From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: NICARAGUA NETWORK HOTLINE August 17, 1992
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 23:02:34 GMT

/** reg.nicaragua: 112.0 **/
** Topic: NICANET HOTLINE -- 08/17/92 **
** Written  2:29 pm  Aug 17, 1992 by nicanet in cdp:reg.nicaragua **
            NICARAGUA NETWORK HOTLINE ** 202-544-9360
 
                         August 17, 1992
 
You have reached the Nicaragua Network Hotline recorded Monday, 
August 17, 1992.   To reach our office, call: 202-544-9355.
 
Topics covered in this hotline include: Chamorro caving in to US 
pressure; Aleman's police ruled unconstitutional; university 
budget crisis may be resolved, Nicaragua's health problems 
multiply, and US Senate to take up 1993 foreign aid bill.
 
U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Managua, Richard Goddard evaded with 
the traditional "No comment," a question about conditions put on 
release of US aid which continues to be held up and whether the 
removal of Rene Vivas as head of the Police had been required in 
exchange for that release. (Barricada 8/12/92)  "I would not like 
to give details about a confidential meeting between the two 
ministers.  I can tell you that they spoke about matters of 
bilateral interest," Goddard said.  He was speaking of a meeting 
between Minister of the Presidency Antonio Lacayo and Secretary 
of State James Baker.  Goddard would not confirm or deny the 
pressures and limited himself to saying that the US had been 
expressing its "concern" about the need for a professional and 
apolitical police for two years now since a new police is 
essential "for the development of Nicaragua."  He added, "This is 
not interference, it is just that we see it as an obstacle."
     Several alarming facts give the appearance that Chamorro is 
giving up her efforts to build national reconciliation because 
the hold up of US aid is threatening what little economic 
progress has been made as the result of the draconian economic 
measures demanded by the US and international lenders.  This, of 
course, is not interference according to the Bush Administration 
version of Orwellian "newspeak." The firing of Vivas and other 
Sandinistas in the police creates fear that the police will again 
become a force of repression as they were under the Somoza 
dictatorship.
     In another sign that the US is making Chamorro jump through 
hoops in order to win a release of the aid, she has ordered the 
return from Cuba today of 76 people who have been receiving 
medical treatment on the island along with the students who have 
recently graduated from school there.  At first, all patients 
were ordered to travel to Nicaragua, but within an hour of the 
first order, a change was made to include only those who had been 
released from the hospital.  The remaining 34 patients will 
return to Nicaragua in the next few days.  The return of 
nationals is often a preliminary measure before the breaking off 
of diplomatic relations between two countries.  Nicaragua has not 
had an ambassador in Cuba since the Chamorro government took 
over.  Two months ago, Cuba recalled its ambassador, Fernando 
Ravelo, evidently to pressure Nicaragua to appoint an ambassador 
to Cuba.  At the moment, all the nations of Latin America have 
diplomatic relations with Cuba (Barricada 8/14/92) but, if what 
is rumored in Managua is true, Nicaragua will crack that unified 

front and break off relations with Cuba in what clearly appears 
to be an effort to please the US.
     Further evidence that Chamorro has decided that defiance of 
the US has become too costly is that Lacayo has begun meeting 
with some key parties in the UNO coalition that could signal a 
change in the policies of the Executive Branch.  He has had long 
meetings with the Socialist Party, with the National Conservative 
Party and was scheduled to meet with the Christian Democratic 
Union.  Conservatives have been circulating a call for a 
"patriotic dialogue" along the lines of that called for by 
National Assembly President Alfredo Cesar, Vice-President 
Virgilio Godoy, and Managua Mayor Arnoldo Aleman, to help resolve 
the national crisis.  The internal friction in the government 
appears to coincide with changes in the speech and actions of the 
executive branch after Chamorro and Lacayo returned from their 
trip to Washington two weeks ago.
 
The Nicaraguan Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Accord No. 
12 of the Municipal Council of Managua which created the 
Municipal Corps of Inspectors, better known as the "Police of 
Mayor Aleman."  Aleman, a former ally of Somoza and present 
leader of the far right, was notified of the decision yesterday 
and reacted by saying that he would create another body with a 
different name.  The Supreme Court recognized the right of city 
governments to name inspectors but ruled that their police powers 
conflicted with the Constitution which states that the only 
police force is the National Police.  Sandinista City Council 
Member Monica Baltodano said that Aleman could create more 
inspectors but that they must not be able to sanction citizens 
because that function belongs to the police. 
 
Meetings being held among the leadership of the National Assembly 
may lead to a resolution of a six week old strike by university 
faculty and students demanding a larger education budget.  The 
controversy is not easy to explain but it began this year when 
the National Assembly passed the budget which included $23.4 
million for higher education.  The University Council challenged 
this budget in court as unconstitutional, asserting that the 
government did not comply with the provision in the Law on 
Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Learning which says that the 
amount of support must be at least 6% of the general budget.  
According to the universities, this would include foreign aid 
which would mean that the government would owe the universities 
some $7.6 million.  A Sandinista proposal presented by Dora Maria 
Tellez would resolve the serious controversy by taking a 
compromise position.  This new position would apply the 6% to 
ordinary and extraordinary income as long as it was liquid and 
not tied to any specific purpose.  If this criteria were applied, 
the government would be obliged to budget an additional $2.4 
million more for the universities.
     In other education news, Minister of Education Humberto 
Belli, accused the Teachers Union (ANDEN) and the FSLN of asking 
for his head in exchange for that of Police Chief Rene Vivas.  
More than 100 teachers' union leaders demanded the extreme right-

winger Belli's resignation and that of his Viceminister Hortensia 
Rivas at union meeting last weekend.
 
As health care cost rise farther and farther above the reach of 
the majority of Nicaraguans, diseases that were under control when 
the former Sandinista government offered free health services, 
are now running rampant.  The Ministry of Health reported that 76 
children have died of measles so far this year.  An out-of-
control measles epidemic has so far infected 1,800 children.  In 
addition cholera, which is called the disease of poverty, 
continues to spread unabated.  In spite of the fact that the 
first cases of cholera appeared in Nicaragua months later than 
expected, the Chamorro government did little to prepare.  As of 
August 16, 815 cases of cholera have been diagnosed and the 
number of cases has been rising exponentially over the past 
month.
 
The US Senate will take up the Fiscal Year 1993 foreign aid 
appropriations bill in early September.  Approximately $170 
million is included for Nicaragua and Sen. Leahy, Chair of the 
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations is willing to fight 
efforts to put political restrictions on the aid to Nicaragua and to 
attempt to eliminate any military aid to El Salvador if he has 
enough support.  Now is the time, while Senators are in their 
home states to ask them to commit to support Leahy's efforts.  
The demands are: no political restrictions on aid to Nicaragua, 
no military aid to El Salvador, and while you have their ear, ask 
them to demand that the State Department stop holding up aid to 
Nicaragua already appropriated for this year.  Give us a call so 
we can let the Central American Working Group know what response 
you got from your Sentators.
 
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: 202-544-9355.
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive