Switching now to international news, yesterday, the Permanent Council of the OAS passed a resolution against the Government of Nicaragua for what it calls the "recent deterioration of the political climate and human rights situation" in that country.
International press reports indicate that Nicaragua's President, Daniel Ortega, has rounded up and jailed a number of opposition politicians. Reports are that as many of 13 prominent opposition figures, which include four possible presidential candidates for the upcoming November elections., have been arrested in the past two weeks.
Several democratic nations, including the Biden Administration, have strongly condemned the escalating acts against Nicaragua's democracy. Yesterday, the Permanent Council of the OAS held a virtual special meeting to consider and to pass a resolution against the Nicaraguan Government. Among other actions, the OAS is condemning the suppression of these presidential candidates, political parties, and the independent media.
And, the situation became relevant to Belize when the US Embassy in Belmopan made this post on Twitter last night. It says, quote, "Disappointing to see Belize did not support the joint OAS resolution to hold Nicaragua accountable for the deteriorating human rights situation in that country, and hope that Belize will work with CARICOM and SICA partners to urge Ortega and Murillo to change course..." End quote.
Here's that moment in yesterday's virtual special meeting when Belize abstained during the vote on the resolution:
Today, we contacted, Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay for comment on the tweet from the US Embassy. He pointed us to a joint press release in which Belize makes its position clear.
That statement, which was released 6 days ago, says quote, "The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Spain express their deep concern over the recent actions taken by the Government of Nicaragua against important opposition leaders in that country… We urge their immediate release and the restitution of their political rights... The Nicaraguan people deserve the guarantee of fair, free, independent, transparent, credible, inclusive elections, and with international observation." End quote.
Foreign Affairs Minister Courtenay told us via text message, quote, "The position of Belize was made public on the 11th June 2021. The Americans are well aware of our position." End quote.
