fills the recommendations of the IACHR, and in this specific case with recommendation number four: “Guarantee the life, integrity and security of all the people who are demonstrating and exercising their rights and public freedoms and suffering the consequences of the atmosphere of repression, especially the students, girls, boys and adolescents “.
This Alliance will continue to give voice to the demands of Nicaraguans who demand justice and democracy for the nation. The Democratization will happen by guaranteeing as quickly as possible the installation of a transparent, inclusive and independent electoral system, independence of the State Powers and recovery of the country’s institutions. Democratization is not only built through free elections.
University and Civil Society Coalition: AmCham, Funides, Faganic, Caribbean Coast, National Council in Defense of Our Land, Lake and Sovereignty – Countrymen Movement, COSEP, Upanic, Civil society
Release # 6 Pronouncement on the National Dialogue–Managua, June 8th, 2018
The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy reaffirms that the National Dialogue is part of the integral fight of the Nicaraguan people and we will continue to peacefully self- convocate in defense of our rights.
It reiterates its full confidence in the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua as mediator and witness of the National Dialogue. We will continue participating in the National Dialogue for being the civic road towards democratization and justice and achieving the Nicaragua we want and in which we must all live together.
It considers that the Democratization agenda, elaborated with the contributions sent to the Mediation Commission by the parts of this Alliance present in the National Dialogue, points the way to the recovery of democratic institutionality, the Rule of Law and the respect for Humans Rights that we, all sectors of the Nicaraguan people, claim.
It expresses its willingness to return to the plenary session of the dialogue table as long as the brutal repression against the people by the Ortega Murillo regime ceases .immediately and definitively. The protests and civic demonstrations are the exercise of rights guaranteed by our own Political Constitution.
The Alliance expresses its full support to the measures of self-defense adopted by those of us whom participate in civic protests to protect ourselves from the aggressions to which we are subjected off by police, para-police and mobs agreeing with the government, keeping us within the framework of respect to Human Rights and private property.
University and Civil Society Coalition : AmCham, Funides, Faganic, Caribbean Coast Civil society, National Council in Defense of Our Land, Lake and Sovereignty – Countrymen Movement, COSEP, Upanic
Release #7 A National Strike for our future- Managua, June 12, 2018
First of all we want to express our condolences to the Nicaraguan family. We embrace each citizen, each mother, each father, son daughter. Each sister and each brother. Each member of the families of the heroes of this national civic protest. We recognize the effort of each person in this civic struggle. The women who have stopped the riot police with pots, flags and their courage.
56 days have gone by since this civic struggle began and in which more than 147 lives have been lost, hundreds of people wounded, arrested, and disappeared. We, as members of the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy, given the extreme conditions that Nicaragua is experiencing, in solidarity with the victims and recognizing the right to legitimate forms of defense, we have decided:
- To call a 24 hour National Strike starting at zero hour Thursday June 14 and ending at 11:59pm at night that same day. We urge all owners of businesses, small and medium business people, independent professionals and self owned businesses to close their establishments and cease activities.
This is a civic, national and peaceful strike that includes the entire country and all economic activities, except those related to the preservation of life and the coverage of basic services for the population.
We urge employers to respect the decision of the workers to join this national and peaceful civic strike.
We urge public employees, whose dignity has been trampled by a repressive government that massively do not show up for their work placements. If all of you do it together, they will not be able to take reprisals against you.
- We demand of the President of the Republic an immediate response to the Bishop´s Conference of Nicaragua about the renewal of the National Dialogue. As we have said repeatedly, the dialogue is the path to review the political system of Nicaragua from its roots in order to achieve authentic democracy and justice. Dialogue within the framework of respect for life and the rights of Nicaraguans to express themselves civically. Once again, we reiterate support to the Nicaraguan Bishops Conference in their role as mediators and witnesses.
- Likewise, we reiterate the importance of remaining in the streets civically and peacefully.
- We are against any type of repression and abuse of life. We reiterate the importance of life, preservation of Human Rights, and respect for personal integrity and human dignity.
Only the concerted civic action of everyone will ensure the success of this legitimate action aimed at pointing out and stopping the violence and repression. The objective of this national strike is to support the National Dialogue mediated by the Bishop´s Conference of Nicaragua and demanding the immediate end to the violence and repression.
University and Civil Society Coalition : AmCham, Funides, Faganic, Caribbean Coast, National Council in Defense of Our Land, Lake and Sovereignty – Countrymen Movement, COSEP, Upanic