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A30 world news
Diasabra 7 augustus 2021

U.S restricts more visas for Nicaraguans close to government

back surgery, two of his chil- seized computers and docu- ment did not immediately
dren said Friday. ments from Aguirre Sacasa’s comment on the new restric-
home office. tions. In the past, Ortega and
Since his July 27 arrest, the Murillo have maintained
family has received no infor- Nicaraguan authorities re- that widespread protests that
mation about his whereabout leased a statement after the began in April 2018 were an
or condition. arrest saying he would be attempted coup with foreign
held for 90 days as an investi- backing.
“There are no details, there gation proceeded into allega-
is no information, we know tions that he had committed Also Friday, Marcos Car-
absolutely nothing,” said Ro- crimes against Nicaraguan mona, a lawyer and executive
berto Aguirre-Sacasa, one of society. secretary of the nongovern-
the former diplomat’s sons. mental Permanent Commis-
“They say they are following sion on Human Rights, said
“The lawyer says he can’t do the law, but if that were true in a news conference that
anything because the case he would be on the list of police had stopped him from
(AP) — The United States week the government placed doesn’t exist,” said Georgie prisoners, he could talk to us, boarding a flight to Miami
has slapped visa restric- an opposition vice presiden- Aguirre Sacasa, the ex-diplo- they could visit him,” Geor- and taken his passport.
tions on 50 immediate tial candidate under house mat’s daughter. gie Aguirre Sacasa said. “But
family members of Ni- arrest. none of those human rights “This is another abuse by this
caraguan officials who They said their mother visits is being respected in Nicara- government that is violating
have been involved in or “Ortega and (Vice President the Managua prison known gua.” my constitutional rights and
benefited from President and first lady Rosario) Mu- as El Chipote every day, be- protections,” Carmona said.
Daniel Ortega’s growing rillo once again demonstrated cause they suspect he is there, The State Department an- He said he was trying to trav-
repression, the U.S. State that they are afraid of running but his name does not appear nouncement of visa sanctions el for medical attention and
Department said Friday. against anyone who they feel on the list of prisoners. She against 50 Nicaraguans Friday to visit relatives.
might win the support of the takes food, water and medi- follows similar actions taken
The officials include lawmak- Nicaraguan people,” the U.S. cine, but the guards only against 100 others on July On July 29, police arrested
ers, prosecutors and judges. State Department said in a sometimes take the water 12. The U.S. said they were María Oviedo, a lawyer with
Over the past two months, statement. without ever confirming if “believed to be responsible the commission. She remains
Ortega’s government has ar- he is there. for, or complicit in, under- jailed and is being investigat-
rested nearly three dozen op- Among those arrested in re- mining democracy, including ed for alleged crimes against
position figures, including cent weeks was former Ni- Aguirre Sacasa was arrested those with responsibility for, the state.
seven potential challengers caraguan Foreign Minister by police on the highway or complicity in, the suppres-
for the presidency. Francisco Aguirre Sacasa. back to Managua from the sion of peaceful protests or Carmona did not rule out
The 76-year-old was arrested Costa Rican border where abuse of human rights, and that he too could be at risk of
Nicaragua is scheduled to after border police stopped guards had confiscated his the immediate family mem- arrest.
hold national elections Nov. him from leaving Nicaragua passport. When his wife ar- bers of such persons.”
7. Ortega is seeking a fourth to enter Costa Rica. He had rived at their home she found “We are all exposed here,” he
consecutive term and this planned to fly to Houston for police searching it. They The Nicaraguan govern- said.

Offensive coming against Tigray forces in Ethiopia

(AP) — Ethiopia’s spread- sion into the Amhara and treated from Tigray and the the region and chase its “en- U.N. spokesman Farhan
ing Tigray conflict faces a Afar regions in recent weeks resurgent Tigray forces re- emies” even to the capital, Haq told reporters.
fresh wave of fighting as “is testing the federal govern- took key towns and walked Addis Ababa, if needed. They
an Amhara regional of- ment’s patience and push- into the regional capital, Me- have said the prime minister The conflict has strained liv-
ficial says Amhara forces ing it to change its defensive kele, to cheers. The conflict needs to go as one of several ing conditions for millions of
will launch an offensive mood which has been taken erupted in Tigray in Novem- preconditions for talks. Ethiopians, and more across
on Saturday against Ti- for the sake of the unilateral ber after a falling-out be- On Thursday the Tigray the country now fear it will
gray forces who have en- humanitarian cease-fire.” tween Prime Minister Abiy forces entered the Amhara affect them.
tered the region and taken The incursions have dis- Ahmed and the Tigray rul- town of Lalibela, a UNES-
control of a town hosting placed some 300,000 people, ing party that had dominated CO World Heritage Site “There’s serious suffering in
a UNESCO World Heri- it said, accusing the Tigray Ethiopia’s government for for its rock-hewn churches. Tigray. (The Tigray forces)
tage Site. forces of trying to destabilize nearly three decades. Since While one resident told The had an opportunity to stop
Africa’s second most popu- then, thousands of people Associated Press they arrived the military offensive,” Te-
“This is the time for the Am- lous country. have been killed. peacefully, Amhara regional wodrose Tirfe with the Am-
hara people to crush the ter- spokesman Gizachew Mu- hara Association of America
rorist group,” Sema Tiruneh, Ethiopia’s government is A new offensive by the Am- luneh on Friday said the “ter- told the AP. “Instead, they
the Amhara region’s head of “being pushed to mobilize hara regional forces would ror group” that entered the kept on pushing.” He as-
peace and security, told the and deploy the entire defen- go against the federal gov- town is being “routed” by serted that the Tigray forces
regional state-affiliated Am- sive capability of the state” if ernment’s command: “All the public and the Ethiopian aim to create a “favorable
hara Media Corporation on overtures for a peaceful reso- federal and regional, civil army. “Several of them have outcome in a negotiation by
Friday. lution to the conflict are not and military institutions are now surrendered,” he added. creating a humanitarian crisis
reciprocated, the statement ordered to respect the cease- Ethiopia’s government earlier and holding Amhara civilians
“Preparations have been said. fire,” Ethiopia said in its dec- this year declared the Tigray and cities hostage.”
underway to reverse these laration in June. People’s Liberation Front, or
moves and an offensive will A spokesman for the Tigray TPLF, a terrorist group in- Ethiopia’s prime minister
start tomorrow. Freedom forces, Getachew Reda, could While the United Nations stead of a political party. repeated his commitment to
doesn’t come cheap. Every- not immediately be reached and United States raise the the unilateral cease-fire just
one should come forward for comment. alarm about the Ethiopian UNESCO on Friday ex- days ago, U.N. humanitarian
and defend themselves.” government’s continuing pressed concern about the chief Martin Griffiths told
Ethiopia’s government de- near-complete blockade of expansion of the conflict reporters on Friday after his
Separately, Ethiopia’s foreign clared the cease-fire in late the Tigray region and its 6 into Lalibela. “We don’t have meeting with Abiy. “I have no
ministry on Friday warned June during a stunning turn million people, the Tigray firsthand information on any reason to doubt that at all,”
that the Tigray forces’ incur- in the war, as its military re- forces have vowed to secure actual damage being done,” Griffiths said.