Nicaragua Network

1. Nicaragua marks International Workers Day
2. Nicaragua to purchase Russian tanks
3. Caribbean Coast briefs; water and sewers, new hospital, domestic violence prevention
4. As elections draw nearer, US “advice” increases
5. World Bank praises Nicaragua as best in Latin America
6. Tree farms exempted from logging prohibition
7. Rural technology education centers to double
8. Rainy season begins

1. Nicaragua marks International Workers Day

In remarks on occasion of May 1st, International Workers' Day, President Daniel Ortega said Nicaragua is committed to a new model of free market economy that promotes social justice and better living conditions for workers. “Investments are essential in the fight against poverty and so Nicaragua is implementing a Tripartite Alliance Model between government, employers and labor, which provides security for investors and good paying jobs for workers,” he stated.  He spoke at an event organized by the National Workers Front (FNT) that was held on Apr. 29. In his speech he condemned the attempts to remove from office Presidents Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Dilma Rousseff of Brazil. In the case of Brazil he said that what was going on was “a coup d‘état to remove a president without any legal basis; it is simply a political coup.” He added that the member of congress who is at the head of the impeachment process is himself accused of corruption. He stated that Nicolas Maduro is facing enemies full of hate who want to take advantage of difficult situations in Venezuela, including an energy crisis. He said he was reminded of a similar crisis that affected Nicaragua when he took office and the help that he received from Venezuela to resolve that crisis.

Speaking at the same event, FNT General Secretary Gustavo Porras said that trade union members were united in their support for the candidacy of President Ortega for another term as president in the upcoming November elections. “This time we are all united in consensus supporting Daniel to defeat poverty because he is our historical candidate, a prophet, who brought us out of the lion’s den,” Porras said. He added that, “Under Comandante Daniel and Compañera Rosario we are making revolution.”

On May 1, hundreds of workers marched in Managua at two separate Sandinista events. One was held by the National Workers Front and the other by the Sandinista Workers Central (CST). In an interview with El Nuevo Diario, Roberto Gonzalez of the CST called on Gustavo Porras of the FNT to dialogue to resolve differences between them. He said, “The Sandinista Workers Central is not the enemy of anybody; the Central is the historical workers confederation of the Sandinista Front and so I believe that if there have been differences we should be able to sit down and dialogue and resolve those things.” He added that workers are celebrating the fact that currently in Nicaragua “we have investment and employment generation along with annual economic growth.” The number of workers under Social Security has now reached almost one million, he noted. He added that he had questioned some decisions made by the Ministry of Labor, however.

Marching earlier in the day from the Hugo Chavez Circle to the National Assembly were members of the National Union of Older Adults (UNAM). UNAM vice-president Alba Mendoza said that retired persons in Nicaragua had reason to celebrate. “We have obtained many things such as the small pension [for workers who did not pay into the Social Security system long enough for a full pension] as well as eyeglasses, wheel chairs, canes, and participation in Plan Roof and affordable housing,” she said. She added that the UNAM would continue to work for women to receive money based on their own work on top of widow’s benefits they may receive.

The government announced on Apr. 26 that, because May Day fell on a Sunday this year, workers would get a paid holiday on Monday, May 2. (Nicaragua News, May 2; Radio La Primerisima, Apr. 29; El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 26, 30, May 2)

2. Nicaragua to purchase Russian tanks

On April 25, Colonel Manuel Guevara, public relations director for the Nicaraguan Army, confirmed that the Army will be replacing tanks “that have outlived their useful lives” with 50 new Russian T-721B1 tanks within the framework of a bilateral technical-military agreement between the two countries. The Russian magazine Sputnik, citing the RIA Novosti news agency, said that the purchase was being financed with a US$80 million loan as part of the bilateral agreement. The Nicaraguan armed forces have also gotten from Russia four naval patrol vessels, 12 anti-aircraft defense systems, two Mi-17V-5 helicopters, and a number of cargo planes, among other items, according to Sputnik. Russia also donated to Nicaragua, between 2011 and 2014, 100,000 tons of wheat, 520 public transportation buses, 500 automobiles for use as taxis and US$41 million for a Managua hospital.

Comments immediately were offered. Francisco Aguirre, former foreign minister under a Liberal government said, “It wasn’t a good time to acquire these weapons in an election year.” He added that “Nicaragua’s military expenditures are the lowest in the region and a small fraction of what we invest in education and health. I hope that with this acquisition we haven’t damaged that good record.” Opposition National Assembly Deputy Eliseo Nuñez said that when he first heard the news he thought that, given the drought, they were tanks for water not tanks for war. But, he said, “The only use they will have for those tanks is to photograph them in long parades each September 2nd [the anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan Army].” Costa Rican Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez said, “Yes, it is a matter of concern for the region of Central America when a country begins an arms race. It could provoke other countries to acquire more arms.” Army Inspector General Adolfo Cepeda said, “We are a peaceful country; we are respectful of the international order. Our differences at the international level we take to the International Court of Justice and Nicaragua respects its rulings.”

In related news, Orlando Castillo, director of the Telecommunications Corporation (TELCOR), announced that Russian five communications satellites are now passing in orbit over Nicaragua and in five months, after completion of the ground stations, they will provide live information on natural disasters, extreme weather, climate change, and other aspects from space. He added that the other Central American countries will enjoy the same benefits as Nicaragua from the system. (El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 26; Informe Pastran, Apr. 26, 27) 

3. Caribbean Coast briefs; water and sewers, new hospital, domestic violence prevention

An event was held in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, to mark the completion of the first stage of a water and sewer project that will benefit Bilwi and surrounding communities. Edwin Barreda, president of the National Aqueduct and Sewer Enterprise (ENACAL), said, “We are receiving the last shipment of pipes and accessories. This is a project that will cover the urban area and also the rural communities” of Sising, Kuakuil, Boom Sirpi and Yulu Tingni. The project is projected to be completed in two years at a cost of US$43 million and is part of a larger US$343 million project to benefit 19 municipalities in Nicaragua. Also attending the event were representatives of the organizations that had contributed to the financing of the project: Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID) representative Jose Manuel Mariscal, Spanish Ambassador Rafael Garranzo, European Union representative Kenny Bell, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representative Bank representative Carlos Melo, Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) representative Edda Melendez as well as officials of the North Caribbean Autonomous Regional Government and local Bilwi officials. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 28; El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 28)

Meanwhile, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health on Apr. 28 signed an US$18.5 million donation agreement with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the building of a 155 bed hospital to serve the South Caribbean Autonomous Region communities of Nueva Guinea, Muelle de los Bueyes, San Miguelito and others. The agreement was signed by Health Minister Sonia Castro and JICA representative Hirohito Takata. The hospital will serve 200,000 people in the region. Construction is expected to begin in January of 2017 after preliminary studies and the bidding process are completed. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 28)

The Nicaragua Supreme Court, with support from the Organization of American States (OAS), organized a workshop on domestic violence prevention the week of Apr. 25 in the municipality of Waspan in the North Caribbean Autonomous Region. District Judge Eloyda Martinez, who coordinated the workshop, said that community leaders, students, teachers and Wihtas (indigenous authorities) participated in the training which was imparted in the Miskitu language. (Nicaragua News, Apr. 27)

4. As elections draw nearer, US “advice” increases

It is election year in Nicaragua and US officials are beginning to offer advice about Nicaragua’s electoral system. The latest is Michael Kozak, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Kozak arrived in Nicaragua last week and met with government officials, leaders of civil society and private enterprise. Interestingly, according to the Liberal Independent Party (PLI), Kozak did not meet with PLI leaders. Kozak pushed for the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) to invite groups from the European Union, Carter Center, or the OAS to observe the elections, something that the US does not permit for its own elections. He said the issue of transparent elections is important. Sandinista government officials termed the discussion “positive.” Informe Pastran noted that, “Never before had a high-level official of the US government come to Managua to meet with the Sandinista government to express their views about the elections nor had the Sandinista government permitted US officials to meet with its political adversaries to discuss that subject.” The report states that this is a sign that relations between the US and Nicaragua, “in spite of the recent State Department Human Rights Report [see below], are going through a good period.” 

The Nicaragua Network / Alliance for Global Justice is organizing an investigative delegation for August 5-14 to find out how much the United States is intervening in Nicaragua’s elections. In the past, most particularly in 2006, the intervention was substantial. If you would like more information about joining this delegation, visit www.nicanet.org or write delegations@AFGJ.org. 

On Apr. 19, US Ambassador to Nicaragua Laura Dogu said that the recently released State Department Human Rights Report for 2015 contained “information about various problems that we have seen over the past year, but at the time of each evaluation we have to talk about the good things and the more difficult things; that is part of our relationship with Nicaragua.” [The report on Nicaragua can be read here: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper] 

In other news, the right-wing US think tank, Freedom House, issued its annual report on press freedom claiming that Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador, Cuba, and Venezuela are the only countries in the hemisphere without press freedom. Nicaragua has no press censorship and has prosecuted no journalists since the FSLN returned to power in 2007. Contrast that with Honduras where over 20 journalists have been murdered since the 2009 US-backed coup and Radio Progresso journalist Felix Molina survived an attempt to kill him on May 2. He is hospitalized with two bullet wounds in each leg. But, according to Freedom House, Honduras is among the countries with a free press. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 28, 27; La Prensa, Apr. 19)

5. World Bank praises Nicaragua as best in Latin America

World Bank Vice President Jorge Familiar, after a meeting with President Daniel Ortega, announced that Nicaragua has performed best among the countries in the multilateral bank’s portfolio in Latin America. He said Nicaragua is the best with disbursements, rates of program implementation, and the successful completion of projects. Treasury Minister Ivan Acosta explained that strict compliance is the priority of the government in order to achieve poverty reduction. Familiar also said the World Bank is interested in supporting Nicaragua’s move toward renewable energy production by financing infrastructure and energy projects. The Sandinista government’s commitment to poverty reduction and the low level of corruption in the government are certainly factors in its high reputation with lending institutions. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 26)

6. Tree farms exempted from logging prohibition

After pressure from tree farm owners, the government on Apr. 28 exempted them from the prohibition on logging and transporting logs from Nicaragua’s forests that it had put in place on Apr. 13. Presidential investment adviser Alvaro Baltodano said that the problem had been resolved through the government’s public-private dialogue mechanism. Jose Adan Aguerri, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), said, “The tree farms will not be affected because they are not involved in illegal logging or with the expansion of the agricultural frontier, exactly the opposite is the case.” COSEP and the Association of Reforesters [tree farm owners] of Nicaragua (CONFOR) had urged the government to separate them from the logging prohibition because they said that there was a difference between logging the natural forest and exploiting a tree farm.

According to COSEP, since the Law for the Conservation, Promotion and Development of the Forestry Sector was passed in 2003, investors from Sweden, Norway, the United States, France and other Central American countries have invested some US$110 million on 21,000 hectares of tree farms growing approximately 20 million trees, among them teak, gamhar, African mahogany, pine, pochote, oak, and Chilean laurel. The first three are species that were introduced to Nicaragua from elsewhere while the last four are native species. (El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 28, 29; Informe Pastran Apr. 29)

7. Rural technology education centers to double

This year the Sandinista government’s Institute of National Technology (INATEC) plans to open 40 more technology centers in rural areas, adding to the 40 it has already set up. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said, “We are talking about fully furnished technology centers, equipped with computers and their accessories, to develop computer courses in the countryside.”  She said the centers will “contribute effectively, step by step, to the eradication of poverty in our country.” (Informe Pastran, Apr. 26)

8. Rainy season begins

On April 25 and 26, rain fell in 23 municipalities as a tropical depression moved over Nicaragua. The winds in Malpaisillo in the Department of Leon turned into a tornado that damaged the roofs of 35 houses. In Comalapa, what residents called a whirlwind damaged seven homes. The rains have not lowered the temperatures, however, and continued heat and rain were predicted on May 2 by the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER). Rosa Argentina Navarro, a member of the Managua municipal council, said that the municipality is working on repairing storm sewers but the population must collaborate by not building their homes in areas that are likely to flood. (El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 28, 29, 30, May 2)