Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANAGUA1264
2009-12-01 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Managua
Cable title:
NICARAGUA: POTENTIAL POLITICAL PRISONER GRANTED AMENSTY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHMU #1264 3351533 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011531Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0211 INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS MANAGUA 001264
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
DEPT FOR INR/IAA
STATE FOR USOAS
STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC
STATE PASS TO MCC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: POTENTIAL POLITICAL PRISONER GRANTED AMENSTY
REF: 2008 MANAGUA XXX
UNCLAS MANAGUA 001264
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
DEPT FOR INR/IAA
STATE FOR USOAS
STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC
STATE PASS TO MCC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: POTENTIAL POLITICAL PRISONER GRANTED AMENSTY
REF: 2008 MANAGUA XXX
1. (SBU) On November 18, the Nicaraguan National Assembly granted
amnesty to Sandinista dissident and Catholic missionary Alberto
Steffano Boschi. Mr. Boschi, who is a dual Nicaraguan-Italian
citizen, fled the country for Italy in November 2008 after being
found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison for his alleged
aggression against a pro-Ortega journalist during a July 30, 2008
protest by youth who opposed the government (see Ref).
2. (SBU) Boschi, who was convicted in October 2008 by a court
stacked with pro-Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
judges, always maintained his innocence. NGOs and human rights
organizations condemned the sentence as political and were the
first to call Boschi a political prisoner. The opposition blocks
in the National Assembly that voted for Boschi's amnesty also
considered that he had been a victim of "political persecution and
intolerance from the ruling FSLN." Not surprisingly, the FSLN
block in the National Assembly voted against the amnesty measure
for Boschi.
CALLAHAN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
DEPT FOR INR/IAA
STATE FOR USOAS
STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC
STATE PASS TO MCC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: POTENTIAL POLITICAL PRISONER GRANTED AMENSTY
REF: 2008 MANAGUA XXX
1. (SBU) On November 18, the Nicaraguan National Assembly granted
amnesty to Sandinista dissident and Catholic missionary Alberto
Steffano Boschi. Mr. Boschi, who is a dual Nicaraguan-Italian
citizen, fled the country for Italy in November 2008 after being
found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison for his alleged
aggression against a pro-Ortega journalist during a July 30, 2008
protest by youth who opposed the government (see Ref).
2. (SBU) Boschi, who was convicted in October 2008 by a court
stacked with pro-Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
judges, always maintained his innocence. NGOs and human rights
organizations condemned the sentence as political and were the
first to call Boschi a political prisoner. The opposition blocks
in the National Assembly that voted for Boschi's amnesty also
considered that he had been a victim of "political persecution and
intolerance from the ruling FSLN." Not surprisingly, the FSLN
block in the National Assembly voted against the amnesty measure
for Boschi.
CALLAHAN