- Asian markets swing as China economic growth slows
- Pogba's shadow looms over Juve as revitalised Lazio come to town
- 'Unbelievable' Raphinha leading Barca into tricky triple-header
- In-form Marmoush and Frankfurt hope to tackle history at wounded Leverkusen
- Britain's Lammy in China to 'challenge' Beijing on Russia support
- Manila's car counters help address 'world's worst traffic'
- British racing attendances falling behind, says Qatar Racing's manager
- Rain forces cancellation of opening practice for Australian MotoGP
- Dupont 'beyond surprise' for Toulouse's Kinghorn
- Drought forces Big Tech to rethink thirsty LatAm data centers
- Countries under pressure to fork out for nature at UN conference
- Biden, allies in Berlin to renew Gaza truce call after Hamas leader killed
- Guardians rally to fry Yankees in 10 innings in MLB playoff thriller
- World Bank president focused on job creation ahead of annual meetings
- World Bank chief says lender's climate goals likely safe under Trump
- Japan's core inflation rate slows in September
- King Charles set to arrive in Australia for landmark tour
- Nadal defeated by 'animal' Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia as career nears end
- US charges Indian agent over alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist
- Musk stumps for Trump in key US swing state
- TikTok, Facebook approve ads with US election disinformation, study says
- Purdy and 49ers face Chiefs in Super Bowl rematch
- Kenya deputy president ousted in historic impeachment
- One Direction members 'devastated' by Liam Payne's death
- Norris shrugs off Red Bull 'trick' of the trade at US Grand Prix
- Chelsea, Lyon ease to wins in Women's Champions League
- China expected to post slowing growth as economic woes drag
- Yamasaki brings keirin world title home as Japan takes two track golds
- Netflix adds millions of subscribers but growth slows
- 'Deeply misguided' to wall US off with tariffs: Yellen
- Biden farewell visit to Berlin focused on Ukraine, Mideast wars
- Sinwar killing a blow to Hamas but impact on war uncertain
- Mitzi Gaynor, star of 'South Pacific,' dies aged 93
- Trump says Zelensky 'should never have let' Ukraine war start
- Hayes turns focus to US women's World Cup goal
- Zelensky seeks EU, NATO backing for 'victory plan'
- Bosch stuns Australia as South Africa reach Women's T20 World Cup final
- What we know about One Direction star Liam Payne's death
- Nicotine pouches rise in popularity as US youth tobacco use hits 25-year-low
- Mendis clinches Sri Lanka series win over West Indies
- Israel says killed Hamas chief Sinwar in Gaza
- Panel urges Secret Service shake-up after Trump assassination bid
- Trump, Harris back on friendly ground after tough interrogations
- Pressure on Ten Hag is 'too much': Brentford boss Frank
- Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar: Israel's most wanted man
- ECB bans transgender women from women's professional cricket
- Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG
- Kenya deputy president impeachment trial in chaos after he falls ill
- English coaches 'capable' of managing national team, says Southampton boss
- Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies retires from international rugby
CMSD | -0.52% | 25.02 | $ | |
SCS | 0.53% | 13.21 | $ | |
NGG | -1.41% | 67.19 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.52% | 24.79 | $ | |
BCC | -3.38% | 142.2 | $ | |
RIO | -1.32% | 65.09 | $ | |
RBGPF | 0.69% | 60.92 | $ | |
BTI | -1.22% | 35.37 | $ | |
BP | 1.25% | 31.32 | $ | |
RELX | 0.91% | 48.59 | $ | |
GSK | -0.64% | 38.96 | $ | |
BCE | 0.03% | 33.49 | $ | |
VOD | -1.23% | 9.73 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.15 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.68% | 7.4 | $ | |
AZN | -0.37% | 78.02 | $ |
Calls grow to free Nicaragua prisoners after Ortega opponent dies
Calls mounted Monday for dozens of opposition figures jailed in Nicaragua to be freed after the death of a would-be presidential candidate fueled fears for the health and safety of others.
Hugo Torres, a 73-year-old former guerrilla companion of now-President Daniel Ortega, died in detention Saturday after concerns were repeatedly expressed for his well-being.
Other inmates, too, are in dire straits, according to family members and rights defenders who say the prisoners are malnourished, losing weight, teeth and memory, and getting weaker by the day.
"Many are facing a serious risk to health and life," former Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) president Antonia Urrejola said on Twitter.
The European Union, via external affairs spokesman Peter Stano, called for "the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners... subjected to inhumane detention conditions" in Nicaragua.
And US State Department assistant secretary Brian Nichols said that "continuing to detain prisoners under these conditions, especially the elderly, is unacceptable. We urge their immediate release."
Costa Rican Foreign Minister Rodolfo Solano expressed "concern" about the health of the remaining detainees and in a statement urged Nicaragua to allow a visit by representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Organization of American States (OAS) said it "categorically condemns the persecution and arbitrary detention" of Nicaraguans and urged the immediate release of all political prisoners.
"The General Secretariat of the OAS considers the fact of keeping political prisoners, with terminal illnesses and without necessary medical assistance, an abominable act, violating their fundamental rights," it said in a statement.
- 'Inhumane' -
Torres, who had risked his own life to break Ortega out of jail in the 1970s during the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship, later became a critic of the president and entered opposition politics.
But ahead of elections last November in which Torres was to be a candidate, he was arrested along with dozens of other opposition figures -- seven of them presidential hopefuls.
The prosecutor's office did not state the cause of Torres's death, and said that he was transferred to a hospital "from the moment his health condition deteriorated."
But Monica Baltodano, a Torres ally now living in exile, said he was taken to hospital on December 17, already unconscious and long suffering ill health.
Jared Genser, a lawyer for some of the detainees, said from Miami that Torres's death was "completely avoidable and predictable" and "likely not the last."
In total, Ortega's government detained 46 opposition figures including Torres, accusing them of undermining Nicaragua's "national integrity."
To date, 18 have been found guilty and seven sentenced to prison terms of between eight and 13 years.
Another 124 detractors have been in jail since anti-government protests in 2018 met with a brutal crackdown that resulted in 355 deaths and more than 100,000 people fleeing into exile, according go the IACHR.
The Costa Rica-based rights advocacy group Center for Justice and International Law called for the "unconditional liberation" of Nicaragua's "political prisoners" and said Torres's death must not go unpunished.
Ortega, 76, was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in November elections dismissed as an undemocratic "farce" by the international community, which tightened sanctions in response.
T.Resende--PC