Alianza’s Azahalea Solis Draws Line in the Sand; Coalition Demands Early Elections and Prisoner Release.

The Alianza Civica por la Justicia y la Democracia drew a line in the sand on Thursday. During a press conference led by Azahalea Solis, the coalition stated that they would “not back down” from their demand for free, fair, transparent, and observed, and early elections.

Negotiations have been extended until April 3, after reaching the first deadline, March 28, without substantial agreements.

The Alianza’s press conference devoted a significant amount of time to the subject of early elections, after Denis Moncada, OrMu’s foreign minister, declared that the government absolutely opposed the notion. According to Moncada, “early elections” are not on the negotiation agenda.

Moncada characterized early elections as “unconstitutional” during an interview with Michelle Polanco, that aired on Thursday morning on Canal 10.  Solis refuted his assertion, calling it “an enormous falsehood”:

“An early election is possible. It does breach of the constitutional order. […] It was done in 1990, based on a political agreement. After the situation in the country became unsustainable, it was necessary to hold an early election in February of 1990. The [official publication] that demonstrates it is there. Moreover, the political agreement was so important that the constitutional reform was published after the election had been held.

Solis added that in 1990 the political agreement was “so important” that its implementation overrode established practice. Indeed, laws in Nicaragua become valid after they’re published officially in La Gaceta. As Solis explained, the constitutional reform that enabled the election of February 25, 1990 appeared in La Gaceta on March 6. “The political agreement took priority because [early elections] were necessary. We are now in a similar situation. We can carry out the needed reforms to hold an early election”.

A letter by former supreme court justice Rafael Solis, outlined a timeline that would make an election in 2020 possible, provided an agreement could be reached by “mid may” at the latest.

reforma electoral

 

 

Early elections are vital, according to Solis, and the Alianza will not accept “an agreement that does not include an early election” and the release of political prisoners, whose “criminal” records must be completely expunged.

In regards to political prisoners, Solis announced that the Alianza’s list will be delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday.

La Prensa reported that there are 814 names on the Alianza’s political prisoner tally. In contrast, the IACHR’s list includes 647 names.

The Alianza’s list is based on the IACHR’s record, said Solis.

The IACHR’s roster has been recognized by the Ortega-Murillo government as the basis for a consolidated and final accounting of the political prisoners in Nicaragua, via a letter sent to the Secretary General of the OAS on March 20.

“We have had access to lists [of prisoners] provided by the government,” said Solis, adding that the Alianza found several “faults”. For one, the government’s lists only cover some of the penitentiary centers around the country. “Our lists are more complete” — Solis explained — “Our lists include people who are being held at police stations, who are not on the government’s lists.”

In this sense, the Alianza’s list is similar to the roster compiled by the Comité Pro Liberación de Presos Políticos (CPLPP).

The Alianza’s press conference also addressed the status of Nicaraguan independent media organizations that have had their newsrooms shut down and occupied by the government, or have had materials needed for publication held in customs for several months. During the Polanco interview, Moncada argued that the restitution of properties and/or release of materials was not something that the negotiating teams were able to discuss. Moncada also dismissed the Alianza as representing the broad sentiment of the population.

Moncada: The negotiation is not a substitute for the state or the government

Polanco: Aren’t you representing President Daniel Ortega and the State of Nicaragua in these negotiations?

Moncada: Yes, we represent the Government of National Reconciliation and Unity, and the other delegation represents those who were involved in an attempted coup and the violation of the rule of law. […] However, we are talking because we are interested in resolving the situation.

Solis countered Moncada’s words, by pointing out the composition of the government’s negotiating team. It includes a minister (Moncada), three members of the legislature (Wilfredo Navarro, José Figueroa, and Edwin Castro), a supreme court justice (Francisco Rosales), and the president of the national student union (Luis Andino). According to Solis, these individuals are perfectly capable of discussing substantial subjects and entering into agreements on behalf of the government.

“The Alianza Civica is sitting across the table from people that represent all branches of government. We are negotiating with the president of the republic, through his intermediaries […]. It is absolutely within their mandate to enter into agreements so that they can be implemented by the different branches of government.”

During the negotiations that led to the Sapoa Agreement, in 1988, Daniel Ortega was represented by his brother, then Defense Minister Humberto Ortega, who signed the accord on behalf of the Sandinista government.

There was no talk about the Sandinista negotiating team lacking the authority to enter into agreements when the younger Ortega was in the same position as Mr. Moncada is today.

Solis concluded the press conference by forcefully stating that the April 3rd deadline is final, and by then “there must be an agreement that contemplates freedom for political prisoners and an early election.”

Even though OrMu media sent staffers to ask questions at the Alianza’s press conference, none of the main outlets controlled by the Ortega-Murillo dyad has reported on what the answers they received.

Watch full press conference here