In an effort led by the FSLN, to bring peace and reconciliation, Nicaragua’s National Assembly has approved a law that will provide amnesty for those involved with right-wing violence during the destabilization process last year.
The new law will grant a one-off amnesty to those who committed crimes during the right-wing protests last year. It will apply equally to those with or without active cases against them.
The law was proposed by 70 lawmakers of the ruling Sandinista party, the FSLN, who hold a majority in the Assembly. Edwin Castro, an FSLN lawmaker said: “it hurts to have to grant amnesty to confessed assassins of policemen, to torturers of the San Jose school in Jinotepe, who murdered Bismarck Martinez, but they are aware of the need to put the country first.”
However, article 3 of the constitution states that the amnesty is conditional and will be withdrawn if the perpetrators re-offend.