IDU Resolution on Nicaragua adopted at IDU Executive Meeting, 13 April 2019

The International Democrat Union (IDU) is deeply worried that the social, political and economic crisis in Nicaragua continues to worsen, a year after the demonstrations of April 18th, 2018. According to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) the repressions of the regime in Nicaragua produced 325 dead, more than 2.000 injured, more than 600 are held as political prisoners and tens of thousands of refugees.

Therefore, the IDU:

DEMANDS the end of repression of the government through its security and police forces against the civil population and full respect for freedom of expression, of assembly and protests.

SUPPORTS the national and international demands to release all political prisoners and encourage the return of the Human Rights Organizations of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations (UN) to Nicaragua.

ASKS all political forces of Nicaragua to agree on early Presidential and National Constituent Assembly elections in the next three months. The OAS recommendations for the reform of the election law in Nicaragua must be implemented. A new electoral council, which can act independently from the government and represents all parts of the Nicaraguan society needs to be established before the election in order to ensure the democratic standards of the election. Furthermore, the early election process must comply with the standards of free, fair and transparent elections. A long-term as well as a short-term election observation is essential to guarantee those standards.

Santiago, April 13th, 2019