On Wednesday, February 26, Rosario Murillo swore in more than 30,000 paramilitaries, now operating under the title of “Volunteer Police,” a designation incorporated into the new OrMu Constitution. The ceremony also ratified her in-law, Francisco Díaz, for another six-year term as head of the National Police, the regime’s primary repressive force.
These paramilitaries played a key role in the massacre unleashed by the Ortega-Murillo regime to suppress the civil protests that began in April 2018.
“We swear in the heroic volunteer police, guerrillas of peace, defenders of peace,” Murillo declared. “Long live the heroic volunteer police!” she concluded. The paramilitaries were transported from different parts of the country to Plaza La Fe in Managua, dressed in white shirts, dark pants, and masks to conceal their identities.
The OrMu Constitution establishes that paramilitaries operate as an “auxiliary and support body of the National Police, composed of Nicaraguan citizens who serve voluntarily.”
A security expert, speaking anonymously, believes that these large-scale paramilitary presentations are intended to “terrorize the population.”
Ortega calls paramilitaries the ‘new historical combatants’
Daniel Ortega recalled that 22 police officers died during the 2018 protests, ignoring the fact that their deaths occurred after he ordered violent repression against civilians.
Ortega stated that the newly approved OrMu Constitution grants paramilitaries their rightful place “to contribute to the defense of peace in the country.”
The dictator acknowledged that paramilitaries were responsible for carrying out the main acts of violence against citizens demanding his and his wife’s resignation in 2018. “You pay tribute to the historical combatants who gave their lives when they were murdered by coup plotters. That was proof that the people wanted peace. Today is a historic day because we have sworn in the historical combatants,” Ortega declared.
Francisco Díaz begins a new term as police chief
During the ceremony, Ortega and Murillo swore in their in-law, Francisco Díaz Madriz, for another six-year term as director of the National Police. Díaz was officially appointed as police chief in 2018, meaning this new term will extend his tenure to 13 years.
While Murillo administered the oath to the paramilitaries, Ortega handed over the baton of command to Díaz, just as he did less than a week earlier with Army Chief Julio César Avilés. Ortega also officially swore in the police chief.
Díaz assumed leadership of the National Police in 2018 following the resignation of Aminta Granera, although he had effectively held the position for several years before. That same year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned him as one of the main figures responsible for human rights violations committed during the protests.
He is also among 15 regime members whom an Argentine judge has listed for arrest by Interpol as part of an ongoing case in Argentina. The case accuses him of “systematic human rights violations” under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows countries to prosecute crimes against humanity regardless of where they occurred.
More than 30,000 paramilitaries were mobilized for the event in Managua.
Francisco Díaz proclaims ‘loyalty and obedience’ to Ortega and Murillo
Francisco Díaz stated that paramilitaries have gained constitutional recognition “in acknowledgment of their valuable contribution to defending peace, security, and stability.” He claimed that these masked men represent “the unity and strength of our people.”
The police chief reaffirmed, on behalf of officers and paramilitaries, “loyalty and obedience” to the ruling couple. “We will never allow coup-plotters to bring destruction, death, horror, and turmoil. We reaffirm our commitment to defending peace, protecting life, and ensuring the security of people and their property,” he declared.
At the end of his speech, Díaz shouted the regime’s 2018 slogan: “They couldn’t and they never will! Peace is not to be played with!”
Horacio Rocha’s absence fuels reports of his purge
Commissioner Horacio Rocha was one of the presidential couple’s most trusted men in recent years—until Rosario Murillo sanctioned him.
One of the key absences from the police ceremony was retired General Commissioner Horacio Rocha, who also serves as the president’s security advisor. For years, Rocha wielded considerable power and enjoyed the couple’s confidence. He accompanied them at major official events, sitting alongside the heads of the Police and Army.
However, the news outlet Confidencial reported that he was removed from his post in the third week of January this year.
Rocha has also been absent from paramilitary swearing-in ceremonies, which began in mid-January. According to Confidencial, his last known public appearance was on December 16 of last year, during a cadet graduation.
Rocha was at the center of an embarrassing incident in October of last year when Rosario Murillo refused to shake his hand during the main event for the 45th anniversary of the National Police. It was the first sign that his standing had weakened. His absence from this latest ceremony could confirm that he has been sidelined from the inner circle of power.
Besides Díaz, other high-ranking police officials present at the event included Luis Cañas, Deputy Minister of the Interior; Victoriano Ruíz, head of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ); Zhukov Serrano and Aldo Sáenz Ulloa, deputy directors of the Police; and Jaime Vanegas, Police Inspector.