In an effort to articulate a joint response to the political crisis that Nicaragua is going through, various Nicaraguan organizations in exile signed the proclamation “April, month of memory and coordination for freedom.”
The signatories join “the cry of ‘no more’, which is heard in Nicaragua and in all countries where around 20 percent of the population has been forced to emigrate.”
The text states that 2026 should mark a turning point to end what they describe as the “suffering and barbarism” suffered by the Nicaraguan population.
This citizen mobilization seeks channel the “spirit of April”a month that they consider “sacred in the civic memory of Nicaragua” for representing the defense of human dignity and the right to live in freedom in the face of injustice.
The proclamation pays tribute to those who lost their lives during the 2018 protests, emphasizing that the demand for justice remains valid both within the national territory and in the diaspora.
The text explicitly mentions citizens murdered between April 19 and 21, 2018, among them:
- Darwin Manuel Urbina
- Richard Pavon
- Hilton Manzanares
- Alvaro Conrado
- Franco Valdivia Machado
- Marvin Jose Vargas
- José Abraham Amador
- Cristian Emilio Cadenas
- Kevin Antonio Coffin Reyes
- Jonathan Eduardo Morazán.
According to subscribers, these names symbolize the thousands of victims of a repressive system that, they say, continues to operate through the takeover of institutions, citizen persecution and the stripping of nationality from opponents.
The text qualifies to the current model as a control device “exhausted” that lacks democratic, moral and legal legitimacy.
Commitments for a democratic transition
The signatories assume the commitment to return the exercise of sovereignty to the Nicaraguan people through effective coordination of actions. Among the fundamental pillars of its proposal are:
- Release of political prisoners: Redouble efforts for the full freedom of people detained for political reasons and those under forced disappearance.
- Civic action and non-violence: Implement joint plans to weaken and isolate the administration of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, respecting the diversity of voices within the opposition.
- Transitional Justice: Promote a model that guarantees truth, justice, reparation and commitment to non-impunity, including the purging of the Police and the Army.
- Structural Reforms: They propose the election of a National Constituent Assembly that establishes clear limits on power and converts the prohibition of absolute reelection into a “stone norm.”
Likewise, the document contemplates the consolidation of a “Nation Plan” and a scheduled strategy to establish a transitional government that repeals repressive laws and guarantees the safe return of exiles.
Call to the international community
The statement dedicates a relevant section to international incidence. Urges the Organization of American States (OAS) to approve a resolution that formally recognizes the “illegitimacy of the Ortega Murillo regime and the breakdown of the constitutional order.”
This request is based on the OAS’ previous statement on the 2021 election results and the position of the US State Department regarding the appointment of Rosario Murillo as “co-president.”
Subscribers are grateful for the support of the governments of the European Union and America, with special mention to the United States for its constant pressure in the face of reported abuses. They also recognize the work of organizations such as the UN Human Rights Council, the IACHR, the MESENI and the GIEI in documenting human rights violations.
Finally, the proclamation invites all political, economic and social forces to join this effort of democratic restoration, prioritizing the interests of the nation over personal or group agendas, with the aim of achieving a “free, fair and democratic Nicaragua.”
Below is the full proclamation:
