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A6 WORLD NEWS
Friday 10 February 2023
Nicaragua frees 222 opponents of Ortega, sends them to U.S.

By GABRIELA SELSER and quire a second vote in the
AAMER MADHANI next legislative session later
Associated Press this year.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Some Wilma Nuñez, president
222 inmates considered by of the Nicaragua Center
many to be political prison- for Human Rights, said in a
ers of the government of statement that while the
Nicaraguan President Dan- prisoners’ release was wel-
iel Ortega flew to Washing- come, “deportation is a le-
ton on Thursday, U.S. Secre- gal term that applies to for-
tary of State Antony Blinken eigners who commit crimes
said. Blinken said the pris- in a country.
oners had been jailed “for Arturo McFields, Nicara-
exercising their fundamen- gua’s former ambassa-
tal freedoms and have en- dor to the Organization of
dured lengthy unjust de- American States, celebrat-
tentions.” ed the release, which he
“The release of these indi- said the U.S. State Depart-
viduals, one of whom is a ment had confirmed to
U.S. citizen, by the govern- him. “It is a massive freeing”
ment of Nicaragua marks a of prisoners seldom seen,
constructive step towards Police stand guard at a holding center known as “El Chipote,” officially called the Judicial McFields said. He credited
addressing human rights Assistance Directorate, as they face demonstrators, on the other side of the fence, protesting the the prisoners’ families for
abuses in the country and arrests of anti-government protesters in Managua, Nicaragua, April 25, 2018. never letting up the pres-
opens the door to further Associated Press sure. Other one-time presi-
dialogue between the Unit- release them. released. istrate on the Managua dential hopefuls Arturo
ed States and Nicaragua Ortega has maintained The U.S. official said the Appeals court, said the Cruz and Juan Sebastian
regarding issues of con- that his imprisoned oppo- freed prisoners will be pa- deportation was carried Chamorro were also on the
cern,” Blinken said. nents and others were be- roled for humanitarian rea- out under an order issued flight, U.S. officials said.
He said that among those hind 2018 street protests sons into the United States Wednesday that declared Ortega upped his pursuit of
on the plane were politi- that he claims were a plot for a period of two years. the prisoners “traitors to the political opponents in early
cal and business leaders, to overthrow him. Tens of The official said all of those country.” He said they were 2021, looking to clear the
journalists, civil society rep- thousands have fled into who left Nicaragua did so deported for actions that field ahead of presidential
resentatives and students. exile since Nicaraguan se- voluntarily and are to re- undermined Nicaragua’s elections in November of
Blinken credited “concert- curity forces violently put ceive medical and legal independence and sover- that year. Security forces
ed American diplomacy.” down those antigovern- assistance upon arrival in eignty. arrested seven potential
A senior Biden administra- ment protests. the U.S. Later Thursday, Nicara- presidential contenders
tion official, speaking on The Nicaraguan opposi- A Nicaraguan judge read gua’s Congress unani- and Ortega romped to a
condition of anonymity, tion’s latest count on “po- a statement saying the 222 mously approved a consti- fourth consecutive term in
had said earlier that the litical prisoners” held had prisoners had been “de- tutional change allowing elections that the U.S. and
government of Nicaragua been 245. It was not imme- ported.” “traitors” to be stripped of other countries termed a
decided “unilaterally” to diately clear who was not Octavio Rothschuh, a mag- their nationality. It will re- farce.q

Australian Defense Department to remove Chinese-made cameras

By ROD McGUIRK ment of Foreign Affairs and Australian Defense Minister cameras are found, they’re dance with market princi-
Associated Press Trade. Hikvision and Dahua Richard Marles said his de- going to be removed,” ples and international rules,
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) are partly owned by Chi- partment is assessing all its Marles told Australian and on the basis of compli-
— Australia’s Defense De- na’s Communist Party-ruled surveillance technology. Broadcasting Corp. “There ance with local laws.”
partment will remove sur- government. “Where those particular is an issue here and we’re “We hope Australia will
veillance cameras made going to deal with it.” provide a fair and non-
by Chinese Communist Par- Asked about Australia’s discriminatory environment
ty-linked companies from decision, Chinese Foreign for the normal operation of
its buildings, the govern- Ministry spokesperson Mao Chinese enterprises and do
ment said Thursday after Ning criticized what she more things that are con-
the U.S. and Britain made called “wrongful practices ducive to mutual trust and
similar moves. that overstretch the con- cooperation between the
The Australian newspaper cept of national security two sides,” she told report-
reported Thursday that at and abuse state power to ers at a daily briefing.
least 913 cameras, inter- suppress and discriminate The U.S. government said
coms, electronic entry sys- against Chinese enterpris- in November it was ban-
tems and video recorders es.” ning telecommunications
developed and manufac- Without mentioning Aus- and video surveillance
tured by Chinese compa- tralia by name, Mao said equipment from several
nies Hikvision and Dahua the Chinese government prominent Chinese brands
are in Australian govern- has “always encouraged including Hikvision and Da-
ment and agency offices, This shows a Chinese Dahua brand security camera in Sydney, Chinese enterprises to car- hua in an effort to protect
including the Defense De- Australia, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. ry out foreign investment the nation’s communica-
partment and the Depart- Associated Press and cooperation in accor- tions network.q