From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: NY Nica News Update #114, 4/6/92
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:47:50 GMT

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.0 **/
** Topic: NY Nica News Update #114, 4/6/92 **
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

     NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY NETWORK OF GREATER NEW YORK
   339 LAFAYETTE ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012 (212) 674-9499
         WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE #114, APRIL 6, 1992
 
In This Issue:
 
     1. Donor Group Pledges $1.2 Billion Aid to Nicaragua
     2. Nicaraguan President Visits Chile, Argentina and Brazil
     3. Police and Soldiers Beat Protesters in Northern Nicaragua
     4. New Armed Movement of Women Emerges in Northern Nicaragua
     5. Sandinista Assembly Votes For "Nat'l Agreement" With Govt
     6. Nicaraguan Governance Minister Carlos Hurtado Resigns
     7. Nicaragua: Women's Conf., Miners, Cholera & Evictions
     8. Presidential Coup in Peru
     9. Noriega Case Goes to Jury: "Fire, Tears and Blood"
    10. Meanwhile, Back in Panama...
    11. Strikes in Venezuela, El Salvador, Bolivia & Puerto Rico
    12. Chile: Former Guerrillas Sentenced, Others Form Coalition
    13. In Other News: Haiti, Guatemala & Brazil
    14. Upcoming Events in the New York City Area
   
These updates are published weekly. A one-year subscription is
$25. Back issues and source materials are available on request.
(Many of our source materials are available through Peacenet.)
Feel free to reproduce these updates or reprint any information
from them, but please credit us. We welcome your comments and
ideas: send them via Peacenet to <nicanetny>.
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.1 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

1. DONOR GROUP PLEDGES $1.2 BILLION AID TO NICARAGUA
A Nicaraguan government delegation's meeting with international
financial institutions and donor nations in Washington ended Mar.
26 with pledges of $1.2 billion in aid for 1992 and 1993.
Presidency Minister Antonio Lacayo said that two conditions were
imposed on the aid: to continue reforming the economy and to
maintain national unity. Lacayo told the US press that Nicaragua
could become "the Taiwan of Central America" if it received
enough help from friendly countries throughout the decade.
 
Donor countries attributed the increase in aid over previous
years to "a recognition of last year's advances and of the
ambitious future agenda." Nicaraguan daily La Prensa gave credit
to the broad representation of the government delegation, which
included former Nicaraguan President and Sandinista Front (FSLN)
General Secretary Daniel Ortega, and Daniel Nunez, leader of
Nicaragua's powerful Farmers and Ranchers Union (UNAG). 
 
"We have a common responsibility to get the country out of this
situation," said Ortega, who said he accompanied the government
delegation to explain "that this country is about to explode if
urgent measures are not taken," and to tell potential donors
"that the resources that they may contribute should be
distributed equitably and not just be divided up among those who
use them for their businesses." At a press conference, Lacayo
said Ortega's support for the government was normal, since the
administration of President Violeta Chamorro "is a continuation
of the revolution which began in 1979." Lacayo stressed that
Chamorro was a member of the first revolutionary junta, adding
that "for many reasons we became divided and there was a war
between brothers, but we have left this behind." [Central
American Historical Institute Memo #222, 3/19-25/92; #223, 3/26-
4/2/92]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.2 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

2. NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT VISITS CHILE, ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL
After the donor meeting in Washington, President Chamorro made a
three-day visit to Brazil, Argentina and Chile from Mar. 26 to
29. In Chile, Chamorro received military honors from a contingent
of the Chilean Air Force and signed a bilateral accord with the
Chilean government to increase trade and start programs of
economic, cultural, educational and touristic collaboration. [El
Diario-La Prensa (NY) 3/30/92 from AFP] In an emotional address
before President Aylwin and other Chilean officials, Chamorro
declared, "Close to 50,000 Nicaraguan lives were lost in a sad
war between brothers because of an obsolete ideology." [Chile
Information Project News 3/28-29/92] In Brazil, Chamorro's formal
request for debt forgiveness was denied; Brazilian Foreign
Minister Francisco Rezek said Brazil's constitution forbids the
pardoning of debts. But he said the Brazilian government would
consider refinancing Nicaragua's $81 million debt on favorable
conditions. Chamorro and Brazilian President Fernando Collor de
Mello also signed bilateral cooperation pacts on the subject of
diplomacy, telecommunications and agro-livestock industry. [Folha
do Brasil weekly supplement in ED-LP 3/31/92 from EFE]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.3 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

3. POLICE AND SOLDIERS BEAT PROTESTERS IN NORTHERN NICARAGUA
In Sebaco, Matagalpa department, police and soldiers were sent in
to remove a group of workers, former contras and former soldiers
who had taken over state utility buildings and the regional
offices of the national grain distributor, ENABAS. The protesters
were also blocking the Pan American highway with barricades and
burning tires; some of them were armed and carrying mortars.
Soldiers beat up workers and even attacked a journalist from pro-
Sandinista daily Barricada, destroying his camera. 47 workers
were arrested, though all but six were released three days later
after public pressure. The six will be tried. [CAHI Memo #223
from Barricada]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.4 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

4. NEW ARMED MOVEMENT OF WOMEN EMERGES IN NORTHERN NICARAGUA
In the northern Nicaraguan city of Ocotal, where rearmed former
contras and former Sandinista soldiers recently staged a takeover
to press their demands, a new armed group emerged over the
weekend of Mar. 28-29. The group is called the Nora Astorga
Northern Front and is made up entirely of women. Uniformed former
soldiers, members of a support group for the Front, told AFP that
the 300 Front members are already receiving military training in
the mountains. (For reasons of security, journalists were not
taken to the site.) [ED-LP 4/5/92 from AP] The Front's members
are former soldiers, former contras, repatriates, cooperative
members and others; the group began months ago as logistical
support for the "recompas" (re-armed EPS soldiers) in Ocotal, but
finally decided to take up arms when the recent negotiations
between the government and the forces that took over Ocotal did
not satisfy any of their demands. The group is demanding
financing for a home for the elderly, nurseries, a birthing
clinic, and free medicines in the hospitals and clinics, and is
proposing that the government's natural resources ministry,
IRENA, begin reforestation projects to create jobs for unemployed
women in rural areas. A member of the Front's high command told
Barricada that the women "are ready to do whatever it takes" to
force the government to address their demands. [CAHI #223 from
Barricada]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.5 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

5. SANDINISTA ASSEMBLY VOTES FOR "NATIONAL AGREEMENT" WITH GOVT
On Mar. 28 and 29, the Sandinista Assembly--the FSLN's second-
highest governing body--met to discuss, among other things, the
party's relationship to the government. After a long and heated
discussion over the government's economic plan, the Assembly
voted for the promotion of a "national agreement" with the
government, "to influence economic policy to the benefit of
popular sectors and contribute to national stability." The FSLN
conditioned its support on government compliance with past
agreements and respect for existing laws and the constitution.
FSLN leader Daniel Ortega said the idea was to "struggle in an
organized way so that the struggle does not create chaos or
anarchy." Throughout April the FSLN will be working on economic
proposals to develop a plan to soften the government's structural
adjustment program. 
 
Ortega told Barricada that the new agreement would include the
creation of institutional mechanisms with the government in which
the FSLN would participate and decisions would be made by
consensus. FSLN delegates could participate in government
commissions where national policies would be decided, such as how
to distribute international aid. Ortega denied that this would be
a "disguised co-government." He said the details could be ironed
out as soon as May.
 
The Sandinista Assembly voted 81 to 10 (with three abstentions)
for the FSLN's membership into the Socialist International. While
a majority of members approved the move, they were critical of
the way FSLN leaders had made the decision without consulting the
base membership. The final decision will be made by the SI
itself, though it seems likely the FSLN will be accepted, since
it has been an observer in the SI since 1979. [CAHI Memo #223]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.6 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

6. NICARAGUAN GOVERNANCE MINISTER CARLOS HURTADO RESIGNS
Governance (Interior) Minister Carlos Hurtado has resigned from
his post. The government announced that he resigned for reasons
of health, but Hurtado held a press conference in which he
explained that he was perfectly healthy and was resigning over
differences with the Chamorro administration, which he did not
specify. Hurtado also said he turned down a position in
diplomatic service. [ED-LP 4/3/92 from AFP] Barricada cited
anonymous government sources giving the real reason for Hurtado's
resignation as his insistence on dismembering the police force.
Hurtado apparently also annoyed the Chamorro administration by
presenting a proposal for revamping the police force to the US
government before showing it to Chamorro. [CAHI Memo #223]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.7 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

7. NICARAGUA: WOMEN'S CONF., MINE WORKERS, CHOLERA AND EVICTIONS
The first women's conference for all of Central America brought
together 500 women from diverse backgrounds for five days under
the theme "unity in diversity." Many campesina women complained
that they were excluded by terminology and left out of some
discussions, but despite the conflicts, most women felt the
experience was a valuable one. The preparatory conferences held
in each country before the event were considered one of the most
positive aspects of the event.... Mine workers have won 100% of
the property rights to the La Libertad gold mine in Chontales and
several production units. With money provided by the Swedish
government (including an extra fund for operation and training),
the workers will pay the government $3,994,000 for a total of
five mining centers.... Four new cases of cholera were reported
in the town of Tipitapa, near Managua, and army and health
officials are on alert for a probable epidemic there. Meanwhile,
health officials say surgery will probably be halted during the
next three months in Nicaraguan hospitals due to scarcity of
medicines.... According to the Nicaraguan Renters Association,
over 20,000 families have been violently evicted throughout the
country since the Renter's Law took effect on Dec. 13, 1990. The
law requires renters to pay a certain percentage (1-4%) of the
value of the house as rent, which many cannot afford to do. [CAHI
Memo #223]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.8 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

8. PRESIDENTIAL COUP IN PERU
In a surprise television address on the night of April 5,
Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori announced that he was
dissolving his country's congress and suspending the
constitution. Fujimori said he intended to reorganize the
government "for an honest and efficient administration of
justice." He called the intended changes, "the starting point of
an authentic transformation to assure a legitimate and effective
democracy, which will permit all Peruvians to participate in
building a more just, more developed and more respected Peru."
Fujimori was elected to a five-year term in 1990. Since his party
was hastily organized around his candidacy, he lacks a
legislative majority and governs mostly by decree, relying on the
support of the Armed Forces. [New York Times 4/6/92 from AP]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.9 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

9. NORIEGA CASE GOES TO JURY: "FIRE, TEARS AND BLOOD"
After 7 months of testimony and legal disputes, on Apr. 4 a Miami
federal jury finally began its deliberations in the drug
racketeering trial of Panamanian Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega. 
The controversial case developed new twists even as it approached
its conclusion.  Fernando Jaen, the defense's last rebuttal
witness, was to testify on Mar. 30, but Panama's government
arrested him the day before as he was about to take a plane to
Miami.  Panama released Jaen the next day, too late to appear at
the trial. [New York Newsday, 3/31/92]  Another controversy broke
out on Apr. 3 when federal prosecutors attempted to change the
government's original 1988 indictment against Noriega, deleting
paragraphs based on information from Colombian drug dealer Boris
Olarte Morales.
 
Noriega objected to this routine procedure, and at a special
hearing on Apr. 4 the general told Judge William Hoeveler that
Olarte's charges "were the same charges that were brought to the
whole world, even to the Senate of the United States...  And they
were the same charges that led to, in 1989, actions that we're
not going to specify here [the US invasion of Panama] but which
constituted fire, tears and blood between two countries.  In
these charges...it is alleged that Boris Olarte claims he paid
money to me personally.  I am awaiting proof of that charge as I
am awaiting proof of other charges."  Calling this "no big deal,"
Hoeveler granted most of Noriega's request. [Washington Post
4/5/92]  (Olarte was paid $199,000 for his information,
considered critical to the original indictment, and then was sent
to Colombia to work undercover for the US Customs Service.  The
Justice Department wouldn't let him return to testify last
September, leading to speculation that his story couldn't stand
up in court.  [See Updates 80 and 84.])
 
In his final instructions, Hoeveler told the jurors to ignore the
political aspects of the trial. "...[M]ention has been made
during the trial of the case as to the manner in which the
defendant was brought here... [But] that is not an issue in this
case, and is not for you to consider." [New York Times 4/4/92]  A
Miami Herald analysis suggests that there is a "small but very
real possibility" that Noriega might be acquitted [ED-LP 3/30/92
from Notimex], and the Times says that an acquittal would be a
"significant embarrassment for the Bush administration," noting
that "hundreds of Panamanians and two dozen US soldiers" were
killed in the invasion, which also caused more than $1 billion in
damage. [NYT 4/5/92] 
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.10 **/
** Written  7:09 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

10. MEANWHILE, BACK IN PANAMA...
While the trial of Gen. Noriega wraps up in the US, former
residents of Panama City's El Chorrillo neighborhood, which was
almost completely destroyed in the US invasion, have been
protesting the Panamanian government's failure--after more than
two years--to rebuild the neighborhood, and are demanding to know
what happened to a $40.8 million US donation earmarked for
resolving problems caused by the invasion. Several neighborhood
leaders were arrested for organizing demonstrations during the
week of Mar. 16-20, and police used tear gas and birdshot to
disperse protests demanding their release. [Latin America
Database 4/3/92 from ACAN-EFE, AFP, Notimex]  And on Mar. 12-13
in Colon, Panama, anti-riot police clashed with protesters from
the Colon Unemployed Movement who were demanding the government
address the high rate of unemployment in the area. For two days
protesters blocked streets and highways with barricades and threw
molotov cocktails at police, who responded with tear gas and
birdshot. Three demonstrators were arrested. [LADB 4/3/92 from
ACAN-EFE]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.11 **/
** Written  7:10 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

11. STRIKES IN VENEZUELA, EL SALVADOR, BOLIVIA AND PUERTO RICO
In Venezuela, 70,000 public employees struck Apr. 1 to demand
salary adjustments and other compensation. The 60,000 health
workers began the strike in solidarity with union members of the
Scientific Investigations Institute and to demand overtime and
seniority pay, joining 10,000 court workers who began a series of
strikes with the threat of an all-out strike in the coming week.
[ED-LP 4/1/92 from AFP] Venezuelan student and labor
organizations are stepping up protests against the government,
which has pleaded for time to resolve its crisis [World
Perspectives from Radio Havana 3/25/92], while leaders of the
Feb. 4 coup attempt in Venezuela warn that another coup attempt
is likely, possibly combined with a social uprising. [Inter Press
Service 3/26/92]... Some 27,000 Salvadoran teachers went on
strike Mar. 30 to demand a 26-30% salary raise, health benefits,
better teaching materials, and the rehiring of 11,000 unemployed
teachers, since 500,000 children go without schooling because of
personnel shortages. The strike is set to last five days, but
union leaders warn that if demands are not met it could go on
indefinitely. [ED-LP 4/3/92 from AFP; SALPRESS News Synthesis
3/30/92]... An estimated 40,000 people turned out to support
striking teachers in Bolivia on Mar. 31; police cracked down on
protesters and beat up several reporters. The unions fear the
government may impose a state of siege. [Cubanews from Radio
Havana 4/1/92]... Teachers in Puerto Rico began an 8-day strike
Apr. 1 to protest the use of the standardized test Aprenda to
test students' learning development. Teachers Federation
president Renan Soto says Aprenda is "a bad translation of tests
offered in the US to the population of Mexican descent," and that
they are deficient "particularly in the vocabulary and the
illustrations used." [ED-LP 4/1/92] Meanwhile, striking Legal Aid
lawyers have virtually paralyzed the Puerto Rican court system.
The Independent Union of Legal Aid Attorneys called the strike
when contract negotiations stalled over their demand for a raise.
The union says the basic salary of a Legal Aid lawyer in Puerto
Rico is $19,000 a year, while district attorneys make $50,000.
[ED-LP 4/2/92]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.12 **/
** Written  7:10 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

12. CHILE: FORMER GUERRILLAS SENTENCED, OTHERS FORM COALITION
On Apr. 2, three of 25 guerrillas from the Manuel Rodriguez
Patriotic Front (FPMR) who tried to kill dictator Augusto
Pinochet on Sept. 7, 1986, were sentenced to life imprisonment by
a civilian judge. The three were charged with the death of five
bodyguards and the attempted murder of Pinochet. Until 1991 the
case was handled by a military court, which recommended the death
sentence. A fourth member of the group was also given a life
sentence for his part in an armed attack on a police station in
1988 during which one police agent died. Another 14 accused of
that attack and the Pinochet assassination attempt were given
sentences ranging from three to 20 years; four others were
acquitted. [ED-LP 4/3/92 from AFP]
 
A new rebel organization seems to have emerged in Chile, grouping
a still active faction of the now-disbanded FPMR with the Lautaro
movement and a militarist faction of the Revolutionary Left
Movement (MIR). Pamphlets say the group is called Subversive
Insurgent Coordinator for a Free Homeland. The group has been
blamed for a series of attacks on Mar. 29 and 30, including
bombings and the drive-by shooting of a police station. [ED-LP
3/31/92 from AP]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.13 **/
** Written  7:10 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

13. IN OTHER NEWS...
US Customs officials seized a ship in Puerto Rico on Mar. 31
after it delivered 250,000 gallons of diesel fuel to Haiti in
violation of a US embargo. The tanker is registered in Belize but
picked up its cargo in New York. This was the first enforcement
by the US since the embargo was imposed after the Sept. 30 coup
that overthrew Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. And as
the political situation in Haiti worsens, more people are fleeing
in boats; 879 Haitian refugees were picked up by the Coast Guard
between Mar. 30 and Apr. 2. [NYT 4/3/92]... The Dutch Embassy in
Guatemala reports that a body found Jan. 17 in Antigua [reported
in Update #108 as that of a US woman] has been identified as that
of Esther Kroon of Amsterdam. Kroon was murdered while on
vacation in Guatemala. [Guatemalan Human Rights Update #13/92]...
In an effort to purge his administration of corrupt officials and
gain the support of the legislature by forming a coalition
government, Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello has
replaced half of his cabinet. The 12 ministers resigned Mar. 30,
though six have been asked to stay on, including Economy Minister
Marcilio Marques Moreira, Education Minister and acting
Evironment Secretary Jose Goldemberg, and three military
ministers. Leaving the cabinet are Foreign Minister Francisco
Rezek, Justice Minister Jarbas Passarinho, Infrastructure
Minister Joao Santana, Labor Minister Reinhold Stephanes, Social
Action Minister Ricardo Fiuza and Agriculture Minister Antonio
Cabrera. [NYT 3/31/92, WP 4/1/92]... In Guatemala, a faction
calling itself the "Young Officers" has threatened a military
coup if the government accepts a guerrilla proposal, made during
the current round of peace talks, to investigate human rights
violations over the past 30 years. The government has so far
rejected the proposal, and talks are stalled on the issue of
human rights. In a communique on Mar. 23, anniversary of the coup
by Gen. Rios Montt that deposed military dictator Lucas Garcia,
the Officers said conditions are now ripe for a replay of that
coup. Defense Minister Jose Garcia denied the existence of the
group. [Cerigua Weekly Briefs 3/22-28/92]
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **

/** reg.nicaragua: 80.14 **/
** Written  7:10 am  Apr  7, 1992 by nicanetny in cdp:reg.nicaragua **

14. UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA
For more information, call NSN at 212-674-9499. Events listed and
flyers enclosed are not necessarily endorsed by the Nicaragua
Solidarity Network.
 
EVERY THU, 6-8 PM - Vigil for Freedom for Puerto Rican Political
Prisoners and POWs. In front of the UN, 1st Ave. bet. 42 & 43rd.
Call 212-538-0988.

9 THU, 6-8 PM - Fundraiser for Curbstone Press with guests
Claribel Alegria and Ernesto Cardenal. The Americas Society, 680
Park Avenue. $35 per person.

11 SAT, 9 PM - Casa de las Americas Dance to Celebrate the Bay of
Pigs Victory. With Orquesta Cultura 82 and DJ. $10 donation. 235 
W 23rd St (bet. 7 & 8 Ave). 
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **
-- Transfer complete, hit <RETURN> to continue -- 
v
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive