Nicaraguan court blocks
law aimed at keeping
citizen councils out of
federal government
The Associated Press
MANAGUA, Nicaragua: A
Nicaraguan appeals court
Wednesday blocked a
recently approved law
designed to keep
President Daniel Ortega
from creating citizen
councils as part of his
government.
Critics say the councils
are similar to groups
used by Ortega to spy on
opponents during the
1980s, when U.S.-backed
Contra rebels fought to
overthrow his first run
as Nicaragua's leader.
Ortega was forced out by
an electoral defeat in
1990, but returned to
the presidency in
January after winning
elections a year ago.
Under a measure passed
by lawmakers, the
councils would be
allowed to exist just
like any other
politically active
group, but could not be
directly linked to the
presidency.
Ortega vetoed the law
earlier, but opposition
legislators gathered
enough votes Tuesday for
an override.
Members of the citizen
councils argued the bill
is unconstitutional,
however, and won an
injunction against its
publication, which would
have made it law.
Appeals court president
Gerardo Rodriguez said
the tribunal instructed
the president of
Congress to hold off on
publishing the measure
until it can be reviewed
by the Supreme Court.
Opposition lawmakers
walked out of Congress
on Wednesday to protest
what they called an
illegal injunction.
"Appealing (the bill's)
constitutionality can't
stop the law," said
Eduardo Montealegre, who
lost last year's
election to Ortega.
Ortega said late Tuesday
that he would create the
councils Nov. 30, no
matter what Congress
decided.
"They are making a huge
mistake in denying the
right of the people to
organize," he said.
"It's absurd." |
|
