Vicente Visits the National Assembly

On Thursday, February 16th, Vicente and 22 supporters and human rights activists from the US, Canada, and Nicaragua, visited the National Assembly to speak with the Human Rights and Agrarian commssions. After waiting nearly three hours because the deputies were in a plenary session, Vicente and a handful of the activists were allowed to speak with them. Miguel, a Nicaraguan law student who has recently gotten involved in the case, gave a clear and concise summary of the situation. Then Vicente, in his calm and dignified manner, gave an eloquent testimony about the way this case has affected his life and the life of his family. He also focused on the way he was brutalized by the TAPIR special forces brought to the farm in the private vehicles of McEwan on December 29th, 2005. He still bears the mark of these beatings on his forehead.

He also emphasized that he feels his life is in danger and that should anything happen to him, his wife or children, the person responsible is José Esteban McEwan.

Several of the deputies showed interest in pursuing the issue and encouraged Vicente to submit a formal complaint to the human rights commission. They also said they would bring the issue up at their inter-institutional meeting with army and police to discuss the issue of police brutality.

Vicente also pointed out to the deputies that this was his second visit to the National Assembly since the problem began and that the last human rights commission did little to help.

We hope that this time the human rights commission will help and we will follow-up with them, so that they don't put his case in a drawer like they seem to have done last time.