Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., warned that the President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega and the Nicaraguan government were “on notice,” should any U.S. personnel be harmed in the violence occurring at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua Friday evening.
“Situation tonight in #Nicaragua is rapidly & dangerously escalating,” Rubio tweeted Friday night. “Ortega & those in his govt are on notice that if any harm comes to U.S. personnel or their families he will personally face severe repercussions & if his violence leads to a bloodbath he will face consequences.”
Situation tonight in #Nicaragua is rapidly & dangerously escalating. Ortega & those in his govt are on notice that if any harm comes to U.S. personnel or their families he will personally face severe repercussions & if his violence leads to a bloodbath he will face consequences
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
Rubio claimed that Ortega had instructed gangs and security forces to conduct violence upon students of the university and a Catholic church. He also said that an an area where many U.S. embassy employees live are experiencing violence.
A few hours ago Ortega ordered Paramilitary gangs & security forces to attack #UNAN students & a catholic church. Reports & video coming in of severe injuries & fatalities. Also reports that several non-regime controlled media outlets have been taken off the air. #NicaraguaSOS https://t.co/UOSgVLz0Ct
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
“At this moment Ortega thugs are setting fire to #UNAN the national university of #Nicaragua trying to either smoke out student protestors or be burned alive,” Rubio tweeted Friday. “Have been informed a Jesuit priest & a U.S. journalist from a major outlet are among those trapped inside.”
At this moment Ortega thugs are setting fire to #UNAN the national university of #Nicaragua trying to either smoke out student protestors or be burned alive. Have been informed a Jesuit priest & a U.S. journalist from a major outlet are among those trapped inside.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
U.S. journalist for @WAPO @partlowj is trapped inside a church under siege by Ortega thugs. Reports serious injuries but Ortega forces not allowing ambulances to enter & render aid. https://t.co/D1uzwZ1EVK
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
Also the neighborhood where many U.S. embassy employees live is under attack. That is not a coincidence. Ortega, his wife (who is also the VP of #Nicaragua) & those empowering him will be held directly responsible if any hard should come to any U.S. personnel or their families
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
Continuing to confirm other reports receiving tonight from inside #Nicaragua. In addition, independent media outlets have been forced off the air & only government version of events is being broadcast inside country right now. https://t.co/GysIhy1Iy9
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
Divine Mercy parish church in #Nicaragua under attack by Ortega paramilitary gang. Serious injuries but Ortega not allowing medical personnel to enter. This is part of coordinated simultaneous attacks tonight by these gangs in several places including the National Univ #UNAN https://t.co/Spd62TVw19
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 14, 2018
The tweets come amid a period of turmoil in Nicaragua. More than 250 people in Nicaragua have lost their lives due to protests, urging Ortega to step down in recent months.
According to a statement released by a spokesperson earlier this week, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned about the continuing and intensifying violence in Nicaragua. He deplores the loss of life in the protests and the attack against Catholic Church mediators in the National Dialogue.”
