(posted July 25, 11:10 a.m.)- The US government this morning announced that it has renewed Nicaragua’s property waiver until July, 2013, according to a press release issued at 10:45 a.m. by the U.S. Embassy.
The government release said the waiver has been granted “based on the national interest of the United States and due to the efforts by the Government of Nicaragua to offer a solution to the property claims of US citizens.”
In the past year, Nicaragua has resolved 65 property cases of 31 US citizens, the Embassy said. There are 337 pending cases, the Embassy added. The approval of next year’s waiver will depend on the continued resolution of pending cases, the release says.
The Embassy statement also notes that the US government has expressed its concern about the “increasing number” of “transgressions to the private property rights of US citizens.”
“The increase of new cases of land invasions and other forms of usurpation of property is worrisome and demonstrates the deteriorating rule of law in Nicaragua, which continues to be a significant obstacle for investment and the development of the country,” the US Embassy said. “The Government of the United States hopes to obtain a resolution to the pending property cases of US citizens. In the same manner, [the US] hopes that [Nicaragua] will give due attention to the current property problems.”
The cancelation of the property waiver would have jeopardized $1.4 billion in approved development loans over the next five years. The extension of the waiver, however, means that the US will ostensibly continue to support Nicaragua—or at least not lobby against Nicaragua—in international financial institutions.
I would like to point out that a substantial number of the “US citizens” who claim their property in Nicaragua was unlawfully seized are actually Nicaraguan Somocistas who took refuge in the US after they lost power in 1979 and subsequently became naturalized as US citizens. These people are on the whole nothing but gangsters who lost their ill-gotten loot long before they became US citizens. It is a disgrace that the US government goes to bat for this parasitic scum.
And you know this how? Are you involved in processing the claims?
Keep pointing, nobody cares my dear.
98% of the Americans are imported. Once a Gringo always a Gringo and that’s why still at least 80% of the world population would flee to the States if they could.
Besides, gangsters make the streets more fun…
I would like to point out, that 90% of all the Sandinistas wealth, is either stolen from people of both ideaologies or stolen directly from the Nicarguan government.
I would also like to point out that property rights are rights regardless of whether they are Somocistas, Sandinistas, Bugs Bunniestas or Spiderman supporters. The fact that you think its ok to rob people of their rights because of their political alliegance says to everyone here you do not understand nor believe in democracy!
My family had all of their property confiscated, and half my family fought against Somoza. Only 8% was returned. What then??
for Carl big Stool;
Who are you to decide for what ever the US is going to help or not ??
There is not a 2nd class US citizen, We are all the same like it or not.
Nicaragua in the 70′s was under Somoza and now we are under Ortega, (same difference) if the shit hits the fan and you have to look for a safe place for your family, Are they going to call you “Parasitic scum” ?
Carl Stoll, thanks for posting this. I’ve been telling people this for years, I’m Nicaraguan and my uncle who worked for the CIA in the 80s is one of these people! He also is a Nicaraguan citizen, however he now lives in the US and is a US citizen and frequently visits Nicaragua claiming property (as a US citizen) that he obtained illegally during the Somoza reign of terror, and which he subsequently lost. Since he hasn’t been able to have his way he continues to bash the government on one hand while exploiting new avenues on the other. What a shame and sham! And he’s not the only one doing it. Since the revolution stopped them from continuing their shady practices, they now try to sick their pit bull (US government) on the Nicaraguan government, just as United Fruit once did and multinational corporations continue to do. It’s one of the reasons we fell out unfortunately.
@Carl Stoll, you’re right about the Somocistas that naturalized as US citizens. However, I’d like to point out that Obama and Hilary Clinton are hypocrites of the first kind!!!! By extending the waiver to Ortega, they are basically rubber stamping his illegal presidency. The truth of the matter is that there are probably petro-dollars involved since Chavez supports Ortega. So I ask you, how could the US government agree to provide a waiver to a country who’s government is one of the most corrupt in Latin America and lead by a president that has now committed fraud on two elections?
I think it’s important to note the meddlesome nature of the US in Latin America and the multitude of illegal and aggressive political activities that it has yet to pay reparations for in Nicaragua. The US, almost invariably exempt from international law, was found guilty by the ICJ for exploiting and then exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that affected countless lives. Before we start talking about “transgressions” we need to acknowledge our (the US) own. Maybe we need to own up to what we owe as well.
True. US has been meddlesome in LAC under the dynamics of the Cold War. However, at this point, many of my fellow Nicaraguans lament that fact that the US doesnt care enough anymore about Nicaragua when we truly need.
Alas, the boy who cried wolf.
Firstly, The USA needs to extend the property waiver based on technicalities. If they did it would have been based on dirty politics and the results would have not been in the “USA’s interests”. Secondly, people democratically elected Ortega. In the end, it was the choice of the majority of the population to re-elect him even with the knowledge that it might be unconstitutional. The fraud that opposition claims is false. Their might have been irregularities (even in the first world this happens) but even if these irregularities were taken into account then Ortega would have still had the majority of votes. It’s time not to talk about Ortega or Chavez since the majority of voters are choosing for these 2 candidates. The population of these countries are democratically electing them to be president. So all the criticism,disinformation and attacks are actually directed to the population. Latin American politics is finally maturing and a “second wave of independence” has started since a decade and it’s gaining momentum. More importantly, it’s finally creating, for the first time in the history of the
Latin America, a Union between South American states.
Good to see the USA making a mature and correct decision. There are other ways to show disagreements.
@ Damian
You are sooo far from the truth.
First, the CONSTITUTION, you know, that piece of paper where the SUPREME LAW OF LAND is written on… TWICE FORBIDS Ortegas and anyone elses candidacy for a 3rd period in their lifetime and FORBIDS their candidacy for president back-to-back… its the Article 147 of the Nicaraguan Constitution… you should read it sometime.
Second, I was fiscal in the 2008 municipal election and Jefe de Ruta for Distrito V in Managua… both events I personally witnessed voter intimidation, voter fruad, manipulation, theivery, etc etce tec… they robbed the elections that would have made even Somoza cringe. In broad daylight and with no shame whatsoever!
Ortega has effectively destroyed whatever nascient democracy was budding in te ñast 20 years.
Ortega is a UNCONSTITUTIONAL, ILLEGAL AND ILLEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF NICARAGUA….. A DICTATOR.
@ Macho Raton Rivense
Everybody knew Ortega will win. Every poll done showed Ortega the winner, much, much before the voting, even the one paid by La Prensa and the badly called opposition. Quit crying wolf……all you’re showing here is to be a sour looser.
Nicaragua will crumble when people think as you do. When leaders of any party can trample on the founding documents and have their will because the people of the country are so ignorant or bought off that they do not care, the country is in for ruin. Leaders who spit on the constitution and do as they wish will continue in that way – and will use the country for their own ego and gains. So sad that our constitution means nothing to you.
El Macho Raton Rivense & acuyayas, I’m going to once again clarify what I did to Gixmo. Nicaragua’s Supreme Court, NOT Daniel Ortega, declared the Constitution’s ban on re-election unconstitutional. So he did not break any law by running for president again. Term limits are anti democratic by nature. If the will of the people is to re-elect someone they like and are happy with, why should citizens not be allowed that right? That’s Western style, right-wing, anti-government politics, and this is Nicaragua, they are free to choose their own political system! The argument against term limits is simple: People should be able to vote for anyone they want (this is a concept known as democracy). You insist on Ortega’s supposed “unconstitutional” candidacy, but again IT IS constitutional because the constitution was changed, by the Nicaraguan courts, not him! And it was changed way before he got re-elected in 2007. You also fail to mention that he was re-elected by 60% of the popular vote according to the OAS report. So regardless of what you or some might think of Ortega, he did not seize power and is not Nicaragua’s eternal president, he was voted in. BTW, Ortega has lost and surrendered power in elections before, if you want to win elections start running better candidates, and stop being sore losers. And Ortega is NOT the new Somoza. That’s an insult and slap in the face to all the Nicaraguans and Americans who lost their life under that 40 year brutal dictatorship. I’m Nicaraguan and very happy he was re-elected and I will continue to support him as long as he continues to make the positive changes I have personally seen with my own eyes in the country. Once another more qualified candidate comes along, who also has Nicaragua’s best interest at heart and not the US’s then I’ll support them, but until then, Ortega is my man. Damian was right on point, he hit the nail right on the head
Gixmo, how did Ortega commit fraud? To clarify, the country’s Supreme Court, NOT Daniel Ortega, declared the Constitution’s ban on re-election unconstitutional. So he did not break any law by running for president again. Term limits are anti democratic by nature. If the will of the people is to re-elect someone they like and are happy with, why should citizens not be allowed that right? That’s Western style, right-wing, anti-government politics, and this is Nicaragua, they are free to choose their own political system! The argument against term limits is simple: People should be able to vote for anyone they want (this is a concept known as democracy). You insist on Ortega’s supposed “unconstitutional” candidacy, but again IT IS constitutional because the constitution was changed, by the Nicaraguan courts, not him! And it was changed way before he got re-elected in 2007. You also fail to mention that he was re-elected by 60% of the popular vote according to the OAS report. So regardless of what you or some might think of Ortega, he did not seize power and is not Nicaragua’s eternal president, he was voted in. BTW, Ortega has lost and surrendered power in elections before, if you want to win elections start running better candidates, and stop being sore losers. And Ortega is NOT the new Somoza. That’s an insult and slap in the face to all the Nicaraguans and Americans who lost their life under that 40 year brutal dictatorship. Ortega has never dropped political opponents or citizens from helicopters into Volcan Masaya. He has never carpet bombed cities like Esteli and Masaya. He doesn’t have ABC news reporters (Bill Stewart) killed for reporting the truth. Ortega doesn’t torture political opponents, and one of the first things the Sandinista government did was repeal the death penalty. I’m sure you think that’s unconstitutional too? Ortega didn’t steal millions in US Aid after one of the world’s worst earthquakes and refuse to help his own people. So making that lame comparison, that Ortega is anything like the Somoza regime is not just dishonest but insulting. Lay off the cold war / Reagan / Contra nonsense, that stuff is over. You guys lost and got exposed for the war criminals, state sponsors of terrorism that you were… Iran / Contra anyone?
Patetico como pretenden celebrar esta noticia (aprobacion del Waiver) cuando todo lo contrario es cierto, se logro hacer conciencia a nivel mundial de como Ortega pertenece en la lista de los vulgares criminales.
La unica realidad que se desprende de todo esto es de que Ortega esta mas que advertido y con la muy posible y proxima administracion Republicana en DC este no tendra recoveco donde esconderse.
Ha sido una victoria para la decencia humana de que rateros vulgares como Ortega no quedaran impunes
ESA ES LA POLITICA DEL PRESIDENTE OBAMA Y SUS ASESORES CONTRA LOS ENEMIGOS DE LOS .EE.UU.
VAN PARA ATRAS COMO LOS CANGREJOS,ESO QUE HISO EL GOBIERNO DEL PRESIDENTE OBAMA ,NO TIENE NOMBRE.
EL BACHIBURRO Y SUS ASNOS,SEGUIRAN VIOLANDO TODOS LOS DERECHOS DE LOS NICARAGUENSES.LA UNICA MANERA QUE ESTE GOBIERNO DICTATORIAL APRENDERA HACER LAS COSAS BIEN,ES CUANDO EL PUEBLO SE LEVANTE EN ARMAS.
[...] [...]
[...] budding economy was not deployed. Instead, the U.S. government yesterday dropped another property waiver on Nicaragua, successfully concluding another politically tense go-round between the two countries, [...]
OK, Bill Clinton has had enough of Obama-itis and Bush-Wackers. He says if the people want him back, then who/what should stop him from running again, per “Ortega-isms”, “if the people want him, who cares about the Constitution”?
Wars are declared by Congress right? When has the last American died in a Constitutionally declared War? The US party leaders “stomp” on the US Constitution when ever they want to, bankrupting the nation and killing tens of thousands of US citizens and hundreds of thousands of “others” without the peoples “vote” in either “confidence” or at the polling booth.
So Ortega won (illegally), why not just change or throw out the Constituiton and make the term for “life”, just change it for the same reason? Terms now for Presidents and Supreme Court have been changed on whim anyway.
Seems like both nations pick and choose what parts of the Constitution to follow and which ones to bypass, whether the “people” want it that way or not.
Power Corrupts, money is power, therefore money corrupts.
Who that holds the purse strings, dictate! Who has the $ in both the US or Nicaragua?
The sum of the related “aide” that the waiver influenced was about $1.5 Billion dollars for a 5 year period, about the same amount as the US spends PER DAY for buying special interests products of war around the planet, bankrupting a nation built upon one of the most important man made documents/instraments ever devised, the Constitution of the US.
If every democratic nation had the checks and balances that the constitution allows and were followed, then we have a democratic process worth supporting, but the key words are FOLLOWED.
Not allowing the waiver does hurt the Nicaraguan economy, and if the wavier weren’t allowed, the powers that be would not be affected, they are already “loaded”. That’s the problem, it doesn’t legitimize the government by allowing it’s waiver, but it does say that to “help” Nicaraguans they are admitting that they have no control over the governing bodies who refuse to fulfil the agreements intended by granting the waiver.
It is better to have a substantially-compliant Ortega than an alienated dictaror befriending Iran in America’s backyard. This, arguably, is a strong contention for the “national interest of the United States” basis for issuing the waiver. If we closely look at American foreign policy, that is the one where we give North Korean millons in food aid, billions to keep the peace between Palestinians and Israelis, and over a trillion in war expenditures in Iraq (which by the way to-date we have yet to get a drop of their oil at discounted rate) – the waiver is largely a symbolic gesture. As the old adage goes: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
Nicaragua’s property waiver should continue until ALL properties owned and or inherited in Nicaragua by US citizens are recuperated.This is good for those in the US that own property in Nicaragua to invest in Nicaragua and to foster good faith and legal rights to all foreign investors in Nicaragua. Those that say, “Gringos” have no protection under Nicaragua’s constitution, and other abrasive comments such as “this is Obama’s politics” are setting Nicaragua back to the dark ages. If Nicaraguans own property in the US and they return to Nicaragua should that property be confiscated? Do onto others….
[...] the U.S. government recently extended Nicaragua’s property waiver through 2013—thanks in part to 65 resolved cases last year—respect for private property rights remains a [...]
You people who think Nicaragua will make it under such corrupt politics have the game twisted. You people are the kind of people who shouldn’t be here in the great country of the usa. All who support the great dictator wannbe of ORTEGA, Hugos puppet Why don’t you move back and enjoy! Loosers……..bastards took our land. By the way loosers street peddling wasn’t something common when we were around.