From: nyt%nyxfer%igc.apc.org@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu (NY Transfer News)
Subject: Nica:FSLN Issues Another Warning to Chamorro
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: The NY Transfer News Service
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 07:41:50 GMT


Title: FSLN Reaffirms Commitment to Poor/ED-LP

from El Diario La Prensa

edlp 11/10

Nicaragua

BORGE CONFIRMS FSLN COMMITMENT TO STABILITY AND THE POOR

In a warning to President Violeta Chamorro that she has abused the
people's patience, Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
leader Tomas Borge announced on Monday, November 9 the FSLN's
decision to seek stability without renouncing its commitment to
the poor. "Patience has its limits, and it takes only one more
straw to break the camel's back," Borge said to a crowd of
followers gathered at the Plaza de la Revolucion in Managua to
celebrate the 16th anniversary of the death in combat of FSLN
founder Carlos Fonseca. Borge, 60 years old and the only surviving
founding member of the FSLN, criticized government corruption, the
returning of property to former Somoza collaborators and the
attempts to dismantle the Sandinista Popular Army (EPS) and the
national police.

He also criticized the attitudes of Sandinista militants who
sometimes "stop being revolutionaries, abandon the revolutionary
attitude," while he reiterated the validity of the political
thought of Carlos Fonseca, whose ethic was "very defined." He
added that Fonseca promoted a "new morality," he identified
himself from a critical point of view with socialism and would
unhesitatingly defend the Cuban revolution which he admired and
respected.

Alluding to the different political currents within the Sandinista
party, Borge added that Fonseca's thought can help to find the
path which has been momentarily lost.

A meeting is scheduled to take place during the next week between
FSLN leaders and representatives of Chamorro's government to
analyze an economic plan proposed by the Sandinistas to modify the
government's economic adjustment plan. (NOTIMEX 11/10)


NICARAGUAN WORKERS' POCKETS EMPTIER THAN EVER

A tax increase decreed by the Nicaraguan government in October has
decreased the average worker's purchasing power by 30%, according
to labor leader Ronaldo Membreno. The prices of basic consumer
products have gone up "moderately," said Membreno, but the rates
for water, electricity and telephone service have increased by
15%. [Editor's Note: Under the Sandinista government these
services were subsidized. The Chamorro government did away with
these subsidies, automatically increasing their cost to the
public.] Preliminary calculations estimate that inflation for the
month of October reached 2%. The rate for September was -1.18%.

The tax increase was intended to provide the government with some
$40 million in income to help pay the fiscal deficit, 12% of the
Gross Domestic Product, which was paid in part through foreign
assistance. Nonetheless, the delay in the disbursement of $104
million in aid promised by the US government has endangered the
effectiveness of the government's economic stabilization program,
which includes a reduction in public spending.

Membreno acknowledged that the government must "fill its coffers"
but questioned whether this should be done at the cost of the
Nicaraguan people. "We agree with a tax which has a greater affect
on the large business enterprises and not on the people who earn
starvation wages and are suffering a 60% unemployment rate," said
Membreno. The average salary in Nicaragua is $40 per month for
workers. Professionals earn an average of $300 per month.
Importers also object to the tax increase because they believe it
will provoke an increase in black market goods, endangering the
legal import business and a stagnation in commercial activity.
(AFP 11/10)


translated by Toby Mailman, NY Transfer News


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