28940 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS November 14, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN sition. these are negotiable issues, of course, UNITED NATIONS FINDS NICA­ but the full renewal of large-scale military RAGUA OPEN-MINDED AND NICARAGUA action in the midst of an election cam­ paign-with its obvious capacity for intimi­ FLEXIBLE ON ELECTION PREP­ ARATIONS HON. ROBERT J. LAGOMARSINO dating voters-must also be negotiable. What steps taken in New York today OF CALIFORNIA might save the fragile Nicaraguan electoral HON. GEO. W. CROCKETT, JR. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES process form falling victim to a fully re­ OF MICHIGAN newed civil war? Three seem particularly Tuesday, November 14, 1989 appropriate within any overall settlement. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES If accepted by both sides in the framework Tuesday, November 14, 1989 Mr. LAGOMARSINO. Mr. Speaker, A recent of a demobilization agreement, they could Mr. CROCKETT. Mr. Speaker, from time to commentary by Allen Weinstein published in put the election back on track. time I am inserting in the RECORD, for the in­ the November 1O edition of the Wall Street (1) Part of any demobilization and repatri­ formation of my colleagues, objective informa­ Journal offers an insightful analysis of the ation agreement should include a provision electoral process in Nicaragua and the threat tion about the Nicaraguan elections. for special registration of Contras and their Today I would like to share with my col­ to elections represented by Daniel Ortega's families planning to return to Nicaragua so decision to pancel the cease-fire. leagues the conclusions of a U.N. report that they can still participate fully in the issued October 17 entitled "Evolution of the electoral process. Our center's efforts to Mr. Weinstein is president of the Center for Electoral Process in Nicaragua: First Report of Democracy, which is one of the few officially raise this issue-and the related one of reg­ istering the Nicaraguan refugees now living the United Nations Observer Mission to Verify recognized organizations tasked with observ­ elsewhere in Central America-failed to the Electoral Process in Nicaragua to the Sec­ ing the electoral process in Nicaragua. I be­ elicit meaningful government interest when retary General." lieve his comments bear serious attention. broached on a number of occasions in recent Following the concluding section of that report, I include a Center for International [From the ~all Street Journal, Nov. 10, months. Nevertheless, an absolute commit­ ment that the Contr~ can exchange bullets Policy press release on the report entitled 1989] for ballots would ease the road to reconcilia­ "U.N. Finds Nicaragua Open-Minded and SAVING THE NICARAGUAN ELECTION tion in Nicaragua. Flexible on Election Preparations." (2) Both the government and the opposi­ This information constitutes further encour­ CBy Allen Weinstein) tion coalition-headed by presidential candi­ agement to believe that the election will be The fate of next February's Nicaraguan date Violeta Chamorro-have identified var­ free and fair. election may be decided today at the United ious towns, villages and voting places as The material follows: Nations, as representatives of the Sandi­ trouble spots where they claim their repre­ VI. CONCLUSIONS nista government, the anti-Sandinista resist­ sentatives have been harassed or worse. ance and the Honduran government meet Why not organize unarmed, joint patrols of 49. The present report covers the period with U.N. and Organization of American between 5 July, the date of the exchange of observers from the U.N. and the OAS, ac­ letters between the Government of Nicara­ States officials. The discussions, which companied by government and opposition began yesterday, will focus on prospects and gua and the Secertary-General of the representatives, to cover such areas? This United Nations by which the Mission was proconditions for the voluntary demobiliza­ could be done after the fashion of joint tion of the Honduran-based Contra rebels, established, and the end of September. U.S., British, French and Soviet patrols in During that period, all levels of the elector­ as called for in the Central American peace Austria during a pivotal postwar period in accords. al authority were put in place, and the main that country's history. If reducing the level stages in the organization of parties and President Daniel Ortega's announcement of fear is a necessary precondition to hold­ coalitions were completed. that the Nicaraguan army would discontin­ ing fair and free elections in Nicaragua, 50. With regard to the composition of the ue its cease-fire-agreed to by earlier Sandi­ these "electoral patrols" could be a valuable electoral authority, and despite the fact nista-Contra negotiations-has thrust the aid to the process. that the make-up of certain electoral bodies prospect of full-s<:ale renewed warfare .be­ may not entirely meet the opposition's ex­ tween the two sides squarely into the middle (3) The immediate goal of reaching agree­ pectations or demands, the fact of the of the current election campaign. Should ments such as those above would be to matter is that an objective analysis of the the electoral climate within Nicaragua strengthen the "confidence-building meas­ specific decisions adopted by the Supreme become re-militarized, it is difficult to see ures" required to make fully credible both Electoral Council reveals that to date no how a calm, civilian-run election campaign Contra demobilization and the overall Nica­ undue benefits have accrued to FSLN. and vote can take place. raguan electoral process. One byproduct There is no reason to infer that partiality Prior to Mr. Ortega's announcement, the could be the opening of bilateral discussions has been shown towards that party; rather, mood among ordinary Nicaraguan voters in between the governments of Nicaragua and there is appreciable concern on the part of recent weeks seemed upbeat, despite the the U.S. on restoring full diplomatic rela­ members of the Council to ensure the backdrop of a decade-long civil war. Regis­ tions between the two countries and on broadest possible participation by political tration figures were high <over 1,750,000 other issues of pressing concern to both par­ groups and citizens in the electoral process registered voters-more than 90 % of those ties. and to take a broad-based and flexible ap­ eligible) and enthusiasm for the electoral proach against the background of a recep­ process ran even higher. Assuming the good faith of all those in­ tive general attitude. Since, however, the volved in the Nicaraguan electoral process, question of the impartiality of the electoral The shift from indifference to active en­ it is difficult to see how any group or side thusiasm is especially encouraging if one authority is central t.o the electoral process, considers that several serious electoral prob­ loses through adopting these proposals. But the Mission will continue to moniter, on a lems remain unresolved: the presence of without steps that ease the current confron­ permanent basis, any decisions adopted. armed soldiers at some polling places as tation and raise the level of trust on all 51. The process of organizing political par­ "electoral police": uniformed paramilitary sides, it will be difficult for the Nicaraguan ties and coalitions cannot be considered to troops in similar roles at many more polling election of 1990 to serve as the catalyst for have been completed altogether, because places <a change into civilian grab and stor­ democratization, economic development and candidates still have to be nominated for age of the AK-47s would deal with this national reconciliation-all of which that the municipal councils and the regional problem on election day); and an unbal­ embittered and impoverished nation desper­ councils of the autonomous regions of the anced allocation of media time to the oppo- ately needs. Atlantic coast. But the most important e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor . • November 14, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 28941 phase, the acquisition of legal status by a Supreme Electoral Council reveals that to United States attorneys have found a way number of parties <a controversial issue in date no undue benefits have accrued to to keep Gregory Johnson from making a the past), has reached a satisfactory conclu­ FSLN. There is no reason to infer that par­ martyr of himself over the issue. sion. There have been no problems with tiality has been shown towards that party; Johnson was the man who was arrested regard to the formation of coalitions or the rather, there is appreciable concern on the for burning a flag at the 1984 Republican registration of candidates for the executive part of members of the Council to ensure National Convention in Dallas, an act which and legislative branches. The only signifi­ the broadest possible participation by politi­ led to a US Supreme Court finding that the cant complaint on the part of certain oppo­ cal groups and citizens in the electoral proc­ Texas law under which he was charged vio­ sition parties is about the composition and ess and to take a broad-based and flexible lated his freedom of speech and was uncon­ the aforementioned decisions of the Council approach against the background of a recep­ stitutional. of Political Parties, decisions that were later tive general attitude. Since, however, the Congress subsequently approved a federal rescinded by the Supreme Electoral Council. question of the impartiality of the electoral law forbidding physical desecration of the 52. The parties began political and elector­ authority is central to the electoral process, flag, which was designed to avoid constitu­ al activity at an early stage, and already the Mission will continue to monitor, on a tional deficiencies in the Texas statute.