[Guardian
Unlimited, U.K.]
La Prensa, Nicaragua
In Obama's Words, President Ortega Must 'Unclench His Fist'
"In his inaugural address,
President Obama uttered some words that appeared to be directed specifically
toward Nicaragua. Obama said, 'To those who cling to power through corruption
and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of
history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your
fist.' The government of Daniel Ortega is one of those which cling to power
through corruption and deceit."
EDITORIAL
Translated By Carly Gatzert
January 21, 2008
Nicaragua-
La Prensa - Original Article (Spanish)
In his inaugural address as the
new President of the United States of America, Barack Obama uttered some words
that appeared to be directed specifically toward Nicaragua. Obama said, “To
those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of
dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will
extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." In saying this,
the new president dispelled the illusion on the part of authoritarian and corrupt rulers, who
believed that because Obama is the political opposite of Bush that he would
somehow pander to them.
The government of Daniel
Ortega is one of those which cling to power through corruption and deceit. His
power is the result of deal-making and fraud, and it seeks to silence those who
dissent; beating them in the street, bossing them around in rotundas, plazas
and other public spaces, financially punishing independent media accusing and
harassing critical journalists and independent leaders of civil society.
While it's true that it is
for the Nicaraguan people to resolve this serious problem of politicians who
“cling to power through corruption and deceit,” it is of great importance that
these politicians, being on “the wrong side of history,” can't even count on
the benevolence of the new President of the United States. According to his
interpretation of President Obama’s speech, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert
Callahan said, “Those countries governed by honest, efficient, and democratic
governments will be our friends and … those who don't respect democracy and
fundamental rights will have problems with the United States, because it's very
difficult for a North American president to support governments that don't
share these basic, fundamental values with us.”
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
OBAMA:
'No hand extended to corrupt and
authoritarian governments ... and no money!'
ORTEGA:
'No explanations about election fraud
to those who extend a hand to us!
[La
Prensa, Nicaragua]
President Obama said,
however, that the United States would extend a hand to such governments if they
are willing to unclench their fist; that is to say, "the fist of
authoritarianism, fraud, corruption, and repression …” This statement reflects
the sentiment expressed in our editorial comment yesterday that, “the best aid
that the United States and other democratic countries in the world can lend to
the people of Nicaragua, is not to help their corrupt and dictatorial
government in any way. To eliminate authoritarianism and recover our democratic
republic, this must be the mission of the Nicaraguan people.”
But this doesn't necessarily
mean a return to the era of bloodshed and the toppling of governments. It would
suffice for Daniel Ortega to open his fist and accept the annulment of the
fraudulent elections of last November; to renounce his intention to reelect
himself or continue governing in any form after 2011; to refrain from accusing
and harassing the media, journalists, organizations of civil society and
democratic dissidents; to seek a democratic national consensus to confront the
grave economic crisis and restore democratic institutions in Nicaragua; to
respect the right to protest freely in streets, plazas, and rotundas; to stop
stripping the Army and the police of any professionalism, etc., etc., etc.
If Ortega were to rectify the
situation; if he were to stop misgoverning and begin to govern democratically
and transparently, not only would he have the open hand of President Obama, but
he would restore the international democratic community's confidence in
Nicaragua. He should peacefully complete his five years in office, and accept
the constructive criticism of a moderate, responsible press that is
unconditionally free and independent.
CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
January 22, 5:05pm]
