,i #aad? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #egjh ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,july #aa1 #bjaf,ms4 ,ros-,leht95 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,sires1 ,mr4 ,diaz-,bal>t1 ,mr4 ,crd5as1 ,mr4 ,duncan ( ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,norcross1 ,mr4 ,curbelo ( ,florida1 ,mr4 ,cuell>1 ,mr4 ,yoho1 & ,mr4 ,br5dan ,f4 ,boyle ( ,p5nsylvania7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee on ,f9ancial ,s]vices1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$ ,a ,,bill ,to oppose loans at int]national f9ancial in/itutions = ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua unless ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua is tak+ effective /eps to hold free1 fair1 & transp>5t elections1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,nic>aguan ,inve/m5t ,conditionality ,act 7,,nica7 ( #bjaf4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,9 #bjjf1 ,nic>agua1 "u ,presid5t ,enrique ,bolaos1 ent]$ into a #age1jjj1jjj1 #e-ye> compact ) ! ,mill5nium ,*all5ge ,corporation 7,,mcc74 7#b7 ,aft] ! #bjjh municipal elections1 ! ,,mcc /at$ t !re 0 a patt]n ( decl9e 9 political rights & civil lib]ties 9 ,nic>agua4 7#c7 ,9 #bjji1 ! ,,mcc t]m9at$ ! compact & r$uc$ ! am\nt ( ,,mcc funds available to ,nic>agua by #fa1ejj1jjj1 :i* l$ to ! compact end+ 9 #bjaa4 7#d7 ,accord+ to ,nic>aguan law1 ! ,national ,assembly is ! only in/itution all[$ to *ange ! con/itution b 9 #bjji1 ,daniel ,ortega circumv5t$ ! legislature & w5t to ! ,supreme ,c\rt1 :i* he controls1 to rule 9 8 favor t ,presid5tial t]m limits 7 inapplicable4 7#e7 ,! ,h\se ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs conv5$ a congressional he>+ on ,decemb] #a1 #bjaa1 entitl$ ,democracy ,held ,ho/age 9 ,nic>agua3 ,"p #a :]e =m] ,unit$ ,/ates ,ambassador to ,nic>agua ,rob]t ,callahan te/ifi$1 ,fir/1 t ,daniel ,ortega's c&idacy 0 illegal1 illegitimate1 & uncon/itutional2 second1 t ! p]iod lead+ to ! elections & ! elections !mselves 7 m>r$ by s]i\s fraud2 ?ird1 t ,daniel ,ortega & 8 ,s&9i/a p>ty h sy/ematically und]m9$ ! c\ntry's fragile gov]nm5tal in/itutions4 7#f7 ,f fiscal ye> #bjab until pres5t1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate f\nd t ,nic>agua did n meet int]national /&>ds ( fiscal transp>5cy4 7#g7 ,on ,janu>y #be1 #bjab1 a press /atem5t f ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,hill>y ,cl9ton said3 ,z not$ by int]national obs]v]s & ,nic>aguan civil society gr\ps1 ,nic>agua's rec5t elections 7 n conduct$ 9 a transp>5t & imp>tial mann]1 & ! entire electoral process 0 m>r$ by significant irregul>ities4 ,! elections m>k$ a setback to democracy 9 ,nic>agua & und]m9$ ! ability ( ,nic>aguans to hold _! gov]nm5t acc\ntable44 7#h7 ,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's #bjae ,fiscal ,transp>5cy ,report3 ,! gov]nm5t does n publicly acc\nt = ! exp5diture ( significant (f-budget assi/ance f ,v5ezuela & ?is assi/ance is n subject to audit or legislative ov]sight4 ,allocations to & e>n+s f /ate-own$ ent]prises are includ$ 9 ! budget1 b mo/ /ate-own$ ent]prises are n audit$4 ,! supreme audit in/itution also does n audit ! gov]nm5t's full f9ancial /atem5ts4 ,nic>agua's fiscal transp>5cy w\ld be improv$ by includ+ all (f-budget rev5ue & exp5diture 9 ! budget1 audit+ /ate-own$ ent]prises1 & conduct+ a full audit ( ! gov]nm5t's annual f9ancial /atem5ts & mak+ audit reports publicly available )9 a reasonable p]iod ( "t44 7#i7 ,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on ,human ,rights ,practices = #bjae3 ,9 #bjaa ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil 7,,cse7 ann\nc$ ! re-election ( ,presid5t ,daniel ,ortega ,saav$ra ( ! ,s&9i/a ,national ,lib]ation ,front 7,,fsln7 9 elections t int]national & dome/ic obs]v]s *>act]iz$ z s]i\sly flaw$4 ,int]national & dome/ic organizations rais$ conc]ns reg>d+ ! con/itutional legitimacy ( ,ortega's re-election4 ,! #bjaa elections also provid$ ! rul+ p>ty ) a sup]majority 9 ! ,national ,assembly1 all[+ = *anges 9 ! con/itution1 includ+ ext5d+ ! rea* ( executive bran* p[] & ! elim9ation ( re/rictions on re-election = executive bran* (ficials & mayors4 ,obs]v]s not$ s]i\s flaws dur+ ! #bjab municipal elections & ,m>* #bjad regional elections44 7#aj7 ,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on ,human ,rights ,practices = #bjae 9 ,nic>agua3 ,! pr9cipal human rights abuses 7 re/rictions on citiz5s' "r to vote2 ob/acles to fre$om ( spee* & press1 includ+ gov]nm5t intimidation & h>assm5t ( j\rnali/s & indep5d5t m$ia1 z well z increas$ re/riction ( access to public in=mation1 includ+ national /ati/ics f public (fices2 & increas$ gov]nm5t h>assm5t & intimidation ( nongov]nm5tal organizations 7,n,g,os7 & civil society organizations44 7#aa7 ,! same #bjae report /at$3 ,additional significant human rights abuses includ$ consid]ably bias$ policies to promote s+le-p>ty dom9ance2 arbitr>y police arre/ & det5tion ( suspects1 includ+ abuse dur+ det5tion2 h>% & life-?reat5+ prison conditions ) arbitr>y & l5g?y pretrial det5tion2 discrim9ation aga9/ e?nic m9orities & indig5\s p]sons & communities44 7#ab7 ,9 ,febru>y #bjaf1 ! ,ortega regime deta9$ & expell$ ,fre$om ,h\se's ,lat9 ,am]ica ,director1 ,dr4 ,c>los ,ponce1 f ,nic>agua4 7#ac7 ,on ,may #aj1 #bjaf1 ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil ann\nc$ & publi%$ ! electoral cal5d> :i* aims to gov]n ! electoral process4 7#ad7 ,aft] receiv+ ! electoral cal5d> = ! #bjaf ,presid5tial elections1 ! ,nic>aguan political opposition rais$ conc]ns & po9t$ to a numb] ( anomalies su* z3 ! electoral cal5d> fail$ to contemplate national & int]national obs]vations1 fail$ to agree to publicly publi% ! prec9cts results ( ea* ,junta ,receptora de ,voto 7,,jrv71 & fail$ to purge ! electoral regi/ration rolls 9 a transp>5t & op5 mann]4 7#ae7 ,nic>agua's con/itution m&ates t]ms ( #e ye>s = municipal au?orities1 :i* w\ld indicate t ! next municipal elections mu/ occur 9 #bjag4 7#af7 ,on ,june #c1 #bjaf1 ! ,nic>aguan ,supreme ,c\rt--:i* is controll$ by ,ortega--in/ruct$ ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil n to swe> 9 ,nic>aguan opposition memb]s to ! dep>tm5tal & regional electoral c\ncils4 7#ag7 ,on ,june #e1 #bjaf1 reg>d+ int]national obs]v]s = ! #bjaf ,presid5tial elections1 ,daniel ,ortega /at$3 ,"h1 ! obs]vation ends4 ,g obs]ve o!r c\ntries ''' ,!re w be no obs]vation1 nei!r f ! ,european ,union1 nor ! ,,oas '''4 7#ah7 ,on ,june #g1 #bjaf1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,bureau ( ,democracy1 ,human ,rights & ,labor po/$ on social m$ia3 ,disappo9t$ gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua said x w d5y electoral obs]v]s reque/$ by ,nic>aguan citiz5s1 *ur*1 & private sector ''' ,we cont9ue to enc\rage ! gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua to all[ electoral obs]v]s z reque/$ by ,nic>aguans44 7#ai7 ,on ,june #h1 #bjaf1 ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil--:i* is controll$ by ,ortega--ann\nc$ a rul+1 :i* *ang$ ! lead]%ip /ructure ( ! opposition p>ty & 9 practice alleg$ly b>r$ all exi/+ opposition c&idates f runn+ = (fice4 7#bj7 ,on ,june #ad1 #bjaf1 ,daniel ,ortega expell$ ?ree ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t (ficials 7two (ficials f ,u4,s4 ,cu/oms & ,bord] ,protection & "o pr(essor f ! ,national ,def5se ,univ]sity7 f ,nic>agua4 7#ba7 ,on ,june #bb1 #bjaf1 a ,global ,fell[ f ! ,woodr[ ,wilson ,c5t] *ose to leave ,nic>agua because ( fe>4 ,accord+ to a m$ia report1 ! fell[ /at$ ,police 7 foll[+ me4 ,i did n und]/& ! reason :y !y 7 foll[+ me1 b x 0 cle> to me :at !y 7 do+ ''' ,( c\rse 7,i felt fe>71 ,i 0 surpris$ especially because ! rese>* ,i am do+ is completely academic1 n j\rnali/ic1 & t made me wond] :y !y w\ld be s int]e/$ 9 some?+ l t44 7#bb7 ,on ,june #bi1 #bjaf1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate issu$ a ,nic>agua ,travel ,al]t :i* /at$3 ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate al]ts ,u4,s4 citiz5s ab\t increas$ gov]nm5t scrut9y ( =eign]s' activities1 new requirem5ts = volunte] gr\ps1 & ! pot5tial = demon/rations dur+ ! upcom+ election season 9 ,nic>agua ''' ,nic>aguan au?orities h d5i$ entry to1 deta9$1 que/ion$1 or expell$ =eign]s1 includ+ ,u4,s4 gov]nm5t (ficials1 academics1 ,,ngo work]s1 & j\rnali/s1 = discussions1 writt5 reports or articles1 photographs1 &_/or videos relat$ to ^! topics4 ,au?orities may monitor & "q private ,u4,s4 citiz5s conc]n+ _! activities1 includ+ contact ) ,nic>aguan citiz5s44 7#bc7 ,on ,june #cj1 #bjaf1 ! ,human ,rights ,f\ndation issu$ a press release /at+3 ''' ,daniel ,ortega has us$ all sorts ( trick]y to pu% = con/itutional re=ms & illegal c\rt rul+s 9 ord] to ext5d 8 "t 9 p[] indef9itely ''' ,if ! opposition is n all[$ to mean+fully compete1 ! upcom+ elections 9 ,nic>agua _c be consid]$ free & fair & ! ,int]-,am]ican ,democratic ,*>t] %\ld be appli$ to ! ,s&9i/a regime44 ,! release cont9u$1 /at+ t ,! pr9ciple ( alt]nation ( p[] is en%r9$ 9 ! ,int]-,am]ican ,democratic ,*>t] 7,,iadc7 z an ess5tial elem5t ( democracy4 ,ev5 ?\gh ,ortega pu%$ ?r\gh a con/itutional am5dm5t all[+ = indef9ite re-election1 he did s by circumv5t+ ! sep>ation ( p[]s illegally4 ,an unconte/$ re-election ( ,ortega w\ld cle>ly violate ! ,,iadc1 :i* 0 sign$ by ,nic>agua 9 #bjja4 ,if t is ! case1 ,secret>y ,g5]al ,almagro %\ld activate ! ,,iadc &1 if necess>y1 call = ! susp5sion ( ,nic>agua f ! ,,oas44 #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to support-- 7#a7 ! rule ( law & an indep5d5t judici>y & electoral c\ncil 9 ,nic>agua2 7#b7 indep5d5t pro-democracy organizations 9 ,nic>agua2 & 7#c7 free1 fair1 & transp>5t elections "u int]national & dome/ic obs]v]s 9 ,nic>agua 9 #bjaf & #bjag4 #d4 ,int]national f9ancial in/itutions 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,presid5t %all in/ruct ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,executive ,director at ea* int]national f9ancial in/itution to use ! voice1 vote1 & influ5ce ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to oppose any loan or o!r utilization ( ! funds ( ! respective in/itution = ! b5efit ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua1 o!r ?an to address basic human ne$s or to promote democracy1 unless ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate c]tifies & reports to ! appropriate congressional committees t ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua is tak+ effective /eps to-- 7#a7 hold free1 fair1 & transp>5t elections ov]se5 by cr$ible dome/ic & int]national electoral obs]v]s2 7#b7 promote democracy1 z well z an indep5d5t judici>y sy/em & electoral c\ncil2 7#c7 /r5g!n ! rule ( law2 & 7#d7 respect ! "r to fre$om ( association & expression4 7b7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,! t]m appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs1 ! ,committee on ,appropriations1 & ! ,committee on ,f9ancial ,s]vices ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 7,b7 ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations1 ! ,committee on ,appropriations1 & ! ,committee on ,bank+1 ,h\s+1 & ,urban ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate4 7#b7 ,int]national f9ancial in/itution ,! t]m int]national f9ancial in/itution means ! ,int]national ,monet>y ,fund1 ,int]national ,bank = ,recon/ruction & ,developm5t1 ,european ,bank = ,recon/ruction & ,developm5t1 ,int]national ,developm5t ,association1 ,int]national ,f9ance ,corporation1 ,multilat]al ,inve/m5t ,gu>antee ,ag5cy1 ,african ,developm5t ,bank1 ,african ,developm5t ,fund1 ,asian ,developm5t ,bank1 ,int]-,am]ican ,developm5t ,bank1 ,bank = ,economic ,coop]ation & ,developm5t 9 ! ,middle ,ea/ & ,nor? ,africa1 & ,int]-,am]ican ,inve/m5t ,corporation4 7c7 ,t]m9ation ,?is section %all t]m9ate on ! day aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate c]tifies & reports to ! appropriate congressional committees t ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7a7 are met4 #e4 ,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates 7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t1 accord+ to ! ,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates 7,,oas7 report on ! ,nic>aguan #bjaa ,presid5tial elections1 ,nic>agua3 ,f9al ,report1 ,g5]al ,elections1 ,,oas 7#bjaa71 ! ,,oas made ! foll[+ recomm5dations to ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua3 7#a7 ,prep>e alt]native proc$ures = updat+ ! electoral roll :5 a regi/]$ vot] dies44 7#b7 ,publi% ! electoral roll s t new additions1 *anges ( address & exclusions c be *eck$44 7#c7 ,re=m ! me*anism = accr$itation ( poll wat*]s us+ a =mula t ensures t ! political p>ties w h great] autonomy to accr$it _! respective poll wat*]s44 7#d7 ,in/itute regulations to ensure t p>ty poll wat*]s are involv$ 9 all areas ( ! electoral /ructure1 includ+ ! dep>tm5tal1 regional & municipal electoral c\ncils & poll+ /ations4 ,rules %\ld be craft$ to spell out _! au?orities & functions & ! means by :i* !y c ex]cise _! au?ority & p]=m _! functions44 7#e7 ,r$esign ! ,,cse adm9i/rative /ructure at ! c5tral & field levels1 :ile /&>diz+ te*nical & op]ational proc$ures1 includ+ ! design ( control me*anisms f ! "t regi/ration to ! deliv]y ( ! docum5t to ! citiz5s2 ! process ( issu+ id5tity c>ds %\ld be tim$ to ! cal5d> &1 to avoid conge/ion )9 ! process1 be ev5ly spac$44 7b7 ,electoral ,obs]vation ,mission ,! ,presid5t %all direct ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,p]man5t ,repres5tative to ! ,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates 7,,oas7 to use ! voice1 vote1 & influ5ce ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates at ! ,,oas to /rongly advocate = an ,electoral ,obs]vation ,mission to be s5t to ,nic>agua 9 #bjaf & #bjag4 #f4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t %\ld prioritize =eign assi/ance to ! p ( ,nic>agua to assi/ civil society 9 democracy & gov]nance programs1 includ+ human rights docum5tation4