Ortega generously joins his regular colleagues, while Canada stands in solidarity with the political prisoners who spent Christmas in prison

The Government of Canada expressed its solidarity with the Nicaraguans on December 25 and lamented that political prisoners had to spend Christmas behind bars, despite a call for their release by the regime of Daniel Ortega, who had shown itself to be more lenient with the participants. criminals.

“Holidays are a season of rest for many and to celebrate with friends, family and loved ones. #Canada stands in solidarity with the people of #Nicaragua, as pro-democracy activists and political prisoners spend their holidays in prison. #LibertadParaLosPoliticosPoliticos”, the Canadian embassy in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras was closed on Saturday.

On December 24, the same diplomatic headquarters reiterated its call for the “unconditional release of detained pro-democracy leaders and the return of civil liberties in #Nicaragua. #DefendHumanRights #Christmas without political prisoners #SOSNicaragua”.

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However, Daniel Ortega’s regime was closed to this possibility, while more suitable for ordinary prisoners, even by releasing 1,000 criminals on the occasion of Christmas and December 24, allowing prison systems to share time with their relatives.

On December 24, the dictatorship’s propaganda outlet published photos of the relatives of 100 ordinary prisoners in Jorge Navarro National Prison, who had the opportunity to share lunch and cultural activities, as “a form of restoring the rights of prisoners deprived of freedom”.

Mothers, brothers, wives, and children of common criminals were allowed to go to prison, “in recognition of the good behavior of heroes.” In it, she stated that the special visit takes place simultaneously in all state prisons, allowing the inmates’ families to share this date.

“Today I have a visit from my mother, my sister and my niece and I am happy to share with them for Christmas we are all incarcerated yearning to be with the family on these dates and upon receiving this benefit I feel so blessed,” said Angel Garcia, one of the inmates at said prison system, quoted by El19digital Thank you to our government for reminding us through this special visit, as this is a way to continue to strengthen family unity.

The plight of relatives of political detainees

In contrast, on December 24, relatives of political prisoners in Granada prison denounced Ortega’s cancellation of a visit they were told last week they could spend with them over Christmas.

After several hours of waiting, according to the complainants, they were told that they were not entitled to see them. “Why are they excited about you, why are they excited about family members, political prisoners, a three-year-old lady, playing games, making fun of families,” the angry relatives of well-known opponent Nydia Barbosa Castillo claimed.

On the other hand, relatives of political prisoners who were recently transferred to the Comprehensive Correctional Institution for Women (EPIM), known as “La Speranza”, expressed that the authorities of this prison system had indicated weeks ago that they would receive a special visit. This year December 24, which will be confirmed by phone call, but they did not receive.

They also stated that when they left the visits on December 20 and 21, in La Speranza, they were forced to sign a document pledging not to circumvent providing information and spreading false news.

Canada: In ‘terrible condition’

On December 22, the Canadian diplomatic headquarters denounced that political prisoners in Nicaragua are “in a dire state” and thus called to join “the (world’s) appeal with the American continent for the release of political prisoners in #Nicaragua!”

The following day on Wednesday, the embassy stated that “with OEA_oficial member states, #Canada demands the release of all political candidates and political prisoners, the restoration of their democratic rights and an immediate end to media harassment. Independent.”