Collective Multisectoral Response to Confront the Challenges to Democracy

From the Nicaraguan Democratic Concertation, CDN-Monteverde, we have reaffirmed the political and legal commitments adopted by the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) regarding democracy. We recognize the spirit embodied in the Constitutive Charter of the OAS, which «recognizes that representative democracy is indispensable for peace and development in the region», therefore, it is important to promote and consolidate it.

In addition, we recognize the contribution of Resolution 1080 on Representative Democracy, and in particular the commitment made to the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which considers that cooperation among the American States takes place «on the basis of the effective exercise of representative democracy». But we also believe that it is time to turn what is on paper into action.

For the CDN-Monteverde this is a matter of belief, conviction and experience. Nicaragua is no stranger to crises that eventually trigger democratic deterioration.  Latin America has experienced two socio-political crises in recent years, the Nicaraguan and the Venezuelan, in both of which human rights and the rule of law have been violated and the regimes of both countries, which are repudiated by their people, have disrespected the electoral processes in an aberrant manner to perpetuate themselves in power.

In the case of Nicaragua, in 2018 both the OAS and the United Nations (UN), validated in situ that, as a result of a socio-political crisis, the Ortega Murillo regime murdered more than 300 people, imprisoned and tortured thousands and broke the constitutional order. Only three years later, prior to the 2021 electoral process, he imprisoned independent pre-candidates, eliminated opposition political parties, imprisoned leaders of all sectors of society, and erased with the stroke of a pen all civic rights of Nicaraguans, thus turning the elections into a mere formality to remain in power. Let’s not forget that since the 2016 elections he did not present all the voting records.

But the abuses did not stop there. In the last few years, political freedom, religious freedom, freedom of association, educational freedom and freedom of the press were all trampled upon.

Despite all this, the response of the international community has not been strong enough to stop these abuses and reverse the damage done to the country. What has been done, in reality, have been unilateral and scattered efforts.

The regrettable thing is that a precedent was established that is being replicated in other countries of the region. Proof of this are the anti-democratic laws being copied by Honduras and the Cuban dictatorship itself, or what has just happened in Venezuela, which is an updated copy of what happened in electoral matters in Nicaragua.

It was only at the recent General Assembly held in Asuncion, Paraguay that the OAS member countries unanimously condemned the case of Nicaragua. For the first time it was not necessary to vote on a resolution where the entire continent condemned the abuses, atrocities and violations of the Nicaraguan regime. It took six years for this to be achieved, but at a high cost for Nicaraguans.

Venezuela is currently undergoing a similar process and we must learn from the lessons that have shown us that we must act in a timely and collective manner.

The CDN-Monteverde regrets and rejects that the July 31 resolution on the publication of Venezuela’s electoral records was not approved and sees this failure to silence the voices of the Venezuelan people.  The decision of the countries that prevented the approval of the resolution goes against the democratic conventions and agreements within the Inter-American system and delays the search for a solution to a crisis that, as it drags on, will result in more deaths, imprisonment and increased polarization in the country.

The CDN-Monteverde calls on the countries that abstained from voting and those that were not present at the session, not to wait six years as in the case of Nicaragua, to act and vote correctly.  In addition, it reiterates the legal and political obligation of the member states to assume the collective responsibility to promote the restoration of democracy in Nicaragua and Venezuela, based on a strategic multisectoral approach, which can begin with a real pressure to respect the sovereign will of Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

As expressed in the last resolution approved on the case of Nicaragua, the call is for action in different fields to stop these abuses. What is happening in these countries, in addition to a democratic regression, is an outrage to the human dignity of the people. the CDN-Monteverde calls to put a stop to this, and warns that if this is not done the autocratic wave will continue to grow and cause serious havoc in the region.