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RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENT FOR USING VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION TO SUPPRESS POLITICAL OPPOSITION; URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE DIPLOMATIC ACTION; URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PASS S. 2265, H.R. 1918, S. 972, OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW IN NICARAGUA

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WHEREAS, Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua�s current President and former Sandinista revolutionary, has been the subject of protest by thousands of Nicaraguans who have recently staged the largest popular uprising since the end of the nation�s civil war nearly 30 years ago; and
WHEREAS, while many of the protests originally began as small demonstrations by college students railing against Ortega�s decision to cancel old-age pensions, they have since transformed into an expression of the many grievances Nicaraguans have with their government, including Ortega�s meddling in the National Assembly, the elections council, mayoral races, and the Constitution; and
WHEREAS, chief among these concerns are complaints that Ortega has eliminated presidential term limits and selected his wife, Rosario Murillo, as his vice-presidential candidate in 2016; and
WHEREAS, although Ortega announced that he was reversing the social security overhaul, protests have continued as stakeholders from the Catholic Church, bankers, and students seek to open a dialogue with Ortega; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Embassy in the capital city of Managua removed all nonessential personal and family members on April 23, 2018 after five full days of violent clashes between antigovernment protestors and Ortega�s enforcers; and
WHEREAS, news reports from Managua have shown thugs on motorcycles beating protestors with pipes and electrical cords, a journalist assassinated while live on the air, and police officers looting stores; and
WHEREAS, at least 45 people, mostly student protestors, have been killed in street protests since demonstrations began in mid-April 2018, with more than 400 others wounded; and
WHEREAS, violence should never be used to silence political opposition, especially in a country where Ortega is often reelected with a mere plurality of the popular vote; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R � Texas) and U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R � Florida) have introduced congressional bills directing the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to oppose any loan for the government of Nicaragua�s benefit, other than for basic human needs, unless the Department of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking certain steps to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, the bills aim to support the rule of law and an independent judiciary and electoral council in Nicaragua, free and fair elections overseen by credible international observers, and government anti-corruption and transparency efforts in Nicaragua; and
WHEREAS, this Board believes that Ortega�s dictatorship necessitates a response from the United States government and the Organization of American States,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Condemns the Nicaraguan government for using violence and intimidation to suppress political opposition.
Section 2. Urges the federal government and the Organization of American States to take appropriate diplomatic action to help restore public safety and order to Nicaragua.
Section 3. Urges the United States Congress to pass S. 2265, H.R. 1918, S. 972, or similar legislation designed to promote democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to United States Senator Ted Cruz, United States Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of State, and the United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States.
Section 5. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the legislative action described in Section 3 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2018 Federal Legislative Package to include this item.