HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-21-0430City of Miami
f
Legislation
Resolution: R-21-0430
File Number: 10799
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 10/14/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE
PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING
UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN, TO
DESIGNATE THE FRENTE SANDINISTA DE LIBERACION NACIONAL AS A
FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION; EXPRESSING ITS CONTINUED
SUPPORT OF THE FEDERAL BILL KNOWN AS THE "RENACER ACT" WHICH
PROPOSES NEW INITIATIVES TO MONITOR, REPORT ON, AND ADDRESS
CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY NICARAGUAN
PRESIDENT DANIEL ORTEGA AND HIS FAMILY AND THE NICARAGUAN
SECURITY FORCES; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY
OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Joe Carollo
WHEREAS, Nicaragua is set to hold elections on November 7, 2021; and
WHEREAS, prior elections in Nicaragua, including the last presidential election in 2016,
have been marred by irregularities and characterized by significant restrictions on the
participation of opposition political parties as well as the absence of credible international and
local electoral observers; and
WHEREAS, as a result, Daniel Ortega ("Ortega"), Nicaragua's current President and
former Sandinista revolutionary, and the Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional (TSLN")
have concentrated power and brought about the continuing deterioration of democratic
conditions in Nicaragua; and
WHEREAS, the FSLN is a socialist political party and Nicaragua's sole leading party;
and
WHEREAS, the FSLN is named after August Cesar Sandino who led the Nicaraguan
resistance against the United States' occupation of Nicaragua in the 1930s; and
WHEREAS, Ortega and the FSLN have been the subject of protest by thousands of
Nicaraguans; and
WHEREAS, according to the Organization of American States, Nicaraguan security
forces, paramilitary, police, and other actors working under the direction of the FSLN have
committed gross violations of human rights and acts of repression; and
WHEREAS, a report by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts, appointed by
the Organization of American States Inter -American Commission on Human Rights, determined
that the FSLN used deliberate, lethal force against protesters and committed acts of torture that
meet the international legal standard of crimes against humanity; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 10799 (Revision:) Printed On: 111112021
File ID: 10799 Enactment Number: R-21-0430
WHEREAS, the FSLN has severely restricted freedom of press by closing five (5) local
television stations, attacking independent radio stations, arbitrarily detaining journalists, and
arbitrarily restricting print supplies from entering Nicaragua; and
WHEREAS, the FSLN has violated the economic and political rights of indigenous
communities, Afro -descendant populations, rural campesinos, land rights defenders, and
individuals living in the Caribbean Autonomous Regions of Nicaragua; and
WHEREAS, the unlawful acts taken or led by the FSLN constitute terrorist activities or
terrorism, which threaten the security of United States' nationals and the national security of the
United States; and
WHEREAS, the terrorist activities of the FSLN necessitate a response from the United
States' government; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission expressed its support of the Federal Bill known as the
"Renacer Act" ("Act"), which was presented by Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salizar ("Salizar"),
in Resolution R-21-0273 adopted on June 24, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Act proposes new initiatives to monitor, report on, and address
corruption and human rights abuses in the government and the family of Ortega and Nicaraguan
security forces (collectively, "Ortega Regime"), including increased sanctions on key actors in
the Ortega Regime and review of Nicaragua's participation in the Central American Free Trade
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is particularly sympathetic to the plight of
Nicaraguans suffering under the terroristic rule of the FSLN because the Nicaraguan community
makes up a significant portion of the City's population and has so positively impacted the
diverse cultures of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission believes that designation the FSLN as a foreign
terrorist organization is a critical step in supporting the people of Nicaragua and the fight against
terrorism and desires to express its continued support of the Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City urges the President Joseph R. Biden and his Administration,
including United State Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to designate the FSLN as a foreign
terrorist organization in accordance with Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Section 3. The City expresses its continued support of the Act presented by Salazar,
which proposes new initiatives to monitor, report on, and address corruption and human rights
abuses by the Ortega Regime and hold the Ortega Regime accountable for subverting
democracy in Nicaragua.
Section 4. The City Commission directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this
Resolution to President Joseph R. Biden; United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken;
Majority Leader of the United States Senate Charles E. Schumer; Minority Leader of the United
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 10799 (Revision:) Printed on: 111112021
File ID: 10799
Enactment Number: R-21-0430
States Senate Mitch McConnell; Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi;
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy; Senators Robert Menendez,
Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, Ben Cardin, Chris Murphy, Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott; and
Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, Albio Sires, Mark Green, Debbie Wasserman Schultz,
Stephanie Murphy, Mario Diaz-Balart, Darren Soto, Juan Vargas, Ted Deutch, and Carlos A
Gimenez.
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
Uri ndeZ City ttor i ey 101412021
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 10799 (Revision:) Printed on: 111112021