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OAS human rights body counts 317 dead in Nicaragua unrest

OAS human rights body counts 317 dead in Nicaragua unrest

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said the toll included 23 minors and 21 police officers.

 

President Daniel Ortega has acknowledged 195 dead, while the independent Nicaraguan Pro-Human Rights Commission has reported 450.

 

The report came as the OAS adopted a resolution calling for the creation of an OAS working group to promote nationwide dialogue for peace.

The OAS rights body said it had verified that Nicaragua’s government has persecuted and criminalized protesters. It said that after protest barricades were forcibly removed between July 19 and 30, authorities used armed hooded men to execute arbitrary and violent arrests. Detainees were not informed of their rights or the charges against them, it added.

 

The commission urged Nicaraguan officials “to promptly and seriously investigate each of these crimes.”

 

The resolution was adopted by 20 votes in favor, eight abstentions and four votes against. The proposal was introduced by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru and the United States.

 

The resolution came less than two weeks after the OAS condemned human rights violations committed by Nicaraguan police and pro-government armed civilian groups.