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To Latin America's Health
EDITORIAL To Latin America’s Health Fernando Borgia Latin America has been an immense laboratory Political changes in the application of the neoliberal economic This worsening crisis and the evidence of policies promoted by the World Bank, the economic interests in the invasion of Middle East International Monetary Fund and the countries, both contributed enormously to what Interamerican Development Bank. These policies Eduardo Galeano3 called “the end of fear”. This were followed and promoted through cooperation has been symbolized in Bolivia by the assumption missions by multilateral agencies with the of power by President Evo Morales, representative complicity of sitting governments and local of the indigenous peoples of America. According bourgeoisie. to public opinion polls, in the presidential election However, nowadays Latin America is held on 18 December 2005, none of the candidates witnessing a series of experiments in “counter would obtain the absolute majority (50% plus one) reform.” These can be understood as “progressive necessary to be directly elected, therefore, the reforms” in reaction to former neoliberal programs president would be appointed by the new and some of them are summarized in this editorial. Congress. However, election results gave Evo Morales an absolute majority with more than the Neoliberal heritage 54% of the vote, instead of what previous polls In order to understand their originas it is had showed (37%). Nearly 30% of the electorate important to carefully example a typical example Quechua, and 25% are Aymara. Political of the results of neoliberal policies in Latin instability had been a characteristic of Bolivia’s America: the Argentinean crisis after the Menem recent past. -
Report on the Mission to Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua
Report on the Mission to Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua Bruce S. Gelb President, Council of American Ambassadors United States Ambassador to Belgium, 1991-1993 Director, United States Information Agency, 1989-1991 he Council of American Ambassadors selected Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua for its 2006 fact-finding mission for three reasons: first, to show T that, despite heavy focus on the Middle East, the United States (US) was very definitely concerned with the problems and opportunities of Central and South America; second, we wanted to see at first hand if the reports on Venezuela becoming a totalitarian country were accurate; third, knowing of the anti-American activities flowing from Venezuela’s President Chávez, we hoped to provide the antidote of some “feet on the ground” US Public Diplomacy. The scholarly work of our rapporteur, Marcos Gonzalez, with input from delegation members, follows this introduction but, on a personal note, our mission revealed a region requiring major US attention best characterized by our final meeting in Caracas with an elected anti-Chávez politician, who described the fourth unsuccessful assassination attempt on his life by relating how his bodyguard died in his arms from bullet wounds. * * * The Council of American Ambassadors sponsored a mission to Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua from September 17-27, 2006. The delegation of seven ambassadors, joined by an additional two in Colombia, visited Caracas, Bogotá, Managua and León.1 The objective was to examine the current political, economic and social climate of each nation and the state of its relations with the United States. In this year of significant electoral flux in the Western Hemisphere, election systems, candidates and political parties merited particular scrutiny in Nicaragua and Venezuela, as did the condition of Colombia’s newly re-elected President and his ongoing struggle with three terrorist groups. -
Nicaraguan Sandinismo, Back from the Dead?
NICARAGUAN SANDINISMO, BACK FROM THE DEAD? An anthropological study of popular participation within the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional by Johannes Wilm Submitted to be examined as part of a PhD degree for the Anthropology Department, 1 Goldsmiths College, University of London 2 Nicaraguan Sandinismo, back from the Dead? An anthropological study of popular participation within the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional I declare that this thesis is entirely my own work and that the thesis presented is the one upon which I expect to be examined. The copyright holders of the included photos/pictures are mentioned in the caption. Usage rights for purposes that go beyond the reproduction of this book either in its entirety or of entire chapters, must be obtained individually from the mentioned copyright holders. When no copyright holder is mentioned in the caption, I was the photographer. The photos taken by me can be used for other purposes without prior consent, as long as the photographer is mentioned in all forms of publication where the photos appear. Johannes Wilm 3 Abstract Thirty years after redefining the political landscape of Nicaragua, Sandinismo is both a unifying discourse and one driven by different interpretations by adherents. This thesis examines the complex legacy of Sandinismo by focusing on the still widely acclaimed notion of Sandinismo as an idiom of popular participation. A central point is the current unity of the movement, as it is perceived by Sandinistas, depends on a limited number of common reference points over the last 100 years of Nicaraguan history, which are interpreted very differently Sandinistas and other groups, but which always emphasise the part Nicaraguans play in international relations and the overall importance of popular mass participation in Nicaraguan politics, rather than agreement on current, day-to-day politics. -
Evangelicals in Nicaraguan Politics Jacob Siegel SIT Study Abroad
SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad SIT Digital Collections Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection SIT Study Abroad Fall 2006 Searching for a Path: Evangelicals in Nicaraguan Politics Jacob Siegel SIT Study Abroad Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection Part of the Politics and Social Change Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Siegel, Jacob, "Searching for a Path: Evangelicals in Nicaraguan Politics" (2006). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 315. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/315 This Unpublished Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the SIT Study Abroad at SIT Digital Collections. It has been accepted for inclusion in Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection by an authorized administrator of SIT Digital Collections. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Searching for a Path: Evangelicals in Nicaraguan Politics Jacob Siegel School for Internacional Training Academic Director: Aynn Setright Advisor: Rev. José Miguel Torres Pérez Sending Institution: Williams College Majors: Religion and Mathematics Managua, Nicaragua Fall 2006 Table of Contents Introduction and Methodology………………………………….…………………...1 A Brief Background on Protestants in Nicaraguan Politics: 1936-1996……….……5 Roots of Evangelical Political Participation…………………………………………8 Political Marginalization…………………...………………………………...9 Campaign for Conservative Social Values………………………………….12 Search for Economic Betterment..............…………………………………..15 -
Extent of Felix's Devastation Still Unfolding
C$20 www.nicatimes.net Friday, September 14, 2007 – Granada, Nicaragua An 8-Page Publication of The Tico Times Extent of Felix’s Devastation Still Unfolding By Tim Rogers and Brian Harris date: 67 dead; 138 missing; 135 rescued and The Nica Times 150,542 affected. Though prospects are dimming that those BILWI – As the country completed three still missing will turn up safe or be rescued, days of national mourning this week in obser- some incredible tales of survival have started vance of those killed by last week’s Hurricane to emerge from the wreckage, including the Felix, rescue workers on the Caribbean coast story of one woman who gave birth as the continued the tireless and grim work of air- hurricane ripped by overhead and destroyed lifting emergency supplies to isolated indige- her home. nous communities and trying to accurately Nicaraguan naval patrols, meanwhile, assess damage and death tolls. pulled 41 people from the Caribbean waters As the scope of the devastating tragedy Sept. 7, four full days after the storm swept continues to unfold, several rescue workers them into the water. The 40 men and one and outside observers compared the natural woman survived by tying themselves to disaster to the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, which pieces of wood from destroyed homes and devastated the U.S. city of New Orleans and ships they found in the water. much of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Showing signs of trauma and exhaustion “For us this is an invisible Katrina,” said from the ordeal, the group, mostly lobster Alejandro López, a United Nations represen- divers, was met by a large crowd of townsfolk tative of the World Food Programme in the in Bilwi, many showing up in hopes that rel- northern hamlet of Kurkira. -
NICARAGUA: in DEFENSE of NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY and the RULE of LAW 13Th June 2021
Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional Unida Nicaragua Triunfa NICARAGUA: IN DEFENSE OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RULE OF LAW 13th June 2021 I. A LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT ENSURES DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW An unprecedented and relentless attack is unfolding against the People and Government of Nicaragua, driven by false narratives advanced by rightwing and U.S. financed media outlets and “opposition figures.” In the light of evidence that has been presented against certain individuals and organizations, related to the crimes of money laundering, fraud, treason and 2 seditious conspiracy, the Office of the Nicaragua Attorney General began an investigation into the dealings of Cristiana Chamorro and her “Fundación Violeta Barrios de Chammorro for Reconciliation and Democracy (FVBCH),” that received tens of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars through USAID, NED, IRI and other U.S. government agencies, that were then transferred through corporate and personal accounts to Chamorro family members, including her brother Carlos Fernando Chammorro (CINCO, Confidencial) and her uncle Jaime Chamorro Cardenal (La Prensa); as well as to other affiliated organizations such as, Channel 10, Channel 11, Channel 12, and Vos TV, Radio Corporación and Radio Show Café con Voz; as well as online outlets 100% Noticias, 3 Artículo 66, Nicaragua Investiga, Nicaragua Actual, BacanalNica, and Despacho 505. The purpose of the Attorney General´s investigation therefore, is to determine, whether Cristiana Chammorro and her FVBCH have committed any crimes as related to Law No. 1040, that requires organizations to report in detail any funding they receive from abroad and Law No. 1055, that protects the Nicaraguan People against the crimes of treason and seditious conspiracy. -
Nicaragua at the Crossroads: the Candidacy of Herty Lewites
Nicaragua at the Crossroads: The Presidential Candidacy of Herty Lewites Midge Quandt During my trip to Nicaragua in March and April 2006, I talked with several political actors about the presidential candidacy of Herty Lewites, a moderate Sandinista who was expelled from the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in March 2005 for challenging the leadership of Daniel Ortega. This November election is crucial because Ortega and the right wing liberal figure Arnoldo Aleman have shared near dictatorial powers since their political pact in 1999. They have come to dominate all political institutions in the country except for the executive branch. Herty is running on a coalition ticket called The Herty Alliance 2006 with the aim of opening up and democratizing the political process. If he wins, Nicaragua will join the growing number of countries in Latin America that have left or center left governments which are resisting to a greater or lesser degree the dictates of neo-liberalism. The people I interviewed were all Sandinistas, but only one belonged to a political party. To give the reader a flavor of the different perspectives on Herty, I have excerpted four interviews. For purposes of clarity, I put my own comments in boldface and the interviewee’s quoted responses in regular type. Descriptive material about the interviewees is set in italics. Sofia Montenegro is a leader of the feminist movement and a writer and journalist. I consider myself a Sandinista without a party, which applies to a lot of people. So far my involvement in the women’s movement commits me to preserve the autonomy of the movement. -
Patchwork Democracy Nicaraguan Politics Ten Years After the Fall by David R
Patchwork Democracy Nicaraguan Politics Ten Years After the Fall by David R. Dye with Jack Spence and George Vickers November 2000 Copyright 2000 Hemisphere Initiatives The report may be quoted at length if attributed. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part without CONTENTS the permission of Hemisphere Initiatives, Inc. David R. Dye, a Managua based research journalist Prologue 1 has resided in and provided political and economic analysis on Central America for eighteen years. He Basic Political Trends: 1990-2000 2 took principal responsibility for research and writing The Pact 7 this report. Who Benefits? 12 Jack Spence is President of Hemisphere Initiatives and is Associate Professor of Political Science at the The Pact’s Impacts 18 University of Massachusetts Boston. Spence coordinat- Conclusions 35 ed the research, made two field trips to Nicaragua, and edited all sections of the report. Endnotes 40 George Vickers is Executive Director of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and Treasurer of Hemisphere Initiatives. He edited all sec- tions of the report, made two field trips to Nicaragua timely and able help in making arrangements for including during the November 5th elections, and, printing and mailing. Carlos Fernando Chamorro along with Spence, wrote the analysis of the results of provided helpful information on printing and graphics the election and the performance of the Supreme and he along with Nobel León helped point toward Electoral Council during the weeks leading up to the election data. Rachel Farley of WOLA ably handled election. logistics for printing and delivery. In Managua Y made We would like to thank all those who granted us time implemented arrangements for printing and delivery. -
Observing the 2006 Nicaragua Elections
SPECIAL REPORT SERIES Observing the 2006 Nicaragua Elections Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. THE CARTER CENTER STRIVES TO RELIEVE SUFFERING BY ADVANCING PEACE AND HEALTH WORLDWIDE; IT SEEKS TO PREVENT AND RESOLVE CONFLICTS, ENHANCE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, AND PROTECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE. OBSERVING THE 2006 NICARAGUA ELECTIONS ONE COPENHILL 453 FREEDOM PARKWAY ATLANTA, GA 30307 (404) 420-5188 FAX (404) 420-5196 WWW.CARTERCENTER.ORG MAY 2007 THE CARTER CENTER OBSERVING THE 2006 NICARAGUA ELECTIONS CONTENTS Foreword . .3 Acknowledgments . .5 Mission Delegation and Staff . 8 Executive Summary . .11 The Pre-election Period . .14 Election Day and Its Aftermath . .32 Conclusions and Recommendations . .39 Appendices . .48 A. Invitation to Observe . .49 B. Role of Long-Term Observers . .51 C. Strategic Deployment of Short-Term Observers . .53 D. Representative Deployment of Short-Term Observers . .58 E. List of Short-Term Deployment Teams . .60 F. Observation Forms . .61 G. Carter Center Public Statements and Press Releases . .67 The Carter Center at a Glance . .90 THE CARTER CENTER OBSERVING THE 2006 NICARAGUA ELECTIONS FOREWORD he Carter Center has monitored national elec- tions in Nicaragua four times, beginning in 1990. Throughout the past 16 years, we have ONTEALEGRE T M sought to ensure that Nicaraguans and the internation- al community were provided with accurate information ARGARITA about the quality of the elections. Carter Center M observers and staff tracked the technical preparations and the electoral campaigns, observed the vote process and count, and provided follow-up visits to monitor electoral justice and the inauguration of new officials. We contributed our knowledge, suggesting to election authorities, political parties, and civil society ways in which the election process could be improved. -
2006 Nicaraguan Elections and the US Government Role
2006 Nicaraguan Elections and the US Government Role Report of the Nicaragua Network Delegation to investigate US intervention in the Nicaraguan elections of November 2006 Introduction The Nicaragua Network sent a delegation of academics and representatives of human rights and solidarity groups to Nicaragua June 17-24, 2006 to investigate the role of the US government in Nicaragua’s presidential election scheduled for November 5, 2006. The Nicara- gua Network is a national network of local committees which has worked for 27 years to change US government policy toward Nicaragua. In all we held formal meetings with 30 people representing the full spectrum of Nicaragua’s politics. For a list of delegates and a list of those with whom we met in Nicaragua see Appen- dices 1 and 2. One week after the delegation returned to the US, one of the four principal presidential candidates, Herty Lewites, died of a heart attack. While domestically his death had profound consequences, it had no effect on the findings of our delegation. The delegation had a narrow mission to investigate the US government role in the Nicaraguan election. The delegates encompassed a range of opinion about the appropriateness of US government involvement in Nicaragua’s election ranging from no role is appropriate given the US government’s history of invasions, occupations, and political/economic domination of Nicaragua, to a belief that pro- viding nonpartisan technical support and training is an appropriate way to support the strength- ening of democratic institutions. While individual delegates may or may not have had preferences for particular candidates or parties in the election, the delega- tion maintained strict neutrality and the Nicaragua Network, while believing that Nicaraguans would likely be better off if one of the parties of the Left were to win, has not endorsed nor ex- pressed a preference for any candi- date or party in the 2006 election. -
The 2008 Municipal Elections According to Nicaraguan Women: Nihilism, Hope, and Pragmatism
The 2008 Municipal Elections According to Nicaraguan Women: Nihilism, Hope, and Pragmatism Women in line to vote in El Coyolito, photo courtesy of Kelly Williams Teresa Cheng University of Southern California Major: Political Science Academic Director: Aynn Setright Project Advisor: Guillermo Pérez Leiva Managua, Nicaragua School of International Training Nicaragua – Fall 2008 1 Table of Contents Introduction …………………………………………………………………………….1-4 Methodology……………………………………………………….………………. …..5-7 Context of the 2008 Municipal Elections …………………….……...……….8-19 Candidates Pre-Election Controversies Campaign Messaging, Platforms, and Propaganda Female Participation Pre-Election Violence Factors at Stake Day of the Elections: La Fiesta Cívica ………………………………………20-21 After the Elections …………………….……...……………………………...22-23 IV. What Influenced the Women’s Vote? …………………….……...……….…24-33 El Voto En Contra, “The Vote Against” History, Memories, and Family Democracy Class The Economy: Foreign Investment, Employment, and the Cost of Living Infrastructure Women’s Bodies Peace V. Is there a Women’s Vote? …………………….……...……………………...34-36 VI. Do Women Represent Women? ……………………………………………..37-38 VII. Perspectives on the Role of Government, Democracy, and the Future ……...39-40 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………...41-42 2 Introduction In just 24 hours after the 2008 Nicaraguan municipal elections, national newspapers announced that post-election violence between the two major competing parties had left dozens injured, as well as a 20-year-old election observer and an 8-year-old girl dead. 1 For some, the post-election violence revived haunting memories of the civil war of the 1980s, as the local electoral process was magnified onto a platform of national polarization and discontent. The Nicaraguan municipal elections of 2008 marked the sixth round of contested elections that Nicaragua has ever witnessed in its brief democratic history. -
Report of the Electoral Observation Mission
PRESIDENTIAL AND LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN NICARAGUA NOVEMBER 5, 2006 REPORT OF THE ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION PARLIAMENTARY CONFEDERATION OF THE AMERICAS TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4 1. TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE MISSION..........................................................................5 2. MAKEUP OF THE DELEGATION............................................................................................5 3. THE PRE-ELECTION POLITICAL CONTEXT.........................................................................6 4. THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE NOVEMBER 5, 2006 ELECTIONS .............................................................................................................................7 4.1 THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM.......................................................................................................7 4.2 THE ELECTORAL LAWS...........................................................................................................8 4.3 ELECTION AUTHORITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ........................................................................9 4.4 VOTING OPERATIONS ..........................................................................................................12 5. MISSION ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY..............................................................14