Nicaragua Network

1. Back to normal as quakes diminish except for a 4.9 trembler in the RAAN
2. Holy Week marked by more people at processions, fewer at beaches
3. Poll shows cost of living to be a concern
4. Suspect detained in murder of US woman
5. Central Bank releases report on foreign assistance
6. Dry season wild fires burning
7. Tributes to Gabriel Garcia Marquez
 

1. Back to normal as quakes diminish except for a 4.9 trembler in the RAAN

Most of Nicaragua was to return to normal schedules on Monday, Apr. 21, after Holy Week and ten days marked by a series of earthquakes and tremblers that resulted in injuries and substantial property damage.  Communications coordinator Rosario Murillo announced on Easter Sunday that the country will remain under red alert and emergency drills will be held in government offices, public markets, and other institutions. Also schools in the departments of Managua and Leon will remain closed while administrators and parents decide when classes should resume.  Murillo called on householders to check their houses and reinforce construction that is defective or does not comply with building codes.  “Put aside money, a bit at a time, to buy the materials to reinforce fragile constructions,” she said.  The government will immediately begin to check electrical connections at all public markets to prevent any fires that could be caused by damage from the quakes.  Murillo thanked citizens for reporting damage to buildings as well as cracks in the earth as she said these reports contributed material for analysis by seismologists.  Universities that are members of the National Council of Universities were set to resume normal schedules on Monday, according to the president of the CNU, Telemaco Talavera, although several suffered minor damage to buildings.

On April 18, the working group composed of scientists from Nicaragua and seven other countries released a preliminary report on the earthquakes.  The report noted that the epicenter of the April 10 quake [measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale], that damaged the city of Nagarote, was located between Nagarote and Mateare and, besides the principal fault that caused the quake, there were other faults extending under Lake Managua which were active also.  The quake and the numerous after quakes caused earth movements in different directions resulting in compression and relaxation of the earth and a “migration of tremblers toward the Momotombo and Apoyeque volcanoes.”  In spite of the tremblers near the volcanoes, the report emphasized that there was no scientific evidence to support a possible eruption of either volcano.  The report noted the absence of any evidence that would indicate an eruption such as sulfur dioxide emissions, deformation of the volcanic structures, or changes in the water in the Apoyeque crater lake. Nevertheless, the report said current conditions could presage future volcanic activity, adding that the most recent eruption of the Cerro Negro Volcano was preceded by hundreds of tremblers.

While the scientists predicted a decrease in the number and magnitude of the quakes, they did not discard the possibility of further tremblers of 5 or 6 on the Richter scale in coming days.  The report noted that, “There also exists an important system of known faults under the city of Managua, which is independent of the current events.  But an important seismic event in Lake Managua could activate some of these faults, producing damage in the city.  These faults have in the past caused quakes superior to 6 [on the Richter Scale], such as in 1972.” The report said that a deformation on the peninsula of Chiltepe in Lake Managua, which caused a temporary drop in the lake front, was probably a secondary effect of the seismic activity in the region. On April 16 the Nicaraguan media had reported that Lake Managua had pulled back 16 meters from its normal coast line along a line of about 500 meters. Jiri Sebesta, a specialist from the Czech Republic, said that it was not clear if the land had risen or the water had dropped.

Government spokesperson Murillo reported that the experts agreed that the 6.7 April 11 quake was at a depth of 113.6 kilometers and caused by the clash of the Coco and Caribbean plates and thus unrelated to the Apr. 10 Nagarote quake.  The Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER) reported that tremblers continued with 19 recorded between 6:00 pm on Apr. 18 and noon on Apr. 19.

Then, on Saturday, Apr. 19, INETER reported a quake of 4.9 in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) with an epicenter 30 kilometers northeast of Bonanza at a depth of 30 km.  Among the damaged buildings in Bonanza were the hospital, the mayor’s office, the branch of the Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University (BICU), the police station, the courthouse and Santa Teresita School.  In Rosita, five public schools were damaged along with a number of houses and government office buildings. Most damaged were the offices of the Social Security Institute which will have to be demolished.

Opposition analysts and politicians, from their beach houses at San Juan del Sur, criticized the government for “exaggerating the crisis with a red alert” and preventing people from enjoying their Holy Week vacations, saying that, “You see, nothing happened.” Oscar Rene Vargas said that Murillo was too emotional and “created anxiety that was picked up by the media.” Jaime Arellano said that government measures were “exaggerated.” But, the government noted that 35 hospitals and health centers were damaged, 231 houses collapsed, 2,408 houses were damaged and there were five landslides. Three tent hospitals were set up and 8,330 sheets of galvanized roofing and 11,550 bags of cement were sent to affected areas where rebuilding of destroyed and damaged residences will begin in a few days. (Radio La Primerisima, Apr. 20, 21; El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 18, 19, 21; La Prensa, Apr. 16, 20; Informe Pastran, Apr. 21)

2. Holy Week marked by more people at processions, fewer at beaches

According to the Red Cross and the National Police, 46 people died unnatural deaths during Holy Week, with ten people drowning, 20 killed in traffic accidents, and 16 homicides. The Red Cross reported that three people drowned at different beaches in the department of Leon, three drowned at El Trapiche in Tipitapa, and one each at Pochomil, Bluefields, Xiloá, and Ocotal.  The Police said that the number of traffic deaths, at 20, was up from last year’s figure of only 13.  Of the 16 homicides, eleven of those killed were men and two were women.  That total was down from last year when there were 21 murders. None of the homicides or traffic accidents was at ocean, lake or river recreation spots or at religious processions, according to police commissioner general Francisco Diaz.   

La Prensa showed photographs of empty beaches and crowded processions, emphasizing that many people chose to stay close to home for this Holy Week during which the ground continued to shake, although to a lesser degree than the days before Palm Sunday. The daily reported the churches of Chinandega were full but that the businesspeople of San Juan del Sur were suffering.  However, in spite of the continuing tremblers, 40,626 foreign tourists came to Nicaragua for Holy Week with the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute (INTUR) expecting a total of 53,000 for the entire spring break season. Mayra Salinas, head of INTUR, said that while fewer locals were leaving home to visit beaches, foreign tourists were arriving to enjoy the sun and beaches as well as the religious traditions, especially in the colonial cities of Granada and Leon.  INTUR reported that 25,000 people visited El Trapiche on the Tipitapa River only a few kilometers from Managua while another 28,000 escaped the 98° heat to enjoy the waters of Lake Cocibolca (Lake Nicaragua).

Thousands of Catholics participated in the traditional Managua Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession that made its way from the Colegio Teresiano on the Masaya Highway to the Cathedral. At the first station, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes asked participants to pray for those who had been affected by the earthquakes. In his Good Friday sermon, Brenes said that true disciples of Jesus accepted the cross that God gave them just as Jesus accepted his and that God helped all persons to carry their crosses.  On Easter Sunday, he startled congregants by telling them to turn on their cell phones and share with their families their happiness at Christ’s resurrection.  (Radio La Primerisima, Apr. 21; Informe Pastran, Apr. 20; La Prensa, Apr. 20; El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 16, 18)

3. Poll shows cost of living to be a concern

An M&R Consultores poll conducted Mar. 17 to 31 showed that what Nicaraguans were most worried about was the rise in prices for basic foods and services with 26.3% indicating that was their major concern. In previous polls lack of enough jobs had been the major concern.  Twenty-three percent said that their major concern was poverty and 21.3% said it was lack of jobs.  Eleven percent said delinquency; 5% corruption, 4.9% political problems; 2.5% lack of infrastructure; 2.1% lack of investment; 1.9% a crisis in values; with only 0.1% mentioning drug trafficking. Those who classified themselves as “poor” were most likely to be concerned about inflation, poverty and lack of jobs while those who saw themselves as upper class were most concerned about delinquency, lack of investment and a crisis in values.  The middle and lower middle class mainly shared the concerns of the poor, according to M&R.

Out of all those polled, 28.2% said that they could not cover their basic expenses with what they earned; 45.9% said that they did earn enough to cover their expenses while 16.7% said they could cover expenses and some extras.  Only 8.2% said they earned enough to live comfortably.  Thirty-eight percent said that their family economic situation was better than last year while 43.3% said it was the same and 18.4% said it was worse.  Those who said their situation was much better tended to identify themselves a rich while those who said it was worse were middle class or poor.  Nevertheless, those who saw themselves as poor or middle class had high expectations of improving their situation during the coming year.

The Sandinista government continued to receive high marks with 68.4% expressing approval of economic management while 27.9% expressed disapproval.  Sixty-six percent said that the governing style of President Daniel Ortega was democratic while 28.2% said he was authoritarian.  Sixty percent approved the performance of the government in general while 15.6% disapproved and 23.4% neither approved nor disapproved. Interestingly, 96.9% said that they preferred a government that resolves the problems of its citizens without regard to its ideological orientation.

When asked about political parties, 55.1% said that they sympathized with the Sandinista Party, 4.4% with the Constitutional Liberal Party, 3.9% with the Independent Liberal Party, 0.3% with the Conservative Party and 0.3% with the Sandinista Renovation Movement, while 35.8% said that they were independent or had no party.  The Sandinista Party dropped 1.9% in popularity since a Dec. 2013 poll while the Liberals increased 0.9%.

Head of the National Police Aminta Granera continued to have the highest favorable ratings at 76.2% followed closely by First Lady and Communications Coordinator Rosario Murillo at 75.2%.  President Ortega was third at 73.3% with Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes in fourth place with 62.9%.  Brenes was followed by Vivian Pellas, who has never appeared in this bulletin except as the name of a hospital, at 57.9%, Vice-President Omar Hallesleven at 50.9%, and Cardenal Miguel Obando y Bravo at 47.6%. 

Of 1,600 persons interviewed, 44% said that they were single, 34.2% married; and 21.8% were living in a stable relationship. With regard to religion, 50.4% said that they were Catholic; 30.2% said they were evangelical Protestants; 4.6% said that they belonged to another religious group; 14% said they were of no religious denomination, while 0.4% said they were non-believers. (Informe Pastran, Apr. 21)

4. Suspect detained in murder of US woman

On April 16, police arrested Fernando Aburto Reyes, accused of the April 11 murder of US citizen Karen Beth Colclough near the Montelimar beach resort on the Pacific Coast south of Managua. Colclough, from Jackson Hole, WY, was a volunteer with Agros International, a Seattle non-profit with projects in Mexico and Central America. Aburto Reyes is accused of robbing her of a camera and killing her after she got lost while running alone and he offered to help her find her way back to the tourist resort. Aburto was caught when he tried to sell the camera. He served a jail sentence from 2002-2012 for a previous crime. Violent crimes against foreigners are such a rare occurrence in Nicaragua as to make them news worthy. (El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 16, 18; La Prensa, Apr. 16; Radio La Primerisima, Apr. 16)

5. Central Bank releases report on foreign assistance

On Apr. 15, The Central Bank presented its report on the international assistance that Nicaragua received during 2013. The total, at US$1.295 billion, was similar to the average for the last five years.  A total of US$790 million or 60.1% was directed at the private sector with US$505.6 million to the public sector.  Most of the funds for the private sector came from bilateral sources while most of the funding for the public sector came from multilateral sources.  Ninety percent of the funding for the private sector was in the form of loans while the half of the funding directed at the public sector was in the form of donations.

The most funding was received from Venezuela (US$559.1 million), the Inter-American Development Bank (US$168.2 million), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (US$152.1), the World Bank (US$70.3 million), the European Union (US$49.5 million), the Russian Federation (US$35.1 million), and the United States (US$32.2 million. Foreign assistance represented 11.5% of Nicaragua’s gross domestic product, greater than that of family remittances (9.6% of GDP), foreign direct investment (7.5%) and tourism (3.7%).  The funds from Venezuela, which increased last year, were directed toward the energy sector, industry, fair trade, investment, and financing of agricultural development along with housing, transportation, salary supplements for low wage government workers, transportation subsidies, and other social projects.(Informe Pastran, Apr. 15)

6. Dry season wild fires burning

An end of dry season fire is burning in the Chonco-San Cristobal-Casitas Volcano Nature Reserve, a pine forest in Chinandega, since Apr. 17. Twenty-seven members of the communities of La Mora, La Bolsa, Belen and San Isidro are fighting the fire. On the weekend they were joined by 90 other locals. Felipe Sanchez of Belen said that “It is a tragedy what has occurred with our environment because animals such as squirrels, rabbits, lizards, and deer have died as well as many species of trees that will take many years to grow again if, in fact, there are any reforestation plans.”  A spokesman for the Sustainable Rural Tourism Development Project stated that the vegetation on the El Chonco volcano was “totally devastated.” Police are investigating the cause of the fire. Most fires this time of year are started by farmers who, unfazed by many decades of government campaigns, continue to burn their fields before the planting season starts in May.

Meanwhile near the communities of Rio Arriba, La Quesera, and Casa Blanca in the municipality of San Fernando, in the department of Nueva Segovia, a fire probably caused by arson has consumed more than 400 hectares in two days. It is being fought by 200 volunteers. Lester Martinez, coordinator of the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters (SINAPRED) in the region said that the government would pursue those responsible for the fire. Martinez said that seven hundred hectares of pine forest have been consumed in the municipality of San Fernando by fire during this year’s dry season. (El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 15; La Prensa, Apr. 20)

7. Tributes to Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Sandinista government on Thursday professed its profound sorrow for the death of Latin American writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a friend of Nicaragua and the Popular Sandinista Revolution. Government spokesperson Rosario Murillo called Marquez the 20^th century master of Spanish-American literature and shared a book dedication he had written, “To Daniel, from a Sandinista knight errant.” Former Vice-President and author Sergio Ramirez also issued a tribute to Marquez saying that the Spanish language would never be the same thanks to “Gabo.”(Radio La Primerisima, Apr. 18; El Nuevo Diario, Apr. 17)