Protests, calls for attention in Costa Rica as Nicaragua crisis worsens

WASHINGTON, DC – As Nicaraguans and people of Nicaraguan descent protested once more in San José, Costa Rica, against the regime of President Daniel Ortega, Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado called on the government of Nicaragua to follow the recommendations of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR).

In a speech before the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, Alvarado said that timely action by Ortega is “indispensable” because the situation there “is worsening every day.”

“More and more deaths take place, and this difficult situation demands clear signs of true willingness by all parties to engage in dialogue and commit to a work schedule,” Alvarado said, adding that the situation in Nicaragua is “the cause of daily concern and consternation” for Costa Ricans.

At the OAS General Assembly last week, the participating foreign ministers asked the Court to present its findings after a recent visit to Nicaragua, where more than 145 deaths and 1,000 injuries have resulted from anti-government protests, according to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh).

Leaders of the opposition to Ortega’s government said Tuesday that nearly 70 percent of the country’s roads have been blocked to protect cities from attacks by pro-government paramilitary groups.