Meanwhile in Nicaragua...

By Scott Morgan

One has to wonder what changes in a Politician when it comes to Elections? Is it the potential loss of access to funds? Whether they raise them or are able to tap into the National Coffers to take out what it deemed necessary or is the absolute power to know that they have the ability to control the decisions of the rest of the country, Motivation is indeed an interesting factor isn't it?

Events that have occurred in Nicaragua, within the last week, have proven to be frightening. During that period of time a dozen senior opposition figures have been taken into custody by Security Forces Since June 12th.Those who were taken into custody were seen as a direct threat to the re-election of current incumbent Daniel Ortega. 

Yes, this is the same Daniel Ortega who overthrew the Somoza regime back in 1979 and later on was targeted by the Reagan Administration by funding the Contra Rebels with funds generated from the Covert sale of Anti-Tank Missiles to Iran. 

So, what are the current state of affairs within Nicaragua? There were protests that erupted back in April 2018 over reforms to the social security program that was ordered by President Ortega by decree.  After five days of protests the planned reforms were cancelled. After a failed attempt at mediation by the Catholic Church attempts to have a national dialogue took place protests broke out once again in the country. 

In July 2018, the Catholic Church itself came under assault as Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes and two others including the Papal Nuncio were attacked by a mob. Security Forces fired upon the Church of Divine Mercy after 100 students from the college sought sanctuary there. 

Fast Forward to 2021. We are now less than six month from scheduled Presidential Elections in the country. Yet again President Ortega is making bold, drastic moves. The latest wave of arrests announced over the weekend of June 12th reveal that dissidents members of the Sandinista National Liberation Front who has been in charge of affairs since regaining power in 2007 are now being targeted by the President. 

It should be noted that some of the arrests are being made under a new law that makes support of Sanctions against Ortega a crime.

Also 4 individuals including the daughter of Daniel Ortega herself have been targeted recently by Sanctions by the United States? Does anyone see a pattern here? How dare anyone support any effort by the Americans to hold me accountable for my actions? How dare anyone else contest my desire to remain as President? 

Elections are planned for November 2021. It will be an interesting ride until the polls open.

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