On Monday, November 15, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Jolie, announced the imposition of sanctions on 11 high-ranking officials close to the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, under Regulation of Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua), in response to the ongoing human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
Accredited by Canada are: Alba Luz Ramos Vanegas, President of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ); Bayardo Ars Castano, Economic Adviser to the Presidency; Luis Angel Montenegro Espinosa, Superintendent of Banks and Other Financial Institutions; Mohamed Lachtar, originally from Libya and Nicaraguan ambassador to Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Sadrak Zeledon Rocha, Mayor of Matagalpa; Leonidas Nicholas Centeno Rivera, Mayor of Ginotega; Francisco Ramon Valenzuela Blandon, Mayor of Esteli; José Adrián Chavarría Montenegro, Deputy Minister of Finance and Public Credit; Rodolfo Francisco López Gutierrez, Director of Distribuidora Eléctrica del Norte (Disnorte) and Distribuidora Eléctrica del Sur (Dissur); José Antonio Castaneda Mendez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nicaraguan Institute of Energy (INE) and Salvador Mancel Castrillo, President of the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel).
“Over the past three years, Canada and the international community have repeatedly called on the Daniel Ortega regime to change course and seek a peaceful and democratic solution to the current crisis.” Instead, “the Ortega regime led Nicaragua further down the path of authoritarianism. Nicaraguans have been stripped of their human rights and fundamental freedoms“The Canadian government argues in its statement about the measures imposed today on allies of the regime.
They demand the immediate release of all political prisoners
Canada asserts that the Ortega regime arrested and detained political opponents, suppressed independent media, and forced civilians and civil society leaders into exile for fear of imprisonment. “The regime has robbed the people of Nicaragua of their basic human right to vote in free, fair and inclusive elections.”, dated November 7, repeats the statement.
“Canada continues to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political leaders, journalists, activists and other prisoners in favor of democracy in Nicaragua and the full restoration of their civil and political rights,” they said.
They add that they are using all their diplomatic tools to support the people of Nicaragua and to hold “this repressive regime and those who facilitate its abuses accountable.” “Today’s announcement supports this commitment,” they said.
Canada in tune with the United States and the United Kingdom
The new Canadian measures add to the Canadian sanctions previously imposed on Nicaraguan officials. They noted that “Canada welcomes the decisive actions of its international partners, including the United States and the United Kingdom, and will continue to work with them to gain support and pressure the regime to restore democracy and respect for human rights.”
this monday, The United States imposed sanctions on the Public Prosecution Office of Nicaragua and nine officials and aides close to the regime of Daniel Ortega, Among the people on the sanctions list issued by Canada today are: Luis Angel Montenegro Espinosa, Jose Adrian Chavarria Montenegro, Rodolfo Francisco Lopez Gutierrez, Jose Antonio Castaneda Mendez, Muhammad Lastar, Salvador Mancel Castrio, Leon Nicolas Sentide and Sadrachón.
While The United Kingdom has sanctioned the appointed Vice-President, Rosario Murillo; the chief police commissioners, Fidel Dominguez and Juan Valle Valle; President of the National Assembly, Gustavo Porras; Attorney General of the Republic Anna Julia Guido; CSE judge, Lumberto Ignacio Campbell-Hooker; To the Secretary General of the Office of the Mayor of Managua, Fidel Moreno, and to the President of the CSJ, Alba Luz Ramos, whom Canada imposed today on sanctions.
In the statement, they stressed that “Canada and the international community support the people of Nicaragua in their aspirations for a more peaceful, just and democratic future.”
For her part, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie stressed that “Canada will always defend the promotion and protection of human rights, and we will hold those who violate them to account. We support the people of Nicaragua in their aspirations for a more peaceful, just and democratic future.”
Canadian measures
The Regulation on Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Ban listed individuals from any transaction (effectively, assets freeze) by prohibiting individuals in Canada and Canadians outside Canada from engaging in any activity relating to any property owned by such individuals or by providing them with financial or related services.
Persons on the list of regulations have also been declared inadmissible in Canada under Immigration and Refugee Protection Law. Specific prohibitions are specified in the regulations.
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