Bianca Jagger joins outcry as Nicaraguan despot detains election rivals

BIANcA Jagger has condemned the oppressive leader of a central American state after he detained rivals on trumped-up charges in a bid to secure a fourth term as president.

Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega has picked off contenders one by one ahead of elections in November and now faces mounting international fury over his increasingly authoritarian rule.

At least seven presidential hopefuls have been rounded up there since June 2.

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has called for their release, while the US has announced sanctions against key Nicaraguan officials, accusing them of human rights abuses.

Mrs Jagger, a Nicaraguan human rights defender and former wife of rock star Sir Mick, said: ‘Daniel Ortega would do anything to stay in power – there is no limit to the repression he would employ.

‘The tyrant is also a coward for preventing members of the opposition from being able to participate in the next presidential elections – the relentless persecution of opposition candidates, the violent attacks, harassment and the arrest of presidential candidates.

‘Daniel Ortega has made a mockery of our right to participate in a fair, free and

‘Would do anything to stay in power’

democratic election. The next elections, if they ever happen, will be once again a fraudulent election in Nicaragua.’

The 75-year-old leader spent a decade in power after the Sandinista Revolution, which deposed Anastasio Somoza in 1979. Ortega returned to office in 2007, winning re- election in 2011 and 2016. But his recent rule has been marked by widespread protests which have been met with violent crackdowns.

Opposition leader Suyen Barahona was the latest Ortega critic to be detained yesterday, for allegedly ‘inciting foreign interference in internal affairs [and] requesting military interventions’.

The first to be detained, on trumped-up money laundering charges, was cristiana chamorro, who is seen as a favourite to beat Ortega. Next was former ambassador to the US, Arturo cruz, who was detained under a repressive treason law.

Juan Sebastian chamorro and Felix Madariaga were held after being accused of inciting foreign interference in domestic affairs. Jose Adan Aguerri, former head of the biggest business lobby, opposition activist Violeta Granera and ex-foreign minister Jose Pallais were also detained.