Central America

Nicaragua sentences seven opposition figures to jail

AFP

Nicaragua has sentenced seven more opposition figures, including three former presidential hopefuls, to up to 13 years in prison, a humanitarian organization said.

Courts in the Central American country led by former left-wing guerrilla Daniel Ortega have found guilty 33 opposition figures out of 46 arrested in the months leading up to last year’s election. Of those found guilty, 25 have now been sentenced.

One of those, former guerrilla-turned dissident Hugo Torres Jimenez, 73, died in prison last month.

Economist Juan Chamorro and political scientist Felix Maradiaga received 13 year sentences while former ambassador Arturo Cruz was given nine years’ jail time, the CENIDH human rights organization said on Twitter late Thursday.

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All three had planned to stand in November’s election prior to their arrests.

They were found guilty of undermining national security having been accused of treason by the government for allegedly supporting foreign sanctions against Ortega and his inner circle.

Former foreign minister Jose Pallais and the ex-president of the business owners union Jose Aguerri were sentenced to 13 years while activists Violeta Granera and Tamara Davila received eight years each.

They were all arrested for alleged breaches of a controversial law that critics say was designed to silence Ortega’s opponents.

The 76-year-old has been in power since 2007. He won November’s elections, which were widely branded a farce by the international community, with 75 percent of the vote.

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All serious potential presidential challengers had been jailed or fled into exile.

Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.