International
Nicaragua accuses Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic of interference
The Government of Nicaragua accused the countries of the Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic region of meddling in their internal affairs after rejecting the candidacy of former Nicaraguan Chancellor Denis Moncada as the new secretary general of the Central American Integration System (SICA), according to an official text released on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Sandinista Executive chaired by Daniel Ortega together with his wife, Rosario Murillo, explained that on Tuesday afternoon a meeting of SICA Foreign Ministers was held to decide on the terna that was presented in a “responsible and timely manner by Nicaragua to exercise the General Secretariat of the SICA, which corresponds by law and institutionality of the System, to the people and Government of Nicaragua, without reaching consensus for the arbitrary and unfounded positions of some delegations.”
Ortega and Murillo, both appointed co-presidents for a recent reform of the Political Constitution, proposed a terna of candidates headed by former Chancellor Moncada and also composed of Sandinista deputy Arling Patricia Alonso Gómez and Minister of the Family, Johana Flores, after two previous ternas presented did not reach consensus.
“Once again, the delegations of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic, meddling in the internal and sovereign affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua, intend to dictate and impose their criteria and political interests on sovereign matters, which only correspond to the people and Government of the Republic of Nicaragua to decide,” Managua said.
Managua denounced that “selfish political agendas and interests, unrelated to the regional interest (…) continue to influence the decisions of the Governments that have blocked the legitimate right of the Republic of Nicaragua, with the petty purpose of imposing their political interests.”
For Nicaragua, “these actions only promote division between the peoples and governments of the region, promoting the accelerated disintegration of this important regional space, an attitude that constitutes a frank violation of the Tegucigalpa Protocol.”
Therefore, Managua called on the governments of the region “to assume a responsible position and to act on the basis of the Regional Regulations and Presidential Agreements that govern the Integration System, but above all to assume an attitude consistent with the interests of our peoples,” and assured that “it will not decline in its struggle for respect for their sovereignty and national dignity.”
At the end of last November, Nicaragua threatened Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic with taking “some measures” against them for opposing the election of former Chancellor Moncada as the new secretary general of the SICA, and described a joint note issued by those four countries in this regard as “disrespectful and imposing”.
The General Secretariat of SICA has been vacant since in mid-November 2023 the Nicaraguan lawyer Werner Vargas resigned from the position for the period 2022-2026, appointed as Nicaragua’s proposal.
The SICA, created in Tegucigalpa in 1991, is integrated by Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic as full members, while Mexico, the United States and other countries have the category of regional observers.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
International
Díaz-Canel Calls for Talks With Washington Without Pressure as U.S. Tightens Oil Sanctions
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Thursday that his government is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, provided that talks take place on equal terms and without pressure.
“Cuba is prepared to hold a dialogue with the United States on any issue that either side wishes to discuss,” Díaz-Canel said during a press conference broadcast nationwide on radio and television.
He stressed, however, that such dialogue would only be possible “without pressure, without preconditions, on the basis of equality, and with full respect for our sovereignty, independence, and self-determination.” The Cuban leader added that discussions should avoid issues that could be interpreted as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Díaz-Canel’s remarks come at a time when Cuba is facing growing pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has implemented a series of measures that have restricted the island’s access to fuel needed to generate electricity.
Washington has sought to prevent Cuba from receiving oil from Venezuela, its main ally for more than two decades, and has stepped up pressure to reduce crude shipments from Mexico. In addition, Trump signed an executive order in late January allowing the United States to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba.
In that order, the U.S. president declared that Cuba represents an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy, accusing the island of aligning itself with hostile countries and actors.
International
HRW Warns Trump’s Influence Has Weakened Human Rights in Latin America
Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the political influence and rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump have contributed to a deterioration of human rights conditions across Latin America and the Caribbean. In its World Report 2026, the organization stated that several governments in the region have committed abuses against migrants and citizens, or have used U.S. policies as justification to impose harsher repressive measures.
During the first year of Trump’s new term, HRW observed that multiple countries violated the rights of foreign nationals under direct pressure from Washington. Other governments deepened security strategies based on militarization, mass detentions and excessive use of force, according to the report.
“The impact of the Trump administration has undoubtedly been negative in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Juanita Goebertus, HRW’s Americas director. However, she emphasized that “governments in the region remain responsible for defending democracy and fundamental rights, regardless of who is in power in Washington.”
HRW also reported that the United States significantly reduced cooperation funding for human rights organizations and independent media. At the same time, countries such as El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador passed laws allowing the arbitrary closure of civil society organizations and media outlets, weakening democratic systems and institutional checks and balances.
The organization further criticized what it described as a “double standard” in U.S. foreign policy, which condemns human rights violations in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua while overlooking serious abuses committed by allies such as El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador. The report also included criticism of the U.S. military attack against Venezuela in early 2026, warning that it could strengthen Nicolás Maduro’s regime and respond primarily to U.S. political and commercial interests.
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