The dictator of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortegaproposed the creation of the Volunteer Police as an auxiliary and support body to the National Policein an initiative for partial reform of the Constitution released this Wednesday by the National Assembly (Parliament). Opponents have pointed out that this measure could lead to the formation of parapolice and paramilitary forces.
“The Voluntary Police is created as an auxiliary and support body for the National Police, made up of Nicaraguan citizens who provide their services voluntarily,” states the constitutional reform proposal sent the day before to Parliament, where the Sandinistas have a majority. absolute.
Although the figure of Volunteer Police does not exist in the Constitution, Ortega stated in September 2022 that the Army, the Police and the “voluntary police” helped restore “peace” in Nicaragua after the popular revolt that broke out in April 2018 due to controversial social security reforms that left hundreds of dead.
According to humanitarian and opposition organizations, these armed civilians are “parapolice and paramilitary groups” who acted with the acquiescence of the National Police in the so-called ‘Operation Cleaning’ with which the regime neutralized the demonstrations against them.
The initiative also establishes that the Presidency of the Republic may order the intervention of the Nicaraguan Army in support of the National Police, when the stability of the Republic requires it.
Furthermore, it defines the Nicaraguan Army as the “direct heir” of the Army in Defense of National Sovereignty of the Nicaraguan hero, General Augusto C. Sandino, and of the Sandinista Popular Army (1979-1995), and that “it is the people themselves in uniform and organized to defend peace, sovereignty, independence, self-determination and territorial integrity.”
The project indicates that the Army will be under the command of the Presidency of the Republic as Supreme Headquarters, and must maintain protection, respect and subordination to this Constitution, and that it is an obedient and non-deliberative institution.
It also prohibits the establishment of foreign military bases in the national territory, and the transit or parking of ships, aircraft, machinery and foreign military personnel may only be authorized for humanitarian purposes, training, instruction and exchange, provided that it is requested by the Presidency of the Republic and ratified by the National Assembly. .
Meanwhile, the initiative defines the National Police as an armed body subordinate to the Presidency of the Republic, in charge of protecting the lives of the country’s inhabitants, preserving social order and internal order, guaranteeing the security of people and institutions, among others.
While the Ministry of the Interior is the State institution that is responsible for implementing, maintaining and executing the necessary measures to guarantee citizen security, State security and internal order, and which depends on the authority exercised by the Presidency of the Republic.
The initiative also establishes that “there cannot be more armed forces in the national territory than those established in the Constitution, nor military ranks than those established by law.”
Also that there will be no compulsory military service and that all forms of forced recruitment to join the Nicaraguan Army, National Police and the Ministry of the Interior are prohibited.
In the bill for the General Budget of the Republic 2025, presented last October, Ortega proposed increasing the budget for the National Police, the Nicaraguan Army, and the Ministry of the Interior to guarantee citizen security and the defense of national sovereignty.
Nicaragua has been experiencing a political and social crisis since April 2018, which has worsened after the controversial November 2021 elections in which President Ortega, in power since 2007, was re-elected for a fifth term, fourth consecutive and second along with his wife, Rosario Murillo, as vice president, with his main contenders in prison.
(With information from EFE)
