MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nicaragua, in particular the arrest of the bishop Rolando Álvarez

13.9.2022 - ((2022/2827(RSP)(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Marco Campomenosi, Marco Zanni, Anna Bonfrisco, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone
on behalf of the ID Group

B9‑0386/2022

European Parliament resolution on Nicaragua, in particular the arrest of the bishop Rolando Álvarez

((2022/2827(RSP)(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Nicaragua

 

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

 

– having regard to the Council conclusions concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses in Nicaragua,

 

– having regard to the American Convention on Human Rights of 1969 (Pact of San José),

 

– having regard to the Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua,

 

– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas Bishop Rolando Álvarez has been confined to his residence for two weeks along with five priests, a seminarian, and a cameraman of a religious television channel. The priests and the cameraman have reportedly been put in prison in the capital, while the Bishop is under house arrest;

 

B. whereas the Catholic Church in Nicaragua has been under increasing government pressure since opposition protests in 2018 were met with a crackdown that left hundreds dead;

 

C. whereas between April 2018 and May 2022 there were 190 attacks against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua;

 

D. whereas in 2022, the Ortega-Murillo regime banned almost 400 non-profit organisations - many linked to the Catholic Church - depriving them of their legal status, and recently shut down 8 Catholic radio stations and 3 Catholic TV channels

 

E. whereas in March 2022 the Nicaraguan government decided to expel the Apostolic Nuncio amid heightened conflict with the dictatorship, while in July 2022 expelled the Missionaries of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for failing to comply with Law 977 which deals with money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;

 

F. whereas Nicaragua will hold municipal elections on 6 November 2022, amid widespread political persecution and opposition repression;

 

1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the acts of harassment and repression against the Catholic Church, which constitutes a violation of freedom of expression, thought and religion.

 

2. Condemns the arrest of Bishop Alvarez, priests and assistants and calls for their immediate release;
3. Urges the Nicaraguan authorities to stop unduly closing NGOs and restore the legal personality of all organisations, political parties, universities and media outlets that have been arbitrarily shut down;
4. Condemns the illegitimate judicial rulings and calls for the re-establishment of the rule of law, the separation of powers and the independence and impartiality of the judiciary;
5. Recalls its call for the immediate extradition of Alessio Casimirri, an Italian terrorist who has absconded and continues to live in Managua under the protection of the Nicaraguan Government, to Italy, where he must serve six definitive life sentences for his proven involvement in the kidnapping and killing of the former Prime Minister Aldo Moro and the murder of his guards;

 

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Central American Parliament, the Lima Group, and the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Nicaragua.