NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/8457

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Nicanet Hotline 11/16/92
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/** reg.nicaragua: 91.0 **/
** Topic: NICANET HOTLINE -- 11/16/92 **
** Written  2:23 pm  Nov 16, 1992 by nicanet in cdp:reg.nicaragua **
            NICARAGUA NETWORK HOTLINE ** 202-544-9360

                         November 16, 1992

You have reached the Nicaragua Network Hotline recorded Monday,
November 16, 1992.   To reach our office, call: 202-544-9355.

Topics covered in this hotline include:  Washington Post reports
armed group with ties to the US; FSLN challenges Chamorro on the
economy; property rights divisions deepen; Alleged Sandinista
attack on former contra leader appears to have been
misrepresented; and Daniel Ortega writes to Bush and Clinton.

The November 15 Washington Post published a story about the
rearming of former contras as part of a group named after the
code name of assassinated contra commander Enrique Bermudez.
Called the 380 Command, the Post reports that it claims to have
1,600 men under arms, including heavy armament such as redeye
missiles.  The New York Weekly Update points out that some of the
information in the article appears to be out of date.  We would
agree with this analysis.  A month ago we reported an Oct. 16
Infopress report that the Nicaraguan army had captured and
disarmed 950 recontras from the 380 group.  This rearmed group
has not been mentioned since by any of our Nicaraguan news
sources, so it is our belief that the army offensive broke the
back of this group.  The demands of the 380 group were political,
as opposed to past rearmed groups whose demands were primarily
for land and economic assistance.  The political demands coincide
with those of National Assembly President Alfredo Cesar, Vice-
President Virgilio Godoy, and Managua Mayor Arnoldo Aleman for
Chamorro to resign, for Humberto Ortega to be removed as head of
the Army, and for the so-called co-government with the
Sandinistas to end.  Last week the three right-wing leaders also
began to demand that the 1996 elections for President be moved
forward.  We do think it is of significant interest that the
Washington Post quoted a Commander Ali as saying that the group
had supply lines through Honduras and is receiving funds from
"traditional friends" in the United States, Honduras, and
elsewhere.  Traditional friends in the US include Nicaraguans in
Miami, the CIA, and the Oliver North right-wing civilian network.
We ask you to call on your Congressional Representatives to
investigate whether government or private organizations in the US
are funding violence in Nicaragua.

As the promised economic reactivation promised by the Chamorro
government has failed to take place and the economic desperation
of the majority of Nicaraguans continues to get worse, grassroots
pressure on the Sandinista leadership has grown. Unemployment and
underemployment exceeds 60%, the infant mortality rate has risen
to 71 per 1,000 live births, up from 51 under the Sandinistas,
and thousands of school age children can not afford to go to
school because their parents can not afford the fees.  The FSLN
National Directorate issued a declaration of economic proposals
on November 9 and demanded an immediate response from the

government.  The declaration called for massive job creation
programs, credit to industry and agriculture, and an end to
cutbacks in health and education.  The declaration also agreed
that properties unjustly confiscated by the Sandinista government
should be returned but emphasized that under no circumstances
would the party accept return of properties or compensation to
Somocistas.  For a complete copy of the declaration, send a self-
addressed envelope with a 29 cent stamp to the address at the end
of this hotline.  Specify whether you want the Spanish version or
our English translation of it.  Initial reactions by government
spokespersons were highly negative.  Minister of the Presidency
Antonio Lacayo called the proposals "populist" and blamed the
FSLN for the economic condition of the country.  Foreign Minister
Ernesto Leal called the declaration "irresponsible" and said it
should not even be discussed in an upcoming meeting between the
FSLN and the government.

The issue of return or compensation of expropriated properties is
becoming even more divisive, if possible.  The Territorial Zoning
Office, which is charged with granting legal title to the those
who received urban houses and lots under Sandinista land reform,
has rejected over 1,200 claims so far and former owners are now
trying to evict those who have received rejections.  The
Community Movement has announced that it is forming a "anti-
eviction movement" to defend those who have been denied title to
their property.  On the other end of the spectrum, the
association representing those who had their properties
confiscated in the Matagalpa region have rejected the
government's offer of bonds to compensate them for property that
is being occupied by peasant cooperatives and small farmers.  The
government has said it will not return these properties, but will
compensate the former owners.

Last week we reported a story citing Spanish language press and
contra sources in Miami, which reported that two alleged
Sandinistas attacked an wounded former contra commander Bigote de
Oro.  Bodyguards supposedly returned fire killing one man and
wounding another.  Miami contra's said this was evidence of an
extermination squad in what they call the Sandinista Front's
"secret services."   This week the Central America Historical
Institute's Nicaragua News Service reported quite a different
sequence of events.  Apparently Bigote de Oro shot and killed a
police lieutenant in a restaurant in Somoto on November 2.  He in
turn was wounded by return fire from those accompanying the
police officer.  The original story is akin to the type of
"evidence" claimed by Sen. Jesse Helms in his report on Nicaragua
which he used to support his request to hold-up US aid to
Nicaragua.  That aid continues to be held up by the Bush
Administration.

And, finally FSLN Secretary General Daniel Ortega has sent
letters to both President Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton
through acting US Ambassador Ron Goddard.  After meeting with
Goddard, Ortega was quoted in a November 11 Inter Press Service

article as calling for international respect for the autonomy of
the armed forces and that failure to do so would "increase
instability" in the country.  Ortega added that Washington had
shown "tolerance towards Gen. Pinochet, who is internationally
repudiated, which is not the case with our own armed forces.
Pinochet brutally ruled Chile after overthrowing President
Allende in 1973.   Ortega's letter to Bush called for him to
release US aid to Nicaragua.  To Clinton he wrote, "this is an
historic opportunity to build a new type of relationship between
the United States and Nicaragua, based on principles of mutual
respect and cooperation."  Acting Ambassador Goddard told
reporters that he hoped the frozen funds would be disbursed
"before December," but we have been hearing claims that release
is imminent for some time now with no action resulting.

To become a supporter and receive our publications and mailings,
please contact us.  The Nicaragua Network's address is: 1247 E
St., SE, Washington, DC  20003; our phone: [phone].
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **