§ Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the closure of La Prensa and Radio Catolica by the Government of Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarI understand that on 11 July the Sandinista Government announced the indefinite closing of Radio Catolica, citing its reporting of the opposition march of 10 July in Nandaime, during which the police detained 42 people and used tear gas. On the same day, the Nicaraguan Government closed La Prensa for 15 days, and announced the expulsion of the US ambassador and seven other United States diplomats from Nicaragua. We deplore these Nicaraguan actions. They are further evidence of Nicaraguan failure to comply with its obligations to democratisation under the Esquipulas II agreement.