Nicaragua Regulates Use of Drones to Prevent Foreign Interference
X/ @nicaraguainvest
December 12, 2024 Hour: 11:33 am
‘We must be legally prepared to defend our revolution, our society, and the Nicaraguan people,’ legislator Porras stated.
On Wednesday, the Nicaraguan National Assembly approved a bill proposed by President Daniel Ortega to regulate the use of drones within the national territory.
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National Assemby president Gustavo Porras stated that the “Law for the Regulation and Use of Unmanned Aerial, Naval, and Land Vehicles” aims to ensure that drones do not pose “a threat or risk to national peace, sovereignty, independence, self-determination, or territorial integrity.”
“The purpose of the law is to regulate drones. We must be legally prepared to defend our revolution, our society, and the Nicaraguan people,” he said.
In the explanatory statement for the law, Ortega stated that the Constitution establishes that “any foreign interference in Nicaragua’s internal affairs or any attempt to undermine these rights is an attack on the life of the people” and that “it is the duty of all Nicaraguans to preserve and defend these rights.”
Therefore, he argued that “the unlawful use of unmanned aerial, naval, and land vehicles poses a threat and risk to peace, sovereignty, independence, self-determination, territorial integrity, air, naval, and land operations, as well as the country’s critical infrastructure.”
The legislation mandates that individuals or entities in possession of drones must hand them over within 30 days to the Enforcement Authority, which will coordinate with the Ministry of the Interior.
Through the Enforcement Authority, the Office of the President will be the sole entity authorized to permit the entry and use of drones. Such permissions will be granted for purposes including scientific research, search and rescue operations, as well as for tourism, recreational, sports, and cultural events, according to the new law.
The Nicaraguan Army, National Police, and Ministry of the Interior will be authorized to use unmanned aerial, naval, and land vehicles for national security and defense, as well as for public safety purposes.
Within 30 days, the Directorate General of Customs Services must submit to the Enforcement Authority a registry and database of unmanned aerial vehicles that have entered the country in compliance with customs procedures. Individuals or entities that violate the provisions of this law will be held criminally or administratively liable and will be sanctioned in accordance with the penalties for the corresponding offense or infraction.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
