Nicaragua govt agrees to prisoner release to restart talks

MANAGUA: Nicaragua’s government agreed on Wednesday to release opposition prisoners within 90 days in order to restart stalled peace talks aimed at ending an 11month political crisis, a dialogue mediator said.

Organisation of American States special envoy Luis Angel Rosadilla said in a press conference that President Daniel Ortega’s government had agreed to release ‘all the people detained in the context of the protests’ that began in April last year, leaving over 700 people behind bars and 325 dead.

The agreement includes a call on sanctions against Ortega’s regime to be lifted.

The number of prisoners due to be released was not given.

On Monday, the opposition alliance suspended talks that had begun on Feb 27 after 100 protesters were temporarily detained on Saturday by police who used tear gas to prevent a protest against Ortega’s government.

The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy ( ACJD) had said on Tuesday it would not resume talks until all ‘ political prisoners’ are released and the repression of anti-regime protesters ends.

Releases could begin this week and ‘ there will be no- one held beyond those 90 days,’ said businessman Jose Aguerri, a Civic Alliance member.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is due to monitor the process.

The two parties have agreed on a six-point negotiation process to accompany the releases and have asked for international support in implementing the agreements reached, according to a statement issued by the presidency.

“A call will be made to the international community to suspend sanctions to facilitate the right to the human, economic and social development of Nicaragua, favoring the most vulnerable sections of the population,” said the statement.

Nicaragua’s government has been hit by US sanctions and the threat of more from the European Union since trouble broke out last year.

Around 150 prisoners have been released since the talks began last month, although only to house arrest.

The opposition has demanded their total liberation. — AFP