A marketing campaign poster for President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and his spouse and operating mate. Picture Credit score: Oswaldo Rivas/Agence France-Presse — Getty Photographs.
There’s an outdated saying, “Watch out for Greeks bearing presents.” The expression isn’t about Greeks. It’s about leaders who seize governments and promise the world to the folks.
Sixty years in the past, Fidel Castro got here out of the mountains of the Sierra Maestra in Cuba. He overturned the federal government of the autocrat Fulgencio Batista. Castro promised the Cuban folks freedom, democracy, and equality. Six many years later, the individuals are being overwhelmed and arrested for demonstrating. As a substitute of freedom, the folks acquired political repression. Cuba is now a hungry and poor nation that 1000’s have left.
Hugo Chavez promised Venezuelans meals and freedom from need. He rejected a market economic system in favor of socialism. Quickly the nation was going broke. The state-run enterprises weren’t aggressive. Chavez died, and Nicolás Maduro changed him. Maduro clamped down on elections, the courts, and democratic establishments. Quickly, 1000’s of individuals have been fleeing the nation.
And now, Nicaragua. Daniel Ortega was a Sandinista. Forty years in the past, he helped the nation eliminate Anastasio Samoza, a dictator. Ortega additionally promised his folks freedom and prosperity. Ortega misplaced a free election. He regained the presidency. By his actions, he mentioned he had sufficient of elections and a free press.
Ladies clashed with riot cops throughout a protest in opposition to Mr. Ortega’s authorities, in 2018. Picture Credit score: Inti Ocon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Photographs.
Since 2007, Ortega’s purpose has been to remain in energy. He made this clear in 2018 when he despatched the police to crush demonstrators.
Later elections befell with no actual opposition. That interval is over. Ortega is a brand new model of the outdated mannequin. He has develop into a dictator. Hundreds of Nicaraguans are leaving the nation.
Ortega’s path to regulate of Nicaragua is bringing a brand new period of repression and terror. Observers say it’s one other blow to the USA. The U.S. is making an attempt to create a Central America the place folks need to stay.
Within the run-up to final Sunday’s election, there was a sweep of arrests of candidates. Seven candidates and greater than 150 others have been detained. Ortega turned the nation right into a police state. No dissent is simply too small to crush.
A brand new Nicaraguan legislation mandates as much as 5 years in jail for anybody who says something Ortega sees as a hazard to financial stability or public order. Many voters now refuse to query the Ortega authorities. They’re afraid of getting arrested. Sandinista social gathering individuals are in each neighborhood to verify political actions.
Some thought a right-wing social gathering would possibly be capable of subject a candidate. Officers shut down the social gathering. The president of the social gathering mentioned, “I grabbed my passports, and I ran. I didn’t look again.”
She slipped out within the late afternoon. The police have been out entrance. To succeed in Costa Rica, she trudged by way of rivers on foot and horseback for 14 hours. She turned 71 the day of her journey.
Ortega gained the election.
Democracy is fragile.
Supply: The New York Instances November 7, 2021
