This interview is significant because it provides the experience and perspective of a young trans woman from the Caribbean Coast who also is a former political prisoner and the winner of the 2019 Tulip Human Rights Award granted by the Netherlands.
Victoria Obando: “María Fernanda[1] is following the same steps as Rosario Murillo”
By Abixael Mogollón in La Prensa, Nov 29, 2020
Victoria Obando goes over the current situation of Nicaragua and takes a look at these last two years. She admits that she sees herself aspiring to a public office in the future and that she has not had free time since she was released from jail.
Through letters that secretly left the jail she was able to tell what she experienced as a political prisoner. What she did not tell is that while inside those cells she felt how “the politics that I bear within me” and the desire to write were awoken within her.
Victoria Obando goes over the current situation of Nicaragua and takes a look at these last two years. She admits to seeing herself aspiring to hold public office in the future and that since she was released from jail has not had free time.
In addition, she says that she encountered officials from the La Modelo Penitentiary System who helped her to get out those letters that went viral. She talks in this interview about the challenges of the opposition, possible elections, sexual diversity, plans for the future and the radicalization of some sectors of Nicaraguan society.
What were you doing before April 2018?
Relatively normal, with work in a restaurant and I was involved in spaces in opposition to the government. I remember that we were planning the creation of a school for political leadership with some feminist activists and the LGBTI population.
And since then, how has your life changed?
My life turned upside down in a complete immersion to change our sad reality. I have three work profiles: as a university student, documenting the effects on students; as a transgender woman who makes known the problems of the members of sexual diversity, but above all as a former political prisoner who demands the need for truth, justice and the guaranty of non-repetition. I understand that it is a long process where the government has to change, the system of governance, the systems for the functioning of institutions and the political culture.
How has it been for you being a trans woman in Nicaragua?
It is very complex. Because, in contrast to other countries in the Central American region, we did not experience direct violence by murder or trafficking directed at the LGBTI population. But we did experience marginalization and ignorance about our basic needs and rights. It is experiencing the complete lack of awareness about your identity, the complete displacement from state programs, rejection of the education, health, justice and labor systems. From the moment in which they do not recognize me as someone who transited from one gender to another, when they do not recognize me as Victoria, you do not feel like a citizen.
When you were a political prisoner in the social networks a debate emerged between those who were calling you Victor and those who called you Victoria.
I do not condemn it, nor do I criticize it personally. This is due to a cultural matter, we are a Marian, Catholic, machista, patriarchal people, and are always going to see this as a something rare. But this is also because of lack of education and lack of access to information from people to the State and from the State to people. Nicaragua is one of the few countries of Latin America that has a special ombudsperson to deal with issues of sexual diversity, and people do not know that. Being a prisoner, I knew that people were saying that I was not a woman and that I was born a man, we need to educate the population, so they understand what it is to feel oneself a woman beyond having been born in a masculine body, and knowing that we live in a diverse world that ranges between races, language and sexuality.
With all the problems that the country has, in front is Daniel Ortega, who shows no sign of negotiation to get out of this crisis.
People see how Ortega does not cede and continues executing his repression against the people and approving absurd laws. But we as the opposition have not quit doing our work of territorial organization either, of making proposals for a new country agenda for all sectors, and that is our strong point. In addition to the work with the international community, raising up and documenting the repression in order to present this and ask for the application of sanctions, to continue cornering and pressuring him. Outwardly, Ortega is strong and has a lot of power in his hands, but he does not have the popular power of Nicaraguans, and there is where we are, awaiting the moment of facing one another in the elections. People will defend their votes, they will take to the streets and we are going to accompany this process.
Have you thought about the scenario where, if the people come out again, Ortega orders once again pulling the trigger?
We foresee that, but people are tired. Ortega is not going to want the entire world to continue turning their backs on him. We are going to get to a moment of collapse and the people are going to decide to go out into the streets again. First, because protesting and free expression is a right and that is going to be seen when the elections come.
Do you think that people should go to elections without electoral reforms or half reforms?
The ideal would be that Ortega would negotiate with the opposition and electoral reforms would be created. Ortega has everything in his favor, but if it is the last battle that we get to wage, with reforms or without reforms, we will wage it, even though we have to see it stolen from us.
It is like going to the slaughterhouse fully aware. Would it not be better not to go?
I think that it would be the same as not going. They are votes that they are going to allot anyway.
But by running in these elections you would be legitimizing them.
But there would be reports where the theft will be made evident. The citizenry is preparing for this. We are preparing people about how the vote reception boards work, how to defend the vote, how to denounce fraud.
Do you see it possible to carry out a political campaign in this repressive environment?
In light of this we have become excellent strategists to continue bringing forth our demands and claims. Even though Ortega puts thousands of obstacles in our way, we are going to look for thousands of alternatives to be able to promote our campaign for the elections.
It is expected that Ortega will repeat as a candidate, but on the part of the opposition there is still no clear candidate.
That topic has not been dealt with yet. The National Coalition needs to be nourished and see itself strengthened with the participation of all organized sectors. Then an agreement needs to be reached, but that agreement cannot happen if we do not have defined whether the electoral reforms are happening or not. Pending yet is the discussion about the political banner under which to run. That is the other complex discussion, because political parties watch out for their interests, and we do not want to see ourselves in the game of having to owe favors to anyone.
They are a lot of things for the short amount of time left before the elections. The Civic Alliance recently left the National Coalition.
I think that having these internal discussions is part of this process. Each one takes a step back in the proper and necessary time and then comes back. The opposition is going to see itself united very soon. Each one is working on the strengthening of their sector and in their territories. It is true that time is running against us, but we are preparing ourselves.
Even though we may not want it, we are facing a reality that is very pessimistic in every sense, and the worst would be that Ortega get another presidential period.
I think that the opposition is not going to allow them to steal the elections. The people are tired of seeing Ortega´s face. This is felt in the streets. I do not believe that Ortega is staying because people are going to defend themselves and the path for change has already been taken.
What do you think of the business sector?
I think that some are defending in part their position and interests. Some have lost a lot and not just in economic matters. I think that they do not want to see themselves in the risk of disappearing as enterprises.
And the Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC)?
I think that they should make a drastic change in their party and their structure, but above all in their representatives.
And about María Fernanda Flores?
I dare to say that she is a bad leader. (Because) she has not known how to cede or withdraw and I think that she is taking the same steps as Rosario Murillo. I personally feel ashamed that, being part of the Liberal Party, she does not know how to treat her workers.
Nevertheless, it continues being part of the National Coalition.
That is how it is. It is a mistake which the Coalition has borne as a political cost, and which we are working on in light of that restructuring. I feel that the Coalition opened itself and it was correct to do that so that everyone could join, they are Nicaraguans, but now we are in a process of refinement and restructuring.
There is also the case of the Citizens for Liberty Party (CxL), which is not within the Coalition.
They are a young party and I feel that they are being very apathetic with the structures of the opposition. Their strategy for unity does not go beyond discourse and I feel that they are not inclusive in the demands of the people of Nicaragua.
Now that you mention inclusion, there are sectors of society that have been radicalizing themselves, and do not want to have anything to do with ex Sandinistas, feminists, sexual diversity, left or right.
I think that we have bad concepts about what it means to be part of sexual diversity or a feminist. People must dialogue to understand what it means to be from one or another organization. Belonging to these organizations does not mean that I do not have the qualities to take on responsibilities in this country. We are getting a little overheated about left and right ideologies and I feel that this is not helpful.
Recently you wrote an opinion piece pointing out the division among the former political prisoners themselves and the formation of several organizations of that sector.
More than that, I would like the population to be aware that we people who experienced imprisonment are organized. But also, that very much in spite of what we experienced and the harassment that many of us ex-prisoners, like Ricardo Baltodano, experience, we are going to continue working.
Many former prisoners have completely broken with everything that has to do with politics and the dictatorship and simply have left the country or have lowered their profile.
I think it is important that each person is able to take a breath and reflect on their own life and what they want. My friends have not completely distanced themselves, they have simply taken a break like Edwin Carcache, Nahiroby Olivas and Cristhian Fajardo, who continue making their small contribution from afar, but have not forgotten their political commitment with this country.
There is another sector, less in the media, of former prisoners and people who participated in the protests who feel loathing toward the opposition and see it divided. What would you say to them?
I want to recognize first that it is inevitable that we would experience frustrations. First, because we have the sense of urgency for changes because this [situation] has us stifled in every aspect. It is normal they would criticize and question the functioning of the structure and people. But I think that it is important that they continue participating. If they leave memes, satiric or mocking videos about the opposition, it is because they are paying attention to what is happening. Maybe it is not that they are attacking us, and simply it is finding the amusing side of things, and that is how we Nicaraguans are, we can be screwed, but happy.
Do you take personally the memes against you or the opposition?
I do not take them personally and that is why caricatures exist, it would be like now we would begin to attack the caricaturists.
Do you feel comfortable with the fact that they identify you as a victim?
No, I do not feel comfortable because the entire people of Nicaragua are victims. There are some of us who were more repressed, that is true, but all of us are suffering the same. I cannot be more of a victim than a mother of a murder victim.
You have gotten fully involved in the opposition, being a young person. It seems like you have sacrificed many things like having a social life, falling in love, or simply going out to have fun.
Keeping myself active in the world of politics has not given me time to even think about myself. I am so concerned about what is happening in my country. But I think that in the face of the commitment that I made to Nicaragua, I will take a break after we remove the dictator.
If Ortega leaves power, what would that break be like?
I think that going back to the places of my childhood and with my family in the Caribbean Coast. I want to go back to connect with my roots and go back to experiencing what it feels like to be a person from the Coast.
Until that happens, it seems that now it is a sin to take a walk or drink a beer.
Yes, the fact that most of the young people may go out to have fun or recreate, I think that is completely normal. Before April that is what we did, and I do not think that we should feel the obligation to dedicate all our time to politics. We have personal lives and feelings.
What had the biggest mark on you in jail?
The fact and the way in which they treated us marked me. I felt like they were dealing with an animal, but more than that I want to highlight the political awakening that I carry within myself, the writer, the activist that I continued while being a prisoner. We also got to know guards who sympathized with our ideas and with their gaze told us that they were sorry that we were prisoners, we shared information and I dare to say and to confess that they helped us get out several letters that we wanted to be known. We did not feel alone, and we realized that there are people who are only carrying out the job of an institution, and not as a political direction.
Do you aspire to public office or to appear on a ballot?
I think that for Victoria this is not yet the time to take on the reins of a public office. I personally feel that I lack political preparation and that is why I try to support myself in the knowledge, experience and lessons that some of our politicians who we call old in quotes have for us. They know how the structures and Nicaraguan politics work, but they also know how to change it. I do not discard being able to properly assume a public post in the future.
This is the first time that someone responded to that question with a yes. Why do you think that there is so much fear to openly say that they aspire to public office?
We are full of stigmas in the world of politics. A person who aspires to public office is immediately labeled as a thief or a hustler. But if we put into practice a transparent system of accountability, ongoing social audits, more citizen participation, I think that we eradicate that stigma over time and people will quit pointing that out.
What does your family say about these aspirations and your political participation?
My parents are very afraid because they experienced the past war and they saw some of their siblings die, they experienced exile and I do not blame them for that fear. On the contrary, I encourage them to support me because I feel I have inherited an aspiration that they had in the 1980s and were not able to follow. Not it is my time.
Personal Plane
Victoria Obando is from the city of Bluefields but lives in Managua. She began to get involved in activism when she entered the university. She is 29 years old, likes to dance and studied gastronomy, one of her passions. She has a licentiate in Business Administration, studies Political Science and has two technical majors. In 2019 she received the Human Rights Tulip Award, granted by the government of the Netherlands.
[1] Wife of former Pres. Arnoldo Alemán and up until very recently a deputy in the National Assembly for the PLC. She led an effort to take over the party, and recently was stripped of her seat in the National Assembly.