TODAY NICARAGUA (Washington) The “arbitrary” arrest of Félix Maradiaga, one of four opponents arrested in the last 10 days, shows that President Daniel Ortega is a “dictator,” the US State Department said Tuesday.
“The third opposition leader detained in 10 days, confirms without a doubt that Ortega is a dictator,” said Julie Chung, the head of US diplomacy for the Americas, on Twitter.
“The international community has no choice but to treat him as such,” she said in a tweet in Spanish.
La detención arbitraria del candidato presidencial Félix Maradiaga – el tercer líder opositor detenido en 10 días – confirma sin lugar a dudas que Ortega es un dictador. La comunidad internacional no tiene más opción que tratarle como tal.
— Julie Chung (@WHAAsstSecty) June 8, 2021
Maradiaga, 44, is the third Ortega opposition presidential hopeful detained in a week in the context of the November 7 elections.
The United States called on Friday for the “immediate” release of journalist Cristiana Chamorro, under house arrest since June 2 after being accused of money laundering by the Ortega government.
Another Nicaraguan presidential candidate, former diplomat Arturo Cruz, was detained on Saturday at the Managua airport upon his return from the United States.
Ortega, in power since 2007, has not yet confirmed his participation in these elections, but his opponents believe that he will seek a fourth consecutive term.
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