Ortega Regime Perpetrates Attack on Freedom by Expelling Human Rights Defender, Says Ros-Lehtinen

Statement

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement after the Ortega regime detained and expelled Freedom House's Latin America Director, Dr. Carlos Ponce. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"It comes as no surprise that Carlos -- a man who recently testified to Congress regarding attacks on freedom of the press in Latin America -- was denied entry and expelled by Nicaragua's thug Daniel Ortega. The Ortega regime has shown an intolerance for democratic values and Carlos has had a long and distinguished record with Freedom House of reporting abuses against human rights and democracy in the region.

"Treating Carlos like a criminal and surrounding him with armed guards is a desperate attempt from a despotic ruler to silence those who call attention to the regime's woeful human rights record. If this is another example on how the Ortega regime tramples on human rights, how can the Obama administration expect Ortega to allow free and fair presidential elections this year?

"The Obama administration must wake up and not allow Ortega to continue to use these tactics in an effort to curtail its negative image, and instead condemn it for what it really is: a regime that flagrantly disregards the Nicaraguan Constitution, wantonly violates the human rights of the Nicaraguan people, and no friend of the United States."

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