Human Rights in Nicaragua Under the Sandinistas

In July 1979, the Sandinista-led revolutionary junta pledged to the people of Nicaragua and the Organization of American States that it would fully respect human rights. The Sandinistas have systematically violated this pledge, trampling on the rights of the Nicaraguan people as they pushed aside the democratic members of the original revolutionary coalition and worked to consolidate their Marxist-Leninist regime. Sandinista 'mass organizations' serve as an intelligence network and provide a mechanism for social control. The record shows that Sandinista violation of human rights is a primary cause of the growing resistance to their regime, not a result. Whereas Nicaragua was united in 1979, the Sandinistas’ betrayal of the revolution has divided the nation. The Sandinistas have attempted to crush groups that oppose their Marxist-Leninist system, including democratic parties, the private sector, independent labor confederations, and even the church. They have suppressed the free press, directly controlling the television system, most radio stations, and both of the country’s newspapers. Contents include the human rights commissions, instruments of repressions, integrity of the person, basic civil rights, basic political rights, and the Indians and Creoles of the Atlantic Coast.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.