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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Nicaragua /Conflict & Security

Ortega: Nicaraguan People Have 'Lost the Fear of Fear' Amidst Invasion Threats

From Confidencial · (1h ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega stated that the populace has "lost the fear of fear" and is no longer intimidated by external threats.
  • Ortega accused Nicaraguans living abroad of promoting an "invasion" against the country from the United States and other nations.
  • He referenced the 2018 sociopolitical crisis, asserting that his opponents were the ones who fled, not his government.

President Daniel Ortega asserted on National Dignity Day that the Nicaraguan people have overcome their fear, even in the face of external threats and alleged calls for invasion. Speaking from Managua, surrounded by state security and government officials, Ortega declared that the nation's youth, in particular, no longer fear fear itself. This defiant stance comes amidst ongoing accusations that exiled Nicaraguans are actively seeking foreign intervention.

Llega un momento en que uno le pierde el miedo al miedo (โ€ฆ) Y aquรญ este pueblo ha perdido el miedo al miedo, esta juventud ha perdido el miedo de tener miedo

โ€” Daniel OrtegaPresident Ortega's declaration that the Nicaraguan people have overcome their fear.

Ortega directed sharp criticism at Nicaraguans residing abroad, particularly in the United States, whom he accused of being "cornered" and actively promoting an "invasion" against their homeland. He drew a parallel with Cuba, suggesting that a people who have long faced external threats, like the Cuban people, have also learned to overcome their fear. For Ortega, the most potent weapon Nicaragua possesses is its "invaluable dignity."

The President revisited the 2018 sociopolitical crisis, framing it as a period when his opponents, rather than his government, were the ones forced to flee. This narrative serves to delegitimize the opposition and reinforce his control, particularly in light of the 2023 release, exile, and denationalization of political prisoners. He highlighted the precarious migratory situations faced by some exiles, including deportation threats, further fueling his confrontational rhetoric.

Los que salieron huyendo fueron ellos. Se montaron en el famoso aviรณn y ahรญ estรกn en los Estados Unidos, y estรกn amenazados por las deportaciones, otros han muerto ahรญ, no se sabe ni cรณmo.

โ€” Daniel OrtegaOrtega's description of his opponents fleeing the country during the 2018 crisis.

Furthermore, Ortega launched an attack on independent media outlets, accusing them of disseminating foreign-sponsored attacks against Nicaragua. This rhetoric aligns with a broader pattern of suppressing dissent and controlling the narrative within the country. From the perspective of Confidencial, Ortega's statements reveal a regime increasingly isolated and reliant on strongman rhetoric to maintain power, while simultaneously attempting to discredit and silence any opposition, both domestically and abroad.

Todos los dรญas estรกn lanzando aquรญ a

โ€” Daniel OrtegaOrtega's accusation against independent media outlets.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Confidencial in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.