Political statements as breach of military decorum in Nicaragua

Yader Montiel, a Nicaraguan Army doctor, has been sentenced to three and a half months in prison for breach of decorum. His offense was to criticize the mistreatment of protesters who objected last December to the planned taking of their land for an interoceanic canal. He was quoted as having said that "the canal will be stained by the blood of our fellow peasants who are demanding their rights." Dr. Montiel pleaded not guilty and said that his statements were made when he was at home on leave. Paraphrasing Fidel Castro's comment about the abortive 1953 Montada Barracks attack, he also said that the court might convict him but society will acquit him.The canal is being built by a Chinese firm.

Editor's footnote: Global Military Justice Reform has had hits from 142 countries. Nicaragua is not one of them.