Life and Death in Nicaragua and the E.U.

The Beer Man aka 7lb Dave passes this along:



> > Friday February 9, 2007
> >
> >
> >
> > EU Threatens to Withdraw Aid to Nicaragua if Pro-Life Law Remains
> > By Meg Jalsevac
> >
> > MANAGUA, February 9, 2007 (LifeSiteNews. com) – Representatives
> from
> the
> > European Union are increasing pressure on the government of
> Nicaragua to
> > reverse its recent law which unilaterally forbids abortion under
> any
> > circumstances. According to a report from the Catholic News
> Agency, the
> > EU representation has threatened to withdraw economic assistance
> to
> the
> > country if the abortion law is not reversed.
> >
> > Nicaragua's new abortion law was unanimously voted in by the
> Nicaraguan
> > Legislature in October, 2006 and signed into law by then
> President
> > Enrique Bolanos the following month. Nicaragua's new president,
> Daniel
> > Ortega voiced his support of the pro-life law in his election
> campaign.
> >
> > Marc Litvine, the EU representative to Nicaragua, said that the
> EU
> > regards legalized abortion as "linked to aid programs against
> poverty and
> > to the rights of women". He expressed hope that "the new
> government will
> > be capable of opening the debate and discussing it outside the
> passion of
> > the electoral season."
> >
> > According to an interview published in Managua's El Nuevo Diario
> > newspaper, Litvine said that the EU is "concerned" about the
> recent
> law.
> > Litvine also accused the supporters of the law of pushing it
> through in a
> > "hurried" fashion in the days leading up to the election.
> >
> > Opponents of the pro-life law have argued that it was used as a
> atform
> > for electoral candidates. The United Nations, organizations such
> as
> > Human Rights Watch and various feminist groups have condemned the
>
> law
> > arguing that it will lead to more clandestine abortions which
> will,
> in
> > turn, lead to the deaths of more women. Several organizations
> have
> said
> > that they will challenge the constitutionality of the law,
> calling
> > abortion a "fundamental human right."
> >
> > Litvine commented on the new government and its support of the
> pro-
> life
> > legislation saying, "That's where I see one of the contradictions
>
> of the
> > new government; it claims to be progressive, very modern, and it
> is
> going
> > backwards because for us [the pro-life law] is a step back."
> >
> > Nicaragua's previous abortion law had a loophole which allowed for
>
> the
> > killing of the unborn child if the life or health of the mother
> was
> > determined to be in danger. The ambiguity of the "health" clause
>
> in most
> > countries around the globe has eventually led to practical
> abortion
> on
> > demand. Nicaragua's previous law also allowed the child to be
> killed in
> > utero if she was conceived through rape.
> >
> > Read Previous LifeSiteNews Coverage:
> >
> > Nicaragua Congress Passes New Law Outlawing All Abortions
> > http://www.lifesite .net/ldn/ 2006/oct/ 06102604. html
> >
> > Nicaraguan President Signs into Law Bill Banning All Abortion
> Despite UN
> > Intimidation
> > http://www.lifesite .net/ldn/ 2006/nov/ 06112002. html
> >
> > Pregnant 9-Year Old Rape Victim Being Used to Push Abortion
> Legalization
> > http://www.lifesite .net/ldn/ 2003/feb/ 03021802. html