Ortega will ask Costa Rica to hand over refugees

Daniel Ortega said on Wednesday that he’ll ask Costa Rica to hand over Nicaraguan refugees that committed crimes during protests and political crisis in Nicaragua. Costa Rica responded that information regarding refugees is confidential.

Ortega said he’ll ask Costa Rica for “a list of people seeking asylum,” to point out who committed crimes during protests and should face justice.

“We’re going to tell them with all clarity and if the [Costa Ricans] want to leave them there, that’s their problem,” Ortega said during a party function.

After his statements, the minister of foreign relations of Costa Rica said via WhatsApp that they “can’t give information about asylum seekers or refugees” because that information is confidential.

Ortega also said that Nicaraguans that haven’t committed crimes can return and won’t be prosecuted or attacked.

“Those who feel free of sin can come back with the assurance that no one is going to detain them,” Ortega said.

The Nicaraguan president said that between April and June some 26,000 people had left to Costa Rica “not because they’re criminals,” but because of the political situation in Nicaragua.

Since the protests started on April 18, more than 300 people have died and more than 2,000 have been injured. There is still an unknown number of detained and missing people.

The United Nations said 23,000 people have fled to Costa Rica to seek asylum due to the political crisis in Nicaragua.

An anti-government protester makes a graffiti reading "Daniel out", referring to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, during a march dubbed "United Nicaragua will never be defeated" in Granada, Nicaragua on August 25, 2018. Thousands marched Saturday in different cities in Nicaragua demanding the freedom of political prisoners and the removal of President Daniel Ortega, as Ortega's supporters demonstrated for him. AFP Photo / Inti Ocon