NICARAGUA NETWORK NICARAGUA MONITOR

March - April 2008 # 148 Choosing a New Path of Dignity and Sovereignty: SOA Watch Visits Nicaragua By Lisa Sullivan, SOAW Latin America able to meet with several key government human rights organizations. Coordinator leaders. These included President Daniel Just as the School of the Americas has In late February a small SOAW Ortega, Army Commander General been a window through which U.S. policy delegation consisting of Fr. Roy Bourgeois Omar Hallenslavens, Defense Minister towards Latin America can be viewed, and Lisa Sullivan traveled to Nicaragua so has tiny Nicaragua has as part of the SOAW Latin America been a concrete example of Project. This initiative seeks to visit all the what this policy can look countries that send troops to the School like in action. Coveted as a of the Americas in order to dialog with possible canal site because their leaders and human rights activists of the short distance about their continued presence at a school between its Atlantic and which has brought so much suffering and Pacifi c coasts, Nicaragua sorrow to their land. Since 2006, SOAW is a case in study of U.S. delegations have visited fi fteen countries, meddling, bullying, leading to decisions by fi ve of them to intervention and outright withdraw: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina, invasion, ranging from the Uruguay and Venezuela. colorful to the outrageous. Thanks to efforts by former SOAW In 1856 US mercenary prisoner of conscience Fr. Joe Mulligan Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Lisa Sullivan talked with Daniel Ortega about William Walker declared - a Nicaraguan resident of many years, ending the sending of Nicaraguan offi cers to the School of the Americas. himself president. along with other Nicaraguan and North RuthTapia, Human Rights Ombudsman Later from 1912 to 1934 the U.S. American activists, the delegation was Omar Cabezas, as well as solidarity and See SOA Watch, p. 5. 23 years of Solidarity with Condega By Tim Jeffries Condega. sister hospital relationship, the decision Tim Jeffries is Coordinator of the This year, it was decided that, as was made to pair it with another, larger, Bend-Condega Friendship Project, and St. Charles desired to initiate a formal regional hospital. The nearest facility member of the executive committee of the is located in Estelí and serves the entire Nicaragua Network department of the same name, including This past February, members of Bend’s sister city. The medical supplies the Bend-Condega Friendship Project were gratefully received by director, Dr. made their annual offi cial visit from José Angel Úbeda, and sub-director Dra. Central Oregon to the town of Condega, Marcia Gomez; the ceremony was covered Nicaragua. We have been making the trip by regional TV and radio stations, and a each year since March of 1985 (1985- Managua newspaper, El Nuevo Diario. 1990 as the Fairfax-Condega Sister Cities The BCFP also participated in a Project, from Marin County, California). larger delegation from Bend, at the end Part of the delegation involved of February. We facilitated a meeting delivering $20,000 worth of medicines between the Bendites and representatives and supplies to the public hospital in the of 5 different civic organizations. We city of Estelí, which serves the entire. got to hear updates from the condegeños Since 1991, St. Charles Medical Center, on their activities, challenges and future a regional hospital located in Bend, has plans, as well as listen to proposals from generously donated over $400,000 worth new groups. Dr. Jose Ubeda and Tim Jeffries inpack medical supplies. of medical needs to the health center in See Condega, p. 8. 1 Nicaragua Network 1247 “E” Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-544-9355 [email protected] Déjà vu All Over Again: CISPES Targeted by U.S. By Burke Stansbury Of course, CISPES has never had a for allegedly acting as a foreign agent [Burke Stansbury is CISPES executive contractual agreement with the FMLN of the FMLN. When that claim proved director.] or Funes, nor have we taken orders from baseless, the Department of Justice You may have seen or heard a news the party to do publicity work in the U.S. launched a full-scale investigation report recently titled “Grassroots Rather, we have a solidarity relationship based on the claim that CISPES was a Organization Accused of Being Foreign based on shared political values that goes front for the “terrorist” FMLN. The FBI “Agent” of Salvadoran Leftists” and back to the struggle for democracy and campaign of surveillance, harassment, wondered if the year were actually 1986. economic justice that the people of El and intimidation of CISPES and local Back then, CISPES was illegally targeted Salvador fought against a brutal U.S.- and national groups that worked with by the largest FBI Internal Security backed military regime in the 1980s. CISPES lasted until 1987 and ultimately investigation of the Reagan era, and our The Department of Justice gave no other became a major embarrassment for the handling of that particular incursion by the evidence to back up its claim, and the Bureau. Subsequent Congressional FBI was a major triumph of the Central aforementioned Washington Post article hearings showed the FBI to have American solidarity movement. So the doesn’t even refer to CISPES. conducted numerous illegal operations, U.S. government would never dare return So what to make of all this? Well, led to an internal inquiry by the Bureau, to the tactics used during the infamous it shows that the Bush Administration and curtailed the scope of domestic FBI infi ltration of CISPES, right? Wrong! is terrifi ed of another Latin American In January of 2008, we received a country electing a Left party. The letter from the Department of Justice that Salvadoran FMLN and its candidate Funes may have well been written in the 80s, have gained broad support 12 months except that it referred to the Farabundo ahead of the 2009 election, in large part Marti Front for National Liberation, or due to the failure of U.S.-supported FMLN, as a political party and not a neoliberal policies like CAFTA. guerrilla army. The letter cites the Foreign Moreover, it shows a dangerous trend Agents Registration Act of 1938, and towards possible U.S. intervention in the questions our organization’s relationship 2009 elections should Funes stay on top in with the leftist FMLN party. The letter the polls. In 2004, the last time the FMLN refers to the CISPES website and an had a chance to win the presidency, U.S. The FBI targeted CISPES in the ‘80s. article published in the Washington Post government offi cials issued statements following the December 2007 visit of the showing clear support for the right-wing surveillance activities (later expanded FMLN’s presidential candidate Mauricio ARENA party and threatening to cut again under the USA PATRIOT Act.) Funes. It states that, “it has come to off money sent from Salvadorans in the Despite the fact that the 1980s our attention… that the FMLN, and/or U.S. to their families should the FMLN witch-hunt was a failure, the Bush possibly its candidate for El Salvador’s win. Such actions are a disruption of the Administration is back at it again, using 2009 presidential election, Mauricio Salvadoran electoral process, undermining the same law – FARA – to threaten Funes, hired your organization for the the country’s sovereignty and self- CISPES. Our lawyer, Mara Verheyden- purposes of conducting a public relations determination. Hilliard from the Partnership for Civil media campaign to include political Recalling the Past Justice, put it very clearly: “That the fundraising…” In 1981 the FBI investigated CISPES Department of Justice would wrongly evoke the Foreign Agents Registration The Nicaragua Monitor is published by the Nicaragua Network (a project of the Act (FARA) to target this organization Alliance for Global Justice) to educate US citizens about the effects of US policy on at this particular moment demonstrates the people of Nicaragua and to build ties of peace and friendship between our two the Administration’s fear of progressive peoples. change sweeping Latin America. It is an effort to intimidate and stifl e solidarity Subscription information: $20 for one year (individuals), or $50 yearly (commit- groups in the U.S. who oppose the tees). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part to educate US citizens Government’s efforts to install puppet about Nicaragua and US policy. Credit the Nicaragua Network. regimes against the will of the people of Latin America.” National Offi ce Staff: Katherine Hoyt, Chuck Kaufman, Jill Hokanson Indeed, as progressive forces take Nicaragua Network * 1247 “E” St., SE • Washington, DC 20003 power in more and more countries in Phone: (202) 544-9355 Fax: (202) 544-9359 Latin America, the Bush Administration [email protected] is looking for ways to bolster its few Web site: www.nicanet.org 2 See CISPES, p. 8. Destroying Democracy at Home and Abroad By Chuck Kaufman calling for “regime change.” Suppose government to hold him incommunicado. [Chuck Kaufman is National Co- it trained and funded their armed wing Only when a small group of US citizens Coordinator of the Nicaragua Network just across the border in Canada. Imagine fl ew to the Central African Republic and and Interim Coordinator of the Venezuela that the armed wing launched a violent smuggled a cell phone to Aristide did the Solidarity Network.] urban and rural terror campaign within the fi ctions the US government was telling The United States spends hundreds United States and that North Pebbleland about Aristide’s supposed resignation of millions of US taxpayer’s dollars used that as a pretext to invade the US, begin to unravel. The Central African each year on so-called “democracy kidnap the president, send him into Republic was embarrassed and Aristide building” programs. Everyone is in favor exile, and install the violent opposition was allowed to leave, but to this day the of democracy, right? We’d like to see it minority as the new government. Imagine US government has blocked his return to spread to every country in the world. I further that armed supporters of the new Haiti and Haiti continues to bleed. know I would. So how do these programs government started to round up, arrest, and I could go on and make up imaginary work? Let me lay out a couple of kill the deposed President’s supporters. scenarios that help explain the US role imaginary scenarios. Imagine a US electoral race in which a marginal candidate suddenly receives major funding from a foreign source. Let’s say, Lyndon LaRouche is funded by the large country of North Pebbleland.... Suppose that funding were equal to $20 per US voter, which allowed a saturation of the media with disinformation, misinformation, lies, threats and empty promises designed to sway votes for Mr. LaRouche. Suppose at the same time that foreign power was threatening violence and economic damage if the wrong candidate won. Absurd, right? Yet that is exactly what happened to Nicaragua in the 1990 election when the Sandinistas were defeated in supposedly free and fair elections. The US government combined Condoleezza Rice (center) converses with Carl Gershman, NED president, on her right. Photo: State Dept. 13 minor parties and even dictated that Needless to say, US citizens of in the 2002 failed coup against President they would nominate Violeta Chamorro, all stripes and political beliefs would Chavez in Venezuela, its role in the last wife of a martyred newspaper publisher be out in the streets defending their presidential election in El Salvador, its who was killed by Somoza’s gunmen. government, their nation, and their right role in elections in Mongolia and the Then the US spent more per voter on the to self-determination. The people who Ukraine – indeed all of those color coded election than two years earlier George tried to perpetrate this atrocity would so-called Revolutions in the former Soviet Bush Sr. and Michael Dukakis spent The Alliance for Global Jus- bloc. And I could make up scenarios COMBINED per voter on their US for the unsuccessful efforts by the US presidential race. In the US, it is illegal tice is launching a “Respect government to sway the outcome of the for foreign governments, groups, or for Democracy” Campaign 2006 presidential elections in Nicaragua individuals to contribute to a political and Venezuela. But I think you get the campaign. But “free and fair” take on a be arrested. The entire affair would be point. whole new meaning if the US government considered an act of aggression by the So how is all this done? wants to insure a particular outcome in interfering foreign government. While violence and the threat of another nation’s election. And yet, this again is an accurate violence are the ultimate tools for Let’s go even further with our description of what the US government maintaining the US hegemony, the US imaginary scenario. Suppose that this did to Haiti on February 29, 2004, when has other tools in its intervention toolbox. hypothetical foreign nation put together a US marines forced democratically elected Among these are its so-called “democracy coalition of US citizens and organizations President Jean Paul Aristide onto a US building” programs. These are actually that were hostile to the current president military plane at gunpoint, fl ew him to the anti-democratic programs aimed at and political power structure and were Central African Republic and asked that See Democracy, p. 7. 3 The Same as Ever: Media Coverage of Nicaragua By Robert Siegel Administration offi cials described the Sandinistas. [Robert Siegel is a member of the OPD as a “massive propaganda operation Some media outlets have implied that, Executive Committee of the Nicaragua of the kind usually directed against enemy somehow, the attitude/position of Daniel Network. He lives in New York City.] populations during wartime.” A massive Ortega and the Sandinistas in the early The major print and electronic media propaganda operation whose goal was “to 1980s brought on, or helped to bring on, outlets in this country function, and have slowly demonize the Sandinistas.” contra terrorism. This is completely at functioned for many, many years, as And, since the U.S. stole the 1990 odds with the facts. nothing more than a propaganda arm of elections from the Sandinistas, the U.S. Despite the fact that the Carter the government, as nothing more than an government/media complex has never Administration did everything it echo chamber for government propaganda, passed up an opportunity to try to discredit could, in 1978 and 1979, to quash the disinformation, and lies. And, as and smear the Sandinistas. Sandinista-led national insurrection and to sycophantically and squalidly as the U.S. preserve”Somozaism without Somoza,” media have “ performed “ on issue after Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas, almost issue after issue through the years, on no immediately after the July 19, 1979, issue have they so thoroughly disgraced overthrow of Somoza, reached out to the and debased themselves--and for so long-- Carter Administration in an attempt to as they have regarding Nicaragua. forge positive, amicable relations with From the 1850s through the 1920s, all the U.S. Six weeks after the overthrow of 14 of the U.S. military attacks against, Somoza, Carter Administration offi cials and invasions of, Nicaragua (with many said they were “ surprised and pleased” of those invasions followed by brutal by the Sandinistas’ attitude and their military occupations) were either buried “willingness to work with the United by the U.S. media or painted as benevolent States” despite Washington’s long support interventions, bringing order and stability for the repulsive Somoza regime. to that benighted country. After the last of And, it was the U.S. that the those direct military invasions, and during Sandinistas fi rst turned to for military aid. the subsequent occupation from 1926- In August of 1979 and, again in November 33, when the Nicaraguan people, led by of that year, the Sandinistas submitted to Augusto Sandino were heroically fi ghting Washington a 54-page list of desperately- for their freedom, for their independence, needed military weaponry and equipment against militarily superior U.S. forces, to rebuild their depleted military and Sandino was regularly referred to by the to protect Nicaragua from potential U.S. government and in the U.S. media Time magazine was “institutionally behind the con- counterrevolutionary attacks. The Carter as an “ outlaw,” as a “bandit.” Augusto tras” said a senior editor in the 1980s. Administration responded by not only Sandino, Nicaragua’s national patriotic An example is the case of TIME totally rejecting both requests, but by also hero. Augusto Sandino, known not only in Magazine. The following says it all about cancelling $ 2.5 million in military aid that Nicaragua, but throughout Latin America TIME’s coverage of Nicaragua. In 1987, was already in the pipeline when Somoza as “The General of Free Men.” TIME staff writer Lawrence Zuckerman was overthrown. After suppressing for nearly half a found abundant evidence linking the And the Carter Administration laid the century the crimes and atrocities of the contras to drug traffi cking. Zuckerman’s groundwork for the contra terrorist war U.S.- maintained Somoza dictatorship story was killed by his senior editor who against Nicaragua when, after Somoza’s and the U.S.-created National Guard, said: “TIME is institutionally behind overthrow and in violation of international the U.S. media sank to new lows the contras. If this story were about the law, it put phony Red Cross insignias on during the 1980s as they parroted, Sandinistas and drugs, you would have planes used to fl y top National Guard unquestioningly and unblinkingly, the no trouble getting it in the magazine.” offi cers out of Managua to Miami. Orwellian lies spewed forth by the Reagan Parenthetically, it should be noted that, Even though the successor Reagan- Administration. A campaign of lies so shortly afterward, the U.S. Senate Foreign Bush Administration’s hostility toward massive and so relentless that the Reagan Relations Sub-Committee on Terrorism, the Sandinistas was already a matter of Administration created in 1983 a separate Narcotics and International Operations, offi cial, public record—with the July 1980 propaganda agency---- the Offi ce of then chaired by Sen. John Kerry, found Republican platform stating “we deplore Public Diplomacy (OPD) operating out of the contras involved in “all phases” the Sandinista takeover of Nicaragua”— the State Department, and headed by the of drug traffi cking and smuggling. In the Sandinistas still extended the olive aptly-named Otto Reich—to coordinate brief, no one should ever rely upon, or branch to the new Administration, saying and direct the torrent of anti-Sandinista give credence to, anything in major U.S. “we want friendly relations with the disinformation and lies. Senior Reagan media outlets regarding Nicaragua and the See Media, p. 5. 4 Media, from p. 4. SOA Watch, from p. 1. were regulars at the SOA. After the United States.” Marines occupied Nicaragua outright until Sandinista victory in 1979, however, the At the time of the Reagan they were able to turn the country over to National Guard was disbanded and the Administration’s January 1981 the National Guard and their chosen leader country’s defense was put into the hands inauguration, the U.S. was Nicaragua’s Anastasio Somoza. For the next 45 years of the new Nicaraguan army, fi lled by the largest trading partner, accounting for the Somoza dynasty received complete rank and fi le of the Sandinista fi ghters. roughly one-third of Nicaragua’s total U.S. support, ending in 1979 with the Invitations to the Georgian halls of Ft. trade (the value of all imports and Sandinista Revolution. Freedom from Benning stopped. Even after the U.S.- exports). Within days of taking power, U.S. domination, however, was short- backed candidate removed the Sandinistas the Reaganites began taking steps—such lived. Within a year, the illegal training from power in 1990, the SOA continued as cancelling a pending $ 9.6 million and scandalous funding scheme for the to distrust Nicaragua’s army for a decade. wheat shipment to Nicaragua, ending all sugar imports (90 % of Nicaragua’s sugar was exported to the U.S.)—that, within a short time, would result in the complete termination of trade with, and aid to, Nicaragua. And, on November 23, 1981, Ronald Reagan applied the coup de grace, when he signed the Executive Order (National Security Decision Directive #17) authorizing the CIA to create the contra terrorist force. And, just for good measure, starting at an inaugural reception on January 20, 1981, when Secretary of State Alexander Haig made ominous statements to Nicaragua’s Ambassador, Rita Delia Casco, about “ going to the source,” senior Reagan Administration offi cials repeatedly dealt with the Nicaraguan Ambassador and her diplomatic colleagues in a hostile, threatening, and belittling manner. In sum, starting immediately after the overthrow of Somoza, the Sandinistas, in word and deed, made every possible Thousands of offi cers of Somoza’s National Guard trained at the School of Americas when it was located here effort to establish friendly, positive in the Panama Canal Zone. Photo: www.chagres.com relations with the United States. It contras was set into motion by the Reagan No Nicaraguan soldiers attended the was nothing that Daniel Ortega and the administration, bringing the experience of SOA between 1979 and 2001. Under Sandinista government did or said that sovereignty to an end, along with the end the presidency of Enrique Boloñas, provoked U.S. hostility, aggression, and of 10% of the nation’s population. Nicaraguan troops again returned to the terrorism. It was everything that the But Nicaragua is also an example of the halls of Ft. Benning. Sandinistas were, everything that the amazing tenacity of a David vs. Goliath. We visited a Nicaragua in the midst Sandinistas represented, everything that A tiny country of 3 million [at the time of of change. In 2006 former president and the Sandinistas embodied that ignited U.S. the revolution], its citizens have resisted Sandinista Comandante Daniel Ortega hostility, aggression, and terrorism. earthquakes, volcanoes and dictators, was re-elected president , and we found Think about a Bequest! while producing world-renowned, poets, a country divided over what this change If you have been a supporter of the musicians, artists and heroes such as would bring. Some expressed concerns Nicaragua Network over the years Augusto Sandino. Decades after Somoza about alliances that allowed the return of Sr. ordered Sandino’s assassination, a Sandinista to power, while others shared and believe in our mission, you may thousands of poor and mostly young hope that initiatives strengthening public want to consider remembering the Nicaraguans took up his cause of education and health care were a positive Network in your will in the form of sovereignty. In successfully overthrowing beginning. To the eyes of any visitor, a bequest. There are several forms the brutal and corrupt Somoza Jr., their Nicaragua is a country of extremes. New that this could take. For more victory became the victory of an entire malls and U.S. companies share the streets information, call Chuck Kaufman continent reeling under the devastation with beggars. Ortega inherited a country at (202) 544-9355 or write him at of dictatorships and thousands of with the dubious status of being the [email protected] or at Nicaragua disappeared. hemisphere’s second poorest country Network, 1247 “E” Street SE, During the 45 years of the Somoza While Nicaragua may be divided over dynasty, offi cers of the National Guard See SOA Watch, p. 6. Washington, DC 20003. 5 SOA Watch, from p. 5. that Ortega indicated that troops were option. Ortega’s return, the Bush Administration is continuing to attend the SOA under his We were greatly heartened by a not. The U.S. Southern Command quickly watch. This seemed a contradiction to us, wonderful meeting at the Ben Linder deemed Nicaragua a country of special and so we were glad when he invited us to house in Managua, with dozens of U.S. security concern (along with Venezuela, meet with in private on the last day of our and Nicaraguan activists. There was Bolivia and Ecuador) because of its visit. tremendous interest in the issue of the “radical populism.”. One needs to only We were privileged to spend several SOA and enthusiasm for encouraging spend about a half hour on the streets of hours with this obviously busy head- Nicaragua to choose the path of dignity Nicaragua to wonder what the U.S. army of-state, but one who seemed to relish and sovereignty by saying ¡NO MAS! NO could possibly fear from this very poor the possibility of being able to refl ect MORE. We are confi dent that many of the and very tiny country. thoughtfully with others who were people at this meeting are following up on Shortly after we arrived in Nicaragua, interested in the changes sweeping through this issue in Nicaragua. President Ortega invited Fr. Roy to Latin America. The key words Ortega Finally, one of the important victories speak about the SOA at an event at the used in defi ning this change were words of our visit to Nicaragua was an invitation Engineering University where Ortega we were hearing over and over again on extended to us by the Nicaragua’s Human was scheduled to receive an honorary our visits: sovereignty and dignity. He Rights Ombudsman, Omar Cabezas, doctorate. After Roy spoke, Ortega took told us that Nicaragua was opting for an who is also the president of the FIO, or the podium to direct his words to Roy. economic model different from the free American Federation of Ombudsmen. “The Rev. Roy Bourgeois is carrying out market model of un-tethered capitalism. The FIO is an organization representing a battle not just now, but for decades.... He described it as a complementary rather the human rights leaders of 17 countries. mobilizing thousands of youth, thousands than competitive model, one based on Upon Dr. Cabeza’s invitation, we traveled of patriots, so that no more soldiers of solidarity, justice and fair trade. President to Mexico City to share with top human Latin American military will be trained (at Ortega made it clear that this choice is not rights leaders about the campaign to the SOA). They were used as instruments received well by its large neighbor to the close the SOA, and ask that they request of repression and death against their north. that their nations’ leaders withdraw peoples…. Several thousand...of the We left the president’s home genuinely their troops. As I write this article, we Nicaraguan National Guard were trained moved by the sincerity of the conversation are awaiting the decision of this board there...to assassinate the people of and hopeful that Nicaragua may well in regard to this request. But what is Nicaragua.... indeed chose to reaffi rm its sovereignty perhaps most important is that the issue “I want to express to Rev. Roy along with other nations who have said of the SOA is being brought to the public Bourgeois that the people and government NO MORE to the SOA. We also realize forum in Latin America. Heads of state, of Nicaragua fully support this battle the responsibility we have to our activists human rights leaders and local activists which they are liberating and that we to share the serious nature of such requests are affi rming their dignity and their also will direct ourselves to the Congress and the real consequences that small sovereignty by saying ¡NO MAS! to this of the United States so that they will countries may face for choosing this hall of shame. close this school.... Let us join forces! I commit myself to unite forces with you, Only a few more days to sign up! Reverend, and with the members of the U.S. Congress and Senate who have taken Reforestation Brigade to Nicaragua on this issue, so that fi nally, the School of the Americas may disappear.” June 15-29, 2008 Ortega went on to call Roy to the •Plant trees in post-Felix Nica- podium with him, saying “I want to ask ragua to help prevent further you to authorize me to share this doctorate natural disasters! with Rev. Roy Bourgeois, so that he may take it to the North American people who •Learn about the work being are struggling in the United States. It is not done to solve Nicaragua’s envi- easy to struggle in the United States! .... ronmental problems! We are going to put this medal on his chest •Visit scenic areas in Estelí and which is full of love for our peoples...so Madriz! that he may take it to his North American brothers and sisters who continue to •Meet with environmentalists liberate these battles for justice, for peace, and governmental offi cials in for humanity.” Managua! President Ortega placed the honorary Cost: $850 for everything except doctorate medal around Roy’s neck airfare to Nicaragua to a standing ovation. While we were very moved by the words of support For more information, write to the struggle to close the SOA, we [email protected] or call (619) were concerned that in the same speech 423-2909. 6 Democracy, from p. 3. 60%. Its quick count in the Ukraine in Moldova. These are just the countries distorting and manipulating foreign 2003 cast doubt on the victory of the where they have job openings, not all the elections to support US political and Socialist Party and spawned the so-called countries where they are manipulating the corporate domination. Orange Revolution. NDI offi cials were political systems! Several months ago, at The best known agency of democracy apparently hoping the same thing would the time the Bush regime was announcing building is the National Endowment happen in Venezuela as a result of their the creation of a US military Africa for Democracy, a supposedly private phony poll. NDI’s pollster is none other Command, the IRI’s job listings were organization that operates almost 100% than Mark Penn who is now the top almost all in Africa. with our tax money. The NED, as it is strategist in Hillary Clinton’s presidential In June and October 2006, I led known, was created in 1983. As Allen campaign. The elite agents of Empire delegations to Nicaragua and Venezuela Weinstein, a founder and theoretical are all entangled with each other. They to investigate US intervention in the planner for the NED, noted in a 1991 went to the same schools; they’re of the Presidential elections in those two interview with the Washington Post, “A lot same social class, they party together and, countries. NED claims to be nonpartisan of what we do today was done covertly 25 and that it does not years ago by the CIA.” Considering the support particular diffi culty researchers have getting detailed candidates or parties. and up-to-date information about the NED However, Sandinista and related agencies, the move away from organizations in the “covertness” of the CIA is, at best, Nicaragua didn’t only a relative notion. receive any NED grants The National Endowment for and US Ambassador Democracy is made up of four core groups Paul Trivelli missed – The International Republican Institute no opportunity to be (IRI) and the National Democratic photographed with the Institute (NDI) are affi liated with the two US favored right-wing major political parties. Sen. John McCain candidate, Eduardo is chair of the IRI and former Clinton Montealegre. Our Secretary of State Madeline Albright delegation met with chairs the NDI. The AFL-CIO has its Venezuelans protest NED interference in Caracas. Photo: www.iefd.org. the International own affi liate, the American Center for Republican Institute in Managua. International Labor Solidarity also known Democrat or Republican, they have the Their spokesperson apparently didn’t as the Solidarity Center and to round out same view of an assumed god-given right research who we were because she told the engines of empire, the Chamber of of the United States to rule the world. us some incredible things. She said, Commerce has its affi liate, the Center for The AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center, “The relationship between the US and International Private Enterprise. another core group of the NED, funded Nicaragua is like a parent and a child, and To further confuse things, the NED the anti-Chavez labor federation whose a son should not argue with his father.” operates its own grants and also makes leader, Carlos Ortega, was one of the Does that encapsulate the history of grants to its sub-groups which they then coup leaders in the 2002 coup. That coup colonialism and racism or what? give out under their own names. If you failed because a million Venezuelans She also said, “We created the are confused, we can assume that they poured into the streets to demand the Movement for Nicaragua” which was intend for us to be confused. That’s also return of their president. Some people supposedly a nonpartisan civil society why they call their electoral manipulation say that the Solidarity Center runs good group that organized marches against projects “democracy building” when they programs in some countries, but as long as Sandinista candidate Daniel Ortega and are actually just the opposite. it receives 94% of its money from the US his so-called pact with former president NED’s fi rst success was to defeat the government and only 6% from unions, its Arnoldo Aleman. When we revealed all Sandinista government in Nicaragua programs will remain suspect. There is an this in a press conference in Nicaragua, in 1990. In 2004, the International obvious need for international solidarity the spokesperson was fi red but the Republican Institute trained and funded between workers, but that solidarity needs policies didn’t change. Ambassador the Haitian thugs whose violence created to be funded by the unions, not by the US Trivelli told us that the US was spending the pretext for the US to kidnap President government. $13 million on the Nicaraguan election. Aristide and remove him from the country. In 2004 Congress doubled NED’s Again, imagine the scenario I wove The IRI also has a program to train budget with most of the additional money earlier about a foreign power interfering municipal police in Caracas, Venezuela going to Iraq. Recently I pulled up the in a US election. Yet, despite the blatant who have committed many extrajudicial National Democratic Institute web page US intervention, the threats to cut off killings. and it listed job openings in Afghanistan, remittances from Nicaraguans in the US The National Democratic Institute Iraq, Angola, Russia, Azerbaijan, Sudan, who send money home to their families, specializes in polling and quick counts. Mauritania, South Africa, and the United and despite thinly veiled allusions to a Its blatantly manipulated poll in the Arab Emirates. The IRI web page offered new war, the people of Nicaragua elected Venezuela recall election of 2004 claimed jobs in Angola, Iraq, Georgia, Afghanistan, Jordan, Mexico, Sudan, Ukraine and Daniel Ortega president. The tactics that Chavez lost when he actually won with See Democracy, p. 9. 7 Condega, from p. 1. use: they formed their own organization, CISPES, from p. 2. After 2 years of wading through expanded their membership, held remaining allies and to thwart the rise bureaucracy, the independent Bend Fire instructional and enabling workshops on of parties like the FMLN. But the U.S.’s Fighters’ Association fi nally was able sexual rights and domestic violence, and tactics of harassment and intimidation to deliver a reconditioned fi re truck in started their own business. With small will not stop our solidarity work. CISPES late 2007. They returned as part of the grants from the national government, the will continue its work of supporting delegation to aid in training the volunteers women bought the equipment and secured real democracy and human rights in El of the new Condega Fire Brigade. licenses to produce bottled natural juice. Salvador by taking delegations of election We were again joined by the wife-and- To paraphrase what Bill Lankford, observers to El Salvador in March and husband owners of Strictly Organic Coffee executive director of CASEP, explained at January of 2009, by touring prominent Company (SOC) of Bend. For the past the beginning of the process: “The solar Salvadoran labor leaders and human rights 3 years they have bought organic coffee cookers are almost merely the vehicle; the advocates in the U.S., and by continuing directly from the growers’ cooperative real prize is the self-empowerment that to oppose the U.S.-sponsored ILEA. We farms, located just to the east of Condega. comes when the women realize they can will also confront any and every attempt Each year Rhonda and Richard have do and get what they need for themselves, by the U.S. government to undermine purchased more of the coop’s crops. In even in a machista society.” (For more the will of the Salvadoran people in their 2006, they bought 3000 pounds; in 2007, information about solar cooker projects effort to elect an alternative government the volume was 6000 pounds; this year it in Nicaragua, as well as in Honduras, in 2009. was 9000. Guatemala and Costa Rica, go to the Strictly Organic, as the name implies, CASEP website at http://solaroven.org.) Subscribe to the buys and sells only the best, organic coffee The BCFP is committed to continue Nicaragua News Service the aid to these The Nicaragua News Service is a weekly and other report with up-to-date information sum- women of the marized from the major Nicaraguan Condega area. media outlets, with full citations. Among The benefi ts the subscribers to the Service are the li- are obvious: it braries of Stanford University, Ohio State would mean University, and Tulane University along far fewer trees with well known Nicaragua scholars. being cut for Topics covered each week include: fi rewood; •Nicaraguan politics, including what women’s health is going on in the National Assembly, --and that of the within the Ortega administration, and the entire family-- other political parties would improve, •Economic news, including reports on the as they would DR-CAFTA, small farmers, negotiations no longer have with the IMF, etc. to slave over the •Environmental news, labor rights and The Bend-Condega Friendship Project is raising money for another solar cooker work- traditional open, indigenous rights issues, news from the shop such as this one. Photo: Tim Jeffries. smokey wood social movements, including those sup- beans and prepares them in the roaster stove inside the house; women would have porting women, human rights, neighbor- Richard designed and built himself. The more time to pursue other endeavors, or hood groups, etc. local company always pays the Fair-Trade simply get some rest, instead of having to Subscriptions: $60 per year e-mail; $80 price; this year it was $1.91 per pound- tend the cooking fi re for hours. postal service. Subscribe at http://www. -far higher than those national brands We are in the process of raising funds nicanet.org/?page_id=347 or write and boutique franchises. The relationship for another solar cooker workshop. The [email protected] Strictly Organic’s owners have with the goal is to not only sponsor CASEP for a growers goes beyond just business; they similar workshop, but to take the project to we need to garner only $1650. We are have become friends, and some of SOC’s the next step: training some of the women hoping to have all the funds in time to profi ts are returned in the form of fi nancial to become trainers themselves. This arrange everything for a workshop this aid for dance and art classes offered by the would make the project self-sustaining- November. Casa de Cultura in Condega. -the women could then hold their own If anyone would like more information, In 2004, the Bend-Condega Friendship workshops and spread the use of solar or can help this worthwhile endeavor Project, along with SOC and a local ovens throughout the community. with a fi nancial contribution, please church, made possible the fi rst solar Paul Israel, the owner of Sunlight Solar write me at [email protected] (our cooker workshop in Condega. Conducted Company, an alternative-energy design website is coming soon). All donations by CASEP, the Central American Solar and installation fi rm in Bend, has pledged are tax-deductible by writing a check to Energy Project, ten women were taught to match, dollar for dollar, all donations “Lakes And Volcanoes”, with the memo how to build their own solar ovens. we receive. This means, instead of having line reading “BCFP solar cookers,” and Since then, the women have put their to raise all $3300 for the next workshop, mailing it to: 60850 Windsor Dr., Bend, 8 ingenuity and self-confi dence to good OR 97702. Democracy, from p. 7. throughout the US presidential election. us better advice than Hillary Clinton gets had worked so well in El Salvador’s last We have two demands: from Mark Penn or Barak Obama gets presidential election failed in Nicaragua. 1) Close the mis-named National from Zbigniew Brezinski. There’s no So, the US, with all its money and might Endowment for Democracy and stop point in even going into who is advising does not always prevail. meddling in elections in other countries! McCain. As head of the International The US also spent $26 million on the 2) Advance real democracy at home by Republican Institute, he is an architect of Venezuelan election. Three million of insuring our votes are verifi able and the democracy manipulation programs. it was NED money and the other $23 removing the corrupting infl uence of The goal of the campaign is to use the million was US Agency for International corporations. US presidential campaign as a teaching Development (USAID) money. USAID We hope to have “campaign moment to educate people in the US about is supposed to be the US humanitarian headquarters” in communities around the exciting advances in real, participatory aid agency but under the Bush regime its the country with “campaign rallies,” democracy in Latin America, to teach programs have been even more aligned press releases, and speaking tours. Eva them about what their government is with the government’s other foreign policy Golinger has volunteered to be a campaign doing to crush real democracy throughout objectives than ever before. The obsession advisor. Her book, The Chavez Code, the world, and to help them realize that of the neo-conservatives with imposing exposed the US role in the failed 2002 the system we call democracy in the US their twisted version of democracy on coup against Chavez and her Freedom of is neither perfect nor the only form of the world has meant that USAID has Information Act requests have peeled back democracy. converted much of its focus to direct the lid and let a little light shine on the Michael Plattner is a vice-president election manipulation. so-called democracy building programs of the National Endowment for The Associated Press fi led a Freedom of NED and USAID. I think she’ll give See Democracy, p. 10. of Information Act request for the list of USAID grant recipients in Venezuela. The Alliance for Global Justice presents They got the list but the recipient’s names The Respect for Democracy Tour were blacked out. About all we know is that there were no pro-Chavez groups on Exposing the truth behind U.S. democracy building the list. Another interesting fact is that abroad, the lack of true democracy at home, and the the money was administered by a US embassy department called the Offi ce of threat neo-liberal economics poses to your community. Transition Initiatives. We were refused a meeting with them. But it’s a revealing name isn’t it? Transition to what? A Venezuela without Chavez of course. A transition back to when the international oil companies and a few local Venezuelans profi ted from the oil wealth while the vast majority lived in poverty. Is it any wonder Chavez won reelection with 63% of the vote? So, US democracy manipulation schemes don’t work everywhere, but they do work often enough. Even the somewhat benign programs such as training poll watchers aren’t really benign at all. Their intent is to train foreigners to •Learn how the U.S. government manipulates accept that the only kind of democracy is the free trade, liberal democratic system elections in other countries in order to assure that we have in the United States where favorable conditions for U.S. corporations. the citizen’s only role is to periodically go to the polls to vote for one of two •Find out how so-called Free Trade Agreements candidates representing of the ruling class. It is a democracy of, by and for the limit your ability to pass laws in your com- elites. The rest of us are just props in their munity, and undermine the sovereignty of the little kabuki plays. Until we realize that, and act on that knowledge, the US war country. machine will just keep rolling over the To schedule a presentation or workshop, please call world’s ordinary people. 202.550.7025 or email [email protected]. That is why the Alliance for Global Justice is launching a Respect for More information can be found at www.respect4democracy.org Democracy campaign which will run 9 Democracy, from p. 9. What we have to understand is that he about the meaning of democracy, though Democracy, and he is an editor of the is talking about a borderless world for much less today than a couple of decades NED’s Journal for Democracy. In capital. Borders matter very much indeed ago, when some still took seriously such his article, “Globalization and Self- for fl esh and blood people as we can see notions as “people’s democracy”…. Government,” published in July 2002, from the racist, nativist anti-immigration Well Mr. Plattner, some of us still take he wrote, “Globalization has fostered seriously indeed the notion of “people’s democratization, and democratization democracy.” Some of us are very excited has fostered globalization. Moreover, about the strides countries like Venezuela, both trends generally have furthered Bolivia, and Nicaragua are making to American interests and contributed to move democratic processes from the the strengthening of American power…. rarifi ed heights of the political and Understood in this way, globalization goes economic elites down to the neighborhood beyond more frequent and more intensive level such as Venezuela’s Community contact among peoples; it is a process of Councils and Nicaragua’s Councils of integration that draws together individuals Citizen Power. living in different countries. In so doing, Our goal with the Respect for it makes national differences not only Democracy campaign is to help spark a less sharp but also less consequential. ... real democracy movement in this country. this view of globalization holds that it is Raul Castro said recently that to maintain creating a world where borders matter less that the US has a two party system is and less, or an increasingly borderless like saying that Cuba has a two party world.” Reporters without Borders has received funding from system, one led by Fidel and one led by If Mr. Plattner’s statement was an the National Endowment for Democracy. Photo: Raul. It’s a ridiculous notion. There is no www.voltairenet.org. accurate description of corporate-led difference. At least when it comes to US globalization, I daresay we progressives movement that shames our country today. foreign policy and support for corporate would be among its foremost advocates. Plattner went on to write, “There is globalization, Raul Castro hits the nail also, of course, considerable controversy right on the head. News, from p. 12. to pay some US$20 million to Banpro cheaper beans. This caused the price to abroad in 2008, about US$600 million is and Bancentro as part of the CENIS debt come down from US$1.05 per pound to expected to come from the United States Attorney Juarez and Judge Arias seized between US$0.63 and US$0.68 where it while about US$200 million will come the bonds. stands now. from Costa Rica. On Apr. 9, a day after the process of Environment and Indigenous Rights Between Apr. 8 and 11 Judge Julio seizure began, Public Finance Minister On March 8, eight ambassadors Cesar Arias and Special Prosecutor Maria Esperanza Acevedo confi rmed (including the representatives of Denmark, Armando Juarez seized CENIS that, in accordance with Judge Arias’ Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Iran, and (Certifi cates of Negotiated Investment) initial order to suspend payments issued Peru), along with seven Nicaraguan and bonds held by the Bank of Production in February, the Nicaraguan government foreign investors visited the Caribbean (BANPRO) and the Bank of Central would not pay the US$48 million allocated Coast community of Monkey Point America (Bancentro) which make up to service the CENIS debt in the 2008 to examine the site where Nicaraguan a major part of the CENIS debt. After National Budget. authorities hope to build a modern deep initial resistance from BANPRO, the In agricultural news, the president of the water port and the terminus for a railroad confi scation process was completed on Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG), that would carry freight across the country Apr. 11. The CENIS were issued under Alvaro Fiallos, said that in spite of what to a Pacifi c Coast port. According to the government of Enrique Bolaños to is expected to be a good third harvest of Virgilio Silva, President of the Nicaraguan turn the private debt of three banks which beans in Nicaragua, high international Port Authority, Nicaragua presently loses failed due to fraud into public debt. prices would keep the price of beans in the US$130 million every year because it has In February Judge Arias had ordered country for consumers around US$0.63 to use the Caribbean ports of neighboring the Nicaraguan Central Bank to suspend per pound [in the past it had been as countries to import and export its all payments on the illicit CENIS debt. low as US$0.37.] Alvaro Cantillan of products. “We have done many studies,” President of the Nicaraguan Central Comercializadora Lafi se said, “These he said, “and all of them indicate that Bank Antenor Rosales stated on several are the years of the farmer.” He added, Monkey Point is the best option for the occasions that he refused to obey Judge “In the past it was the farmer who was construction of a deep water port on the Arias’ order, however, arguing that, not able to cover costs.” (In Nicaragua Atlantic side of Nicaragua.” in doing so the Central Bank would bean producers are mainly small farmers.) However, Pearl Watson, president violate the General Law of Bond Values. Cantillan said that the price of beans of the Creole Communal Council of According to Rosales, the General Law of had shot up after Hurricane Felix. Some Monkey Point, said that while she was not Bond Values prohibits the suspension of merchants hoarded beans in order to raise necessarily against the project, it should payments on any bond unless a seizure is the price but had to lower their prices not be built until the central government imposed on the bond itself. Thus, a week when the government National Enterprise fi nishes the demarcation of the lands of the before the Central Bank was scheduled of Basic Foods (ENABAS) distributed See News, p. 11. 10 News, from p. 10. from Latin America and the Caribbean, the There are over 1,600 people in indigenous and ethnic communities of the region which will elect the president of the Managua’s largest garbage dump, Atlantic Coast, and most particularly of General Assembly this year. UN General Chureca, who live from collecting Monkey Point. Allen Clair, vice-president Assembly spokesperson Janos Tisovszky recyclable materials and another 400 or of the community, said that he wanted confi rmed that it is “most probable” that 500 who wash and sell the materials. to tell Lourdes Aguilar, director of the D’Escoto will be elected considering that Sociologist Cirilo Otero, Director of National Commission for Demarcation he is the only candidate for the position. the Center for Environmental Policy and Titling, that there would be no type D’Escoto was foreign minister during Initiatives said, “The solution is to get of negotiation until the demarcation the fi rst Sandinista government (1979 – the “Chureca” workers out of there, train and titling of land at Monkey Point was 1990). D’Escoto, who is also a Maryknoll them and employ them in something concluded. “If they think that it will be Catholic priest, currently works as a healthy and productive. By taking them easy to throw us out of our little houses foreign affairs advisor to President Ortega. out of there you would be saving the lives to build docks, warehouses and railroad On Mar. 12 Nicaragua offi cially of the children who die after consuming lines, they are mistaken,” he said. “We’re resumed diplomatic relations with contaminated food.” not against progress,” said Sandra Colombia after suspending them on Mar. 6 Of the 1,600 “Chureca” workers, over Morales, “we know that our community in solidarity with Ecuador. Colombia had 500 are between the ages of 7 and 18 surrounded by nature will change forever; attacked a camp of the FARC guerrillas according to a study carried out by the what we can’t accept is that our rights be in Ecuador, a violation of Ecuador’s Two Generations Center. violated and they take away from us this sovereignty condemned by every On Mar. 27 during the weekly meeting land and this sea that we inherited from country in the Organization of American “El Pueblo Presidente,” hosted by States except the US. President Daniel Ortega, members of President Daniel Ortega Ortega’s cabinet gave details about the said he feared a similar advances of the government’s social attack on Nicaragua’s programs. Judith Silva, president of the sovereignty due to Institute of Urban and Rural Housing the maritime border (INVUR), gave details of the government dispute between the two funded housing projects. Since the countries. Colombian Sandinista (FSLN) government came to President Alvaro Uribe power in Jan. 2007 INVUR has funded promised to withdraw the construction of 641 houses, benefi ting the war ships his Navy 3,205 people and creating over 6,000 had located along the jobs. INVUR is currently coordinating 82nd Meridian (which 57 housing projects in 14 departments marks the disputed of the country which will build a total of maritime border 5,365 houses benefi ting 27,030 people and between Nicaragua and creating 77,442 direct and indirect jobs. Residents of Monkey Point express concern about the possible building of a Colombia) during the Transportation and Infrastructure deepwater port and railroad terminus on their lands. Photo: La Prensa XX Summit of the Rio Minister Fernando Martinez announced our ancestors who were fugitive slaves Group, and Ortega decided to normalize that work on the “Streets for the People” and from whom we also inherit rebellious relations. program would begin during the week of blood.” Social Issues Mar. 31 – Apr. 4 with the paving of eight Port Authority head Silva warned the Throughout March, over one thousand streets in two of the poorest sectors of the residents of Monkey Point not to let informal workers who make a living Batahola Sur neighborhood. This program themselves “be manipulated by anyone from selling recyclable waste (metal, is funded by Venezuela as part of the or you could scare off the investors.” plastic and glass) dumped on Managua’s Bolivarian Alternative for the People of According to government documents, the municipal garbage dump “La Chureca” Our America (ALBA). port project could cost US$350 million. blockaded the entrance to the dump in Agriculture Minister Ariel Bucardo said La Prensa reported that the ambassadors protest against the decreasing amount the government program “Zero Hunger” and investors were impressed by the of valuable waste being deposited there. has given out 12,000 food production natural beauty of the area. According to the protesting workers the packages to campesina (female) heads of International Relations more valuable waste was extracted by the households over the last fi fteen months in Former Foreign Minister Fr. Miguel garbage collectors who work for the local rural areas across the country. As a result, D’Escoto appears almost certain be government before the trucks are unloaded said Bucardo, 19,300 direct jobs and elected to preside over 63rd session of at “La Chureca.” 60,000 indirect jobs have been created. the United Nations General Assembly Finally, on March 26, Managua Vice- The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (September 2008 – September 2009) Mayor Nery Leiva announced that an (MAGFOR) aims to give out another according to UN offi cials speaking to accord had been reached between the 14,547 food production packages to journalists in New York on Mar. 24. city and the Chureca workers which was campesina heads of households during the According to the offi cials, D’Escoto has expected to go into effect the next day. rest of 2008. the “full” support of the representatives Leiva had met with 200 of the protesters. 11 The News from Nicaragua Political Issues while the PLC-led coalition registered Investment and Exports (CEI). Most of Opposition political parties in former presidential candidate Eduardo Nicaraguan exports to the US are food Nicaragua paralyzed the National Montealegre and PLC rebel Enrique products such as coffee, beef, prawns, Assembly to pressure the Supreme Quiñonez for Managua mayor and vice fruit, vegetables, peanuts, dairy products, Electoral Council (CSE) not to suspend mayor. The Sandinista Renovation beans and rum. municipal elections in three municipalities Movement (MRS), which concentrates Domingo Frixione, an analyst with a of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region most of its support in Managua, registered doctorate in business, and Nicaraguan (RAAN). However, on April 4, the economist Enrique Saenz and journalist economist Rene Vallecillo agree that CSE announced that the elections would Azucena Castillo as its candidates for Nicaragua’s participation in the Latin indeed be suspended. Local elections are Managua mayor and vice mayor. American integrationist program the scheduled throughout the country for Nov. Currently the governing FSLN controls Bolivarian Alternative for the People of 2. On Feb. 27 the council of the regional 87 of the 152 municipal governments, Our America (ALBA) and the signing government in the RAAN had asked the 5 out of 6 of the municipalities of the of a trade agreement with the European CSE to suspend the municipal elections department of Managua and 25 of the 42 Union will help to reduce Nicaragua’s in Bilwi (Puerto Cabezas), Prinzapolka most important towns in the country. dependence on the US. and Waspam because destruction and Economic Issues In other economic news, an IMF population displacement from Hurricane Javier Chamorro, president of the state mission between Feb. 25 and Mar. 7 Felix would not allow an election process agency Pro-Nicaragua which promotes was unable to reach agreement with the to take place smoothly. foreign investment, announced on Mar. Nicaraguan government. At the time IMF negotiator Luis Cubbedu confi rmed that the government had met most of the macroeconomic goals for 2007 and congratulated the government on its economic policy. The three year economic program being negotiated is worth US$111.3 million, US$18.5 million of which has already been disbursed. On Feb. 12, with 64 votes in favor the 2008 Budget was passed by the National Assembly. The budget contemplates a total expenditure of just over US$1.5 billion with a defi cit of US$270 million Activists for and against postponement of municipal elections in the RAAN gathered at the Bilwi which will be made up with international (Puerto Cabezas) airport. Photo: El Nuevo Diario. loans and donations. According to Oposition political parties claim that 25 that foreign investment in Nicaragua president of the National Assembly President Daniel Ortega does not want increased 15.5% during 2007 compared to Economic Commission Francisco Aguirre, to hold elections in these municipalities 2006. While in 2006 foreign investment the 2008 Budget maintains the level of because he fears the Sandinista (FSLN) in the country totaled US$290 million, Nicaragua’s international reserves. Aguirre led alliance [which includes the this fi gure grew to US$335 million in went on to say the budget will directly indigenous party Yatama] will lose. 2007. Chamorro went on to say that Pro- create 70,000 new jobs. Opposition parties said they would not Nicaragua expects a further 18% increase The remittances that Nicaraguans living approve the Anti Fraud Law which is in foreign investment during 2008 with abroad sent to their family members in required by the International Monetary companies from countries as diverse as Nicaragua reached US$739.6 million Fund (IMF) before it will disburse Brazil, Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela and in 2007, according to the Central Bank millions of dollars to the government as Iran planning to invest in Nicaragua. of Nicaragua. This was the highest part of a three year economic program. “Contrary to the claims of opposition fi gure in the last two decades according Meanwhile, on Mar. 14, as scheduled, forces,” said Chamorro, “there is a stable to the Bank. Between 1994 and 2003, the country’s various political alliances climate [for investment] in Nicaragua.” the average amount was only US$234.1 registered their candidates for mayor, Reportedly, in the two years since the million. The Central Bank predicts that vice mayor and city councilors for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2008 the value of the remittances will municipal elections. As expected, the (CAFTA) came into force in Nicaragua reach US$800 million., greater than the Sandinista-led coalition registered the on Apr. 1, 2006, Nicaraguan exports amount received in foreign aid, which former world featherweight boxing to the US have increased by 35.5% amounts to about US$500 million each champion Alexis Arguello as its (from US$243.4 million in 2005 to year. Of the US$800 million expected to candidate for mayor of Managua and US$328.3 million in 2007) according to be received by Nicaraguan families from journalist Deysi Torres for vice mayor the independent Center of Promotion of See News, p. 10. 12