From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Nicanet Hotline 11/16/92
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 09:06:05 GMT

/** 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information in the article appears to be out of date.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: 202-544-9355.
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive