[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2517-S2518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 607--CONDEMNING THE NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENT'S UNJUST 
IMPRISONMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AFFILIATED WITH MOUNTAIN GATEWAY ORDER, INC

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. 
Britt, and Mr. Cramer) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 607

       Whereas, in December, 2023, 11 individuals affiliated with 
     Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. were arrested by the Government 
     of Nicaragua, namely: Marcos Sergio Hernandez Jiron; Harry 
     Lening Rios Bravo; Manuel de Jesus Rios Flores; Jose Luis 
     Orozco Urrutia; Alvaro Daniel Escobar Caldera; Juan Carlos 
     Chavarria Zapata; Juan Luis Moncada; Orvin Alexis Moncada 
     Castellano, Cesar Facundo Burgalin Miranda, Walner Omier 
     Blandon Ochoa, and Marisela de Fatima Mejia Ruiz;
       Whereas there is concern that the Government of Nicaragua 
     has charged each of these

[[Page S2518]]

     individuals for crimes on baseless claims of money laundering 
     and organized crime;
       Whereas the accused individuals do not have adequate access 
     to legal counsel;
       Whereas there is concern that United States citizens 
     affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. are being 
     targeted for arrest and extradition by the Government of 
     Nicaragua;
       Whereas this follows a pattern by the Government of 
     Nicaragua to quell the free speech and religious rights of 
     Christians and other nongovernmental organizations in 
     Nicaragua;
       Whereas on November 30, 2022, in accordance with the 
     International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 
     et seq.), the Secretary of State designated Nicaragua as a 
     ``Country of Particular Concern'' for having engaged in or 
     tolerated particularly severe violations of religious 
     freedom;
       Whereas the Government of Nicaragua's actions are another 
     example of an extreme intolerance of religious organizations; 
     and
       Whereas Congress has a vested interest in upholding 
     international religious freedom and human rights: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the targeting and imprisonment of individuals 
     affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. without due 
     process of law; and
       (2) calls on the Government of Nicaragua to take prompt 
     action to address these violations of religious freedom and 
     international human rights.

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