TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

Nicaragua News Bulletin (July 24, 2012)

1. Anniversary of 1979 revolution celebrated in Managua
2. Nicaraguans criticize Callahan for opposing waiver
3. Latin American social movements meet in Managua
4. PLC announces intention to participate in local elections
5. Nicaraguan Army condemns introduction of assault weapons into Honduras
6. Nicaraguans travel to London for Olympics and Paralympics
7. Hawksbill Turtles in “critical danger of extinction”
8. Japanese Peace Boat docks in Nicaragua

1. Anniversary of 1979 revolution celebrated in Managua

Many thousands from all over Nicaragua gathered in Managua on July 19th to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution which overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in 1979. The Plaza of the Faith, near the dock on Lake Xolotlan (Lake Managua), filled up during the afternoon for the event which began about 4:00pm with revolutionary music. Honored on the platform were young people from the various Sandinista youth organizations, including the 19th of July Sandinista Youth and the Federation of Secondary Students, the heads of the different branches of government and of the armed forces, along with foreign guests, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu. The Catholic Church was represented by several priests in the absence of Cardinal Miguel Obando, who was recovering from an illness. There was no representative of the Catholic Bishops' Conference.

In his speech, President Daniel Ortega highlighted the struggles of the Nicaraguan people against foreign domination, noting that, after the victory of 1979, Nicaragua was almost alone in Latin America, supported only by Cuba. Now, Nicaragua finds solidarity in Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Argentina. To those powers that interfere in Nicaragua's affairs, Ortega explained, “Nicaragua wants to have good relations with all the countries of the world, but relations of respect. There will be points on which we will agree and points on which we will not agree because that is the reality of the world and that is why we have the battle of ideas.” He said that it was the youth who were carrying forward the great battles of the era, the battles for justice in a world subjected to the tyranny of savage capitalism.

Ortega said that his government would continue with agrarian reform programs which had to date provided 170,000 families with urban or rural land titles. Communal titles to 30,000 square kilometers of Nicaraguan territory have been given to indigenous communities. He pointed out that this was more than the entire territory of the country of El Salvador. He said that, in spite of the criticism of some [which consider the programs pandering to the poor for votes], the government would continue with its Plan Roof, Zero Usury, Streets for the People, Houses for the People and others.

He spoke of the efforts to put together a fair plan for tax reform. He said, “We can't have taxes on the poor in a tax reform plan. We have to search for points of equilibrium that permit us to strengthen the productive capacity of our country. That is where it is necessary to maintain support for the stimuli, the exemptions or incentives which are simply measures that developed countries use but which they have wanted to forbid us from using.” He said that activities that generate employment would be stimulated accompanied always by respect for the environment and for the labor rights of workers.

Ortega went on to predict victory for the Sandinista Party in the municipal elections of November, adding that by expanding the number of city council seats and requiring them to be half women and half men, all sectors of the community will be represented and more power given to the people. He ended by noting that that there was still much to do in Nicaragua in the fight against poverty and invited all Nicaraguans to join that fight.

Reaction to Ortega's speech was generally favorable. Superior Council on Private Enterprise (COSEP) president Jose Adan Aguerri said he was pleased with the president's statements on tax reform especially when he said that an equilibrium had be to found between tax evasion that does not benefit consumers and exemptions which stimulate the economy and are a necessity. He was supported in those views by Ronald Blandon, a leader in the Cattle Ranchers' Commission. Former minister of education Carlos Tunnermann called the speech “moderate” in comparison with previous years but said that, in dedicating the occasion to the country's youth, he should have presented more concrete proposals for young people in education and jobs. (Informe Pastran, July 19; Radio La Primerisima, July 19, 21; El Nuevo Diario, July 21; La Prensa, July 19)

2. Nicaraguans criticize Callahan for opposing waiver

Nicaraguans of all political stripes differed with former US Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert Callahan last week about his statements in a July 12 article that the US should not issue the customary property waiver this year. This waiver certifies that Nicaragua has made progress in resolving cases of property confiscated in the 1980s principally from Nicaraguans who later became US citizens. If the waiver is not issued, the US must cut all aid and vote against loans from the international financial institutions. On July 20, Callahan reiterated his statements and compared President Daniel Ortega to Benito Mussolini saying that, like Il Duce, Ortega is trying to build a corporatist state.

Former Nicaraguan Ambassador to the US Arturo Cruz said Callahan's statements were out of place and that he was stepping on the toes of current US Ambassador Phyllis Powers. Cruz believes that the State Department will grant the waiver because Nicaragua has complied with its requirements. But he criticized the torture of waiting for the waiver that Nicaragua has to go through every year saying that “it is an insupportable ritual” that “at some point has to end.”

National Assembly Deputy Adolfo Martinez Cole of the opposition Nicaraguan Democratic Bench said, “No Nicaraguan should wish that the waiver be withheld, given that the economic effects for the people would be very great.” He blamed Ortega for not bringing the Assembly back into session to elect new officials to high level posts, including all the magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Council, whose terms have run out.

Yali Molina, president of the Nicaraguan-American Chamber of Commerce, told Channel 12 TV, “If we look at the waiver from a technical point of view, more cases have been resolved than were resolved in previous years.” He added that the total of 65 resolved cases up to July 2012 “is a good number” and added that Nicaragua has fulfilled its part and has paid out compensation since the 1990s. Jose Adan Aguerri, president of the Superior Council on Private Enterprise (COSEP), said that some US ambassadors “wanted to intervene in Nicaraguan politics. They divided the political class of that time and today we are paying the price of that intervention.” He said that a denial of the waiver would have no effect on the political situation in the country but would make the people poorer.

Meanwhile, Mirna Lievano, representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Nicaragua, said that, if the US did not issue the waiver, the IDB had ready a Plan B so that its financial assistance to Nicaragua could continue. Lievano said that the Bank would provide humanitarian assistance which would channel funds only for projects benefitting children or for health care, for example. This would interrupt the five year project currently under negotiation which focuses on rural electricity, climate change, and efficiency in government institutions. The IDB provides US$170 million in financing to the Nicaraguan public and private sectors every two years. Call the Nicaragua Desk at the State Department to say that the US should grant the waiver. Click here for more information. (La Prensa, July 19, 20; Informe Pastran, July 20, 23)

3. Latin American social movements meet in Managua

Two hundred and thirty-six participants from social movements throughout Latin America and Europe came together in Managua last week to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. They called for the strengthening of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to confront "capitalism in crisis". All the nations of the Western Hemisphere except the United States and Canada are members of CELAC. Venezuelan union leader Jacobo Torres said, “Let no one doubt we are building a great Latin American revolution.” Onidia Torres of the Latin American Common Union Platform said that capitalism is in crisis and she accused leaders of wanting workers to pay the costs. Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala emphasized the importance of unity and the laying aside of sectarianism, envy, and personal promotion and working instead with solidarity which she said was a necessary quality for every revolutionary.

According to Nicaraguan political economist Orlando Nunez, "A Latin American consciousness is building in Nicaragua because here we decided that defending the Latin American revolution meant defending President Daniel Ortega, and the same applied for President Hugo Chavez, Raul Castro, Rafael Correa or Evo Morales, as well as protesting the Honduran coup and the Paraguayan coup, which is to say that consciousness has advanced significantly."

The final statement of the meeting expressed support for the Sandinista project in Nicaragua, saying that it is building a model of citizen power based on Christian values with a Socialist orientation and working toward the building of a just society. (El Nuevo Diario, July 19; Radio La Primerisima, July 17, 19)

4. PLC announces intention to participate in local elections

The Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) announced that the party's executive committee has decided that it will participate in the municipal elections scheduled for November 4 of this year. PLC President Maria Haydee Osuna said that the national board of the party will meet on August 6 to approve the list of candidates for mayor and city council. Meanwhile, Indalecio Rodriguez of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) said that his party would decide this week whether to participate. One member of the PLI Alliance, the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) has announced that it will not participate in the elections.

In related news, Agustin Jarquin, president of the Christian Democratic Union (UDN) announced that his party was breaking off its long-time alliance with the Sandinista Party and would be running its own candidates. A number of representatives of evangelical churches and senior citizens' groups expressed their support for Jarquin as candidate for mayor of Managua. Jarquin said he continued to support the Sandinista project for marginalized sectors but he wanted to make a clear statement about institutionality, calling for changes in the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) among others. On the other hand, Julio Cesar Blandon, head of the Party of the Nicaraguan Resistance, announced that his party would remain in alliance with the Sandinistas. He said that his members were satisfied with the number of candidates they will have on the ballot in towns like Moyogalpa, Ciudad Antigua and San Rafael del Norte. July 24 is the last day for political alliances to be registered with the CSE.

In other political news, more details from the M&R poll were released this week showing the support of 58.7% of those surveyed for the performance of the government of President Daniel Ortega and 69.3% confidence that the country was headed in the right direction. 68.4% believed that the construction of a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would bring great benefits while 20% said little or no benefit. (Informe Pastran, July 20, 23; El Nuevo Diario, July 19, 21, 23; Radio La Primerisima, July 17, 23)

5. Nicaraguan Army condemns introduction of assault weapons into Honduras

On the July 14 the Nicaraguan army captured a Colombian drug trafficking boat off the north Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua with 432.8 kilos of cocaine and military assault weapons. The four traffickers escaped into the rain forest. On July 20 Chief of the Naval Force of the army, Adm. Marvin Corrales, held a press conference in which he condemned Colombian drug cartels for shipping modern weaponry to criminal organizations on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. He said they include “assault weapons, night vision goggles, two-way radios, mobile telephones, body armor, diving suits, jungle boots and camouflage vests and caps.” In 2012, the Nicaraguan army has conducted 11 operations against organized crime, arresting 11 drug traffickers from various countries and capturing 3.3 tons of cocaine, 39 military grade weapons, and 31 boats. In 2011, authorities captured 12 tons of cocaine and arrested 3,417 people including 117 foreigners according to official figures. (La Prensa, July 20)

6. Nicaraguans travel to London for Olympics and Paralympics

The Nicaraguan delegation to the Olympics will be headed by swimmer Michelle Richardson 28 years after she won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics representing the United States. Due to what President Daniel Ortega said was “an error” Richardson was not registered to compete for Nicaragua in 1984 and the silver went to the US, where Richardson was living at the time. She says that she is delighted to be the one to carry the Nicaraguan flag in the opening ceremonies. Swimmer Dalia Torres, 22, will also be competing for Nicaragua. She won the gold in the Mexican and Central American Swimming Championship and holds the national record in the 50 meters freestyle. This is her second Olympics. Lucia Castañeda, 31, is a weightlifter. She held the Central American championship for four years from 2006 to 2009. She had to sit out three years because of a herniated disk but she is back now and ready to compete in London. Ingrid Narvaez, 18, is a runner who will compete in the 400 meter race at the Olympics. Edgar Cortes, a runner from the Department of Carazo who has been training in Cuba, will also be travelling to London to compete. Swimmer Omar Nuñez, 27, will compete in the 100 meters free style in the Olympics. He won second place in the 400 meters free style at the Pan American Games in 2006. Five of the Nicaraguans received “wild card” invitations issued in four categories to fulfill the Olympic principal of universal participation. As we reported last week, the only Nicaraguan to qualify in international competition is boxer Osmar Bravo, 27, who will compete in the 81 kilo class (which corresponds to men's light heavyweight). Also, Gabriel Cuadra Holmann qualified to participate as a runner in the 2012 Paralympics which will also be held in London. (Radio La Primerisima, July 22; El Nuevo Diario, July 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 21)

7. Hawksbill Turtles in “critical danger of extinction”

Nicaragua and El Salvador provide the nesting grounds for 80% of the estimated 500 surviving Hawksbill Sea Turtles which are in “critical danger of extinction.” The first Hawksbill Turtle Regional Forum was held in El Salvador last week including government officials from Nicaragua and El Salvador, environmentalists, and academics, to discuss how to further protect the turtle nesting grounds at Jiquilisco Bay in El Salvador, and Padre Ramos estuary in Nicaragua. Three turtles with satellite tracking devices will be released into the ocean at the end of the meeting. Salvadoran environmentalist Manlia Romero said that the principal threats to the turtles' survival are from fishnets, ocean contamination, egg harvesting, and use of the shell for handicraft products. In Nicaragua, which has had sea turtle protection programs in place since the Sandinista revolutionary government in the 1980s, seven civil and criminal cases have been brought against high volume turtle egg smugglers in the past few years and three other suspects are being tracked, according to environmental ombudsman Jose Luis Garcia. Nicaragua's protection program also includes education of market vendors to convince them not to sell turtle eggs and to divert them to other products. (Radio La Primerisima, July 18, 20; La Prensa, July 18)

8. Japanese Peace Boat docks in Nicaragua

The Japanese “Peace Boat” arrived at the Pacific port of Corinto for a two day visit to Nicaragua. The 900 passenger, 300 crew, ship started its voyage around the Americas from Iceland last month. This is the third time the Peace Boat has visited Nicaragua. Previous visits were in 1990 and 2010. On this visit the travelers, who are citizens of many different countries, will visit Managua, Leon and Granada and learn about anti-poverty programs in Nicaragua such as Zero Hunger. The cruise is an initiative of the Japanese non-profit “Peace Boat” which was created to promote peace, human rights, and sustainable development. [Lisa Sullivan of School of the Americas Watch sailed with the ship from Iceland. She and Nicaragua Network co-coordinator Chuck Kaufman will lead a delegation to Nicaragua in August.] (La Prensa, July 22; Radio La Primerisima, July 23)
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