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ARCHIVE: Eric Volz Case
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Memoir in Progress
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UPDATE: Monday Nov. 24, 2pm EST
NY Times article on Russians back in Latin America
The New York Times has recently published a series of well-researched articles on the instability in Nicaragua and the recent efforts of Russia to re-establish allies from the cold-war era in Latin America (including Nicaragua).
NY Times articles:
Russia visits Nicaraguan President to re-establish Strategic Alliance
President Ortega FSreezes Bank Accounts of Catholic Priest as Revenge
UPDATE: Friday, Nov. 21st, 2008 12 noon EST
Nicaragua situation is "reopening deep wounds" from the 80's
Yesterday, Nicaragua's Roman Catholic bishops said recent clashes over the elections were "reopening deep wounds" from the 1980s, when the U.S.-backed Contra rebels tried to overthrow Ortega during his first round as Nicaragua's leader.
The U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Hector Morales, responded by saying "the region can't ignore antidemocratic practices."
NEW articles:
NY TIMES - Claims of a Rigged Vote....
El Nuevo Diario - Youth in Nicaragua call for President Ortega to Resign
Washington Times - Nicaragua blasts OAS for election criticism
AP - Sandinistas win most municipal races in Nicaragua
El Nuevo Diario - Nicaraguans in the US protest against election fraud
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 1:00pm EST
Foreign Investors Being Affected by Unrest
The tension in Nicaragua is growing, and the international community is pressuring President Ortega to maintain institutional Democracy. Yesterday, three radio stations calling for a vote recount were looted and destroyed by Ortega's loyalists. Additionally, American baseball great Cal Ripken had his baseball camp cut short for security reasons.
See NEW articles:
USA Today - Cal Ripken Baseball Clinic cut short because of Political Unrest in Nicaragua
BBC - Nicaragua Elections Clash 'Deaths'
THE ECONOMIST - How to Steal an Election - Ortega sets an ugly precedent
(Nicaraguan Newspaper) La Prensa - Police Chief, Aminta Granera, is in check mate. Does she uphold the Democratic institution of following orders from President Ortega?
** Note from Eric to Foreign Investors **
I have received some letters from Americans and other foreigners with investments and assets in Nicaragua who are concerned about the negative impact that reports from the media (including my updates to supporters) are having and will continue to have on their ability to do business. I completely understand their concerns... They are valid concerns. But I also challenge investors and travelers to consider the larger picture of not how they are being affected, but rather how the Nicaraguan people, who have lost their most basic civil liberties and peace, are being affected in the center of violence and corruption.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 10:00am EST
::YESTERDAY'S HEARING CONCLUDED ::
IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT - At the last minute yesterday morning, three Opposition Party Supreme Court Justices broke their strike and entered the court room to preside over Eric's case. This moderates the balance of political influence on the 6 judge panel. The substitute Sandinista judges did not appear, so the final count was three judges from Ortega's Party and three judges from the political opposition. The presence of the judges from the opposition greatly improves Eric's chances of receiving an objective ruling. Eric is innocent of this crime! It is our hope that the Appellate Court verdict declaring Eric's innocence will be upheld by the Supreme Court.
The information we have received is that the judges will take 30 days to announce their decision. Three officers from the U.S. Embassy were in attendance for the hearing in an observational capacity.
Eric and his family would like nothing more than to put this case behind them. We pray for the objectivity of the judges and, ultimately, for justice to be honored in memory of Doris Jimenez.
Thank you for your continued support!
NEW important articles to read:
Washington Post - Ortega moves to construct another Dictatorship
AP - US doubts fairness of Nicaragua Elections
Herald Tribune - U.S.Gov Issues Travel Warning for Nicaragua
Article on yesterday's hearing in Nicaraguan Newspaper La Prensa
UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 8:00am CST
ERIC VOLZ TO BE RE-TRIED IN NICARAGUA TODAY AT 9am CST
follow the twitter feed @ericvolz
The Nicaraguan government has just announced that Eric will be re-tried this morning at 9am in the Supreme Court. The announcement was a total surprise and the way in which the court is proceeding is completely illegal and politically motivated.
Newspapers in Nicaragua reported yesterday that the appellate ruling of innocence will most likely be overturned and Eric will be re-convicted for the Doris Jimenez murder. There is speculation that President Daniel Ortega may be using the case to provoke the U.S. since they have expressed concerns over the status of Democracy in Nicaragua.
Eric explains the details in a short videocast...
Click to see these related articles and resources:
TIME - Why Nicaragua's Capital is in Flames
NY Times - Councils Stir Fear of Dictatorship
Carter Center - Statement on Nicaraguan Elections
Carter Center - Statement on the Status of Democracy in Nicaragua Oct.23, 2008
La Prensa - Caso Volz a audiencia en CSJ
La Prensa - Gobierno acusa a la OEA
Memoir in Progress
Eric has contracted with St. Martin's Press in New York to write a memoir about being wrongfully imprisoned in Nicaragua. Because even the most detailed accounts have only just skimmed the surface of the story, Eric's book will offer a complete and intimate account of his harrowing experience. In the end, however, a story is just a story unless it reaches beyond its specific events to communicate ideas or emotions that are universal. Eric intends that the book now in progress will document his personal ordeal as well as the hidden relationships between nations and societies. At the same time the book will chronicle the growth of this community, which sustained him in jail, and whose very existence helped bring about his release.
This site was created in November 2006 in order to create awareness of the illegal conviction and imprisonment of American citizen Eric Volz in Nicaragua. What emerged from the website was a phenomenal movement that brought together the international community in support of human rights by leveraging the social networking tools of the web to show solidarity and fight for justice. This is the community that was strengthened by injustice.