NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/5863

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: NICARAGUA NETWORK HOTLINE August 17, 1992
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/** 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: [phone].
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **