TUESDAY, JUNE 01, 2010

Nicaragua News Bulletin (June 1, 2010)

1. Terms of officials expire and Ortega jokes about dissolving National Assembly
2. Rains cause damage in Nicaragua, but less than in other Central American countries
3. Government distributes payment to workers; FNT protests IMF postponement
4. Ortega officially nominates Campbell ambassador to US
5. Environmental group warns EU trade agreement threatens biodiversity
6. Squatters removed from Bosawas Nature Preserve
7. Peruvian indigenous leader leaves Nicaragua after almost a year in exile
8. Latin American Indigenous Forum on Climate Change held in Managua

1. Terms of officials expire and Ortega jokes about dissolving National Assembly

On June 1 the terms of 24 of 25 high level government officials (including the Supreme Electoral Council, the Supreme Court, and all but one of the Comptrollers General) will have ended. On that day the National Assembly, with a full complement of 92 deputies was scheduled to meet to elect their replacements. However, even though the Special Commission has reported out a list of qualified people for the posts that are coming vacant, no party or group of parties has so far been able to bring together the super-majority of 56 votes needed to elect the officials. Several of them are remaining in their posts under a January decree by President Daniel Ortega which declared they could stay in office until their replacements were named, but the decree has been challenged by the opposition.,

Former President Enrique Bolaños confirmed that he will not take his seat as a deputy in the National Assembly and so Alfredo Gomez Urcuyo will be seated as his alternate. And Alejandro Bolaños Davis will take his seat as a deputy for the Conservative Party. On May 20, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) had resolved an old dispute by ruling that Gomez could serve as the former president's alternate and at the same time the CSE restored the legal recognition of the Conservative Party. Analysts seemed to agree that the correlation of forces in the Assembly would remain virtually the same.

Leaders of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) and the Nicaraguan Democratic Bench (BDN) said that they had sent a second joint letter to President Ortega urging him to work "to achieve a national legislative understanding" about the officials. PLC Deputy Wilfredo Navarro accused the Sandinista Party (FSLN) and Ortega of plunging the country into a constitutional crisis by allowing officials to remain in their posts and not beginning formal negotiations on the nominations.

Meanwhile, on May 26, Ortega and government economic policy officials held a meeting with business and labor leaders. Business leaders, including members of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), have been able to achieve some working harmony with the Ortega administration and some have expressed frustration with the confrontational attitude of many political figures. At one point in the meeting, Ortega is quoted as saying: "It would be a way out; that all those who have positions that don't coincide with the positions of the political parties that are in the Assembly occupy those seats there. We could have a new Council of State like what we had right after the triumph of the revolution, where private enterprise was there, where all the sectors were there. We could take another look at that. If you give the word, I'll take another look. If COSEP gives me their backing, I'll do it. I would dissolve the National Assembly and we will go and occupy the National Assembly and we'll elect them [the officials]. But it's your call."

The business leaders reportedly laughed and Vice President Jaime Morales said the President was joking, but opposition political leaders were up in arms. Independent Deputy Jamileth Bonilla said that "Besides being an offense, it is a threat." A statement from the BDN said, "We call on citizens to stay alert in the face of these threats and not to let themselves be confused by the populist actions and speeches of Ortega, which are typical of dictatorial regimes that try take away to the freedoms of their peoples."

COSEP President Jose Adan Aguerri said that his organization supported no actions that were in violation of the constitution. He criticized the media saying, "You in the media prioritize the political issues, the news that brings confrontation. What we need is the support of the communications media to prioritize the subjects that really give answers to the population of this country; the subjects that answer the demand for jobs, to improve the quality of life, to improve housing, education and in general the need to prioritize the economic agenda."

However, Luisa Molina, spokesperson for the Civil Coordinator, criticized the business sector saying, "As long as the government doesn't touch their capital, the rest is of no importance to them. ...[I]t is not important to them what happens in the country, or if it falls apart. They continue in their effort to be on the good side of the government." (El Nuevo Diario, May 29, 30; La Prensa, May 25, 27, 29, 30)

2. Rains cause damage in Nicaragua, but less than in other Central American countries

Tropical Storm Agatha, which reportedly caused a total of 131 deaths in all of Central America, in Nicaragua caused numerous rivers to overflow their banks, isolating 30 communities and destroying hundreds of houses causing the evacuation of an estimated 1,625 people. Two deaths were reported in the Department of Matagalpa. The Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER) said that most affected were the Departments of Leon and Chinandega. When the Estero Real in Chinandega overflowed its banks, several communities were affected and the Pan- American Highway was closed for several hours. Several bridges in the Department of Chinandega were also destroyed.

Crops in many areas were lost and farmers struggled to rescue cattle. In Quezalguaque, between 1,500 and 2,000 families were flooded. Near the Momotombo Volcano, 80 families were evacuated by Army helicopter. Major Gustavo Ramos, chief of Civil Defense for the Army, said that the amount of rain registered in Leon exceeded the amount that fell during Alma two years ago. Damage was also reported in the Departments of Granada, Managua, Chontales, Madriz and Esteli. (El Nuevo Diario, May 29; Radio La Primerisima, May 28)

3. Government distributes payment to workers; FNT protests IMF postponement

The government of President Daniel Ortega announced on May 29 that over 53,000 low-salaried government workers had received their "solidarity payment' of US$25 by that date, about 45% of the total number scheduled to receive the payment. Communications Coordinator and First Lady Rosario Murillo said that by next month the problems that occurred this time will be overcome and all workers will know which bank branches to visit to get their payments. The payments are a supplement to their salaries funded by the Bolivarian Alliance for Our Americas (ALBA) and are outside the national budget.

Financial analyst Rene Vallecillo said that the payment could stimulate the economy but that the negative side is that the payments are not going through the government's budget but rather are coming from a private ALBA company. He stated that government employees are not supposed to receive payments from private companies.

International Monetary Fund Representative in Nicaragua Gabriel Di Bella said that the IMF wanted to learn more details about the payments adding, "At this time we are trying to understand how they will function, which employees will receive them, etc. and then we will evaluate their impact and continue with the procedure to complete our review." The IMF in early May had postponed a visit from an IMF mission over concern about several matters, among them the US$25 solidarity payments. Di Bella said that it was not ideal that the last two reviews of Nicaragua's current program with the IMF be conducted at the same time because both are complicated and the timing could result in a postponement of the disbursement of the US$70 million involved.

Presidential economic advisor Bayardo Arce minimized the problems with the IMF saying that it was more a problem of timing than anything else. He added that, separate from the issue of the payments to workers, regulations from the Superintendent of Banks on credit cards are still pending. He noted that the current Sandinista government is the only one in the past 20 years that has stayed within its program with the IMF. However, the National Workers Front (FNT) called for a march in protest against IMF policies for Tuesday June 1. Gustavo Porras, a Sandinista deputy in the National Assembly and head of the FNT, said "The IMF should not be trying to deny workers the solidarity payment or demanding that retirement age be put at 70." (Radio La Primerisima, May 26, 27, 31; El Nuevo Diario, May 29, 30; La Prensa, May 25, 27)

4. Ortega officially nominates Campbell ambassador to US

President Daniel Ortega officially nominated and submitted for National Assembly ratification the name of Francisco Campbell as ambassador to the United States. US Ambassador Robert Callahan confirmed that the US had accepted Campbell's credentials. Campbell, who resigned his position in the Central American Parliament to accept the appointment, served as a diplomat in Nicaragua's US embassy during the 1980s. His approval by the National Assembly requires 56 votes. (El Nuevo Diario, May 29)
5. Environmental group warns EU trade agreement threatens biodiversity

Nicaragua contains 7% of the world's plant and animal species. The Humboldt Center, a respected Nicaraguan environmental group, warned that the recently signed Association Accord between Central America and the European Union threatens that biodiversity because it will allow European transnational corporations to patent national seeds and genes for commercial purposes. There are two international agreements on the patenting of genes and seeds which are recognized by the recent accord but the Humboldt Center warns that Nicaragua has neither a comprehensive survey of its biodiversity nor the legal framework to protect its patrimony. The Humboldt Center, which opposes the free trade agreement, likens it to the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) between Central America and the US. (La Prensa, May 25)

6. Squatters removed from Bosawas Nature Preserve

A combined force from the Army, National Police and Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources on Saturday ended an operation that began Monday, removing 80 families who had illegally colonized and damaged the endangered Bosawas Nature Preserve. The evicted families complained that they were not given time to gather food and personal possessions before they were evicted. They were removed on Saturday to the community of El Hormiguero, about 20 kilometers from Siuna. During the night they confronted officials armed with sticks and machetes, but after an hours long stand-off they stopped their protest and peacefully boarded buses on Sunday to be transported to their home municipalities. Over the next few months authorities hope to remove other squatter communities from the nature reserve.

In 2001 the government of President Enrique Bolaños removed 105 families from the Bosawas but left them in El Hormiguero with no support and they soon moved back into the reserve.

The action last week began an operation intended to remove 270 families who have clear cut protected forest and colonized the reserve. The government responded to numerous complaints against the colonists by the indigenous Mayagna who live legally in the reserve and cooperate in its maintenance and preservation. According to data from the UN Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), in the first half of this decade, the Bosawas lost 41,000 hectares of forest per year, causing "concern" that the nature preserve would be lost. Thirteen people were also charged with illegal trafficking in land, illegal sales, and promotion of illegal settlement in the reserve.

Meanwhile, indigenous leaders denounced death threats from illegal settlers scheduled to be evicted near Sikilta in the northern Caribbean. Mayagna leaders traveled to Managua to appeal to the government for protection by the Army from the settlers who they said are threatening to repopulate the area. Indigenous leaders said that 800 families illegally colonize the Bosawas where 30,000 Mayagnas live legally. They said the eviction of 270 families by the government is insufficient to solve the problem. While some came to the reserve in an effort to feed their families through subsistence agriculture, Mayagna leader Rolando Lewis said that many settlers destroy the forest under orders from cattle ranchers who want to move into Bosawas. (La Prensa, May 25, 27, 30; El Nuevo Diario, May 25)

7. Peruvian indigenous leader leaves Nicaragua after almost a year in exile

On May 25, during an event at which government officials gave land titles to over 2,000 Managua families, President Daniel Ortega announced that Alberto Pizango would return to Lima. Ortega asked Peruvian President Alan Garcia to respect his rights. Pizango, an important indigenous leader in Peru, had spent nearly a year exiled in Nicaragua. He left Peru after being accused of inciting a violent clash in Bagua in northern Peru between indigenous leaders and the police. Pizango was in Lima during the clash.

Due to the charges against him (including sedition), he believed his life to be in danger and fled to Nicaragua. Pizango decided, however, that he was now ready to face the consequences and would return to Lima. He has been a figure of vital importance in the struggle to protect indigenous land rights from extractive industries.

"We respect and admire the very brave decision that [Pizango] has made," Ortega said. "I am urging President Garcia to respect his physical integrity, not incarcerate him, and let him continue his struggle, a just struggle that merits the respect of all, to fight for Mother Earth."

In contrast to the Garcia administration, whose executive decrees attempted to open indigenous lands to extractive industries, the Ortega administration has titled over 6,000 square miles of indigenous territories, and hopes to title nearly 5,000 more this year. The government has granted nearly 20,000 titles. "We are simply recognizing what has belonged to [the indigenous population] for years...This is a historical fact, not just in Nicaragua, but throughout our America," Ortega said. [Pizango arrived in Lima and was immediately detained. After being held overnight, a judge ordered his release, pending a trial on the charges against him.] (Radio La Primerisima, May 25)

8. Latin American Indigenous Forum on Climate Change held in Managua

On May 25 representatives of the principle indigenous organizations in the Americas concluded a forum at which they worked to establish a joint position for the next round of negotiations on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to take place in Cancun, Mexico, in December. Tarcilia Rivera of the Continental Liaison of Indigenous Women said, "Many times strategies are discussed by governments, in high level forums. Indigenous peoples are not participating in those talks and the impact of climate change directly affects indigenous communities and peoples." She added, "We need to work together so that our proposals, negotiation strategies and presentations at government forums can be stronger."

Among the groups represented in Managua were the Central American Indigenous Council (CICA), the Mesoamerican Indigenous Council (CIMA), the Indigenous Women's Biodiversity Network, the Continental Liaison of Indigenous Women South American Region, and the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin, among others.

Joel Dixon, Nicaraguan Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for Indigenous and Afro-Descendents Affairs, said "We have to recognize that the present world crisis is the result of an egotistical and irresponsible way of living, of producing, of consuming, and of establishing a relationship between us and nature that has meant a systematic aggression against Mother Earth and her ecosystem." Also participating from Nicaragua were Mirna Cunningham, president of the Center for the Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples (CADPI) and Carlos Alaman Cunningham, president of the Autonomous Regional Council of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). (Radio La Primerisima, May 25)
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