Nicaragua Network

1. Violence continues in North Caribbean Autonomous Region
2. Nicaragua celebrates Independence Day holidays
3. Nicaragua continues to reduce infant mortality ahead of other nations
4. Business news: Entrepreneur Day and Carlos Slim visit
5. Crime news: Matamoros pleads guilty; homicide rate down further
6. ENACAL expands street and public area lighting and free internet
7. New street improvements forget pedestrians, including President Ortega

1. Violence continues in North Caribbean Autonomous Region

There have been at least nine deaths in the last two months in the North Caribbean Autonomous Region in armed encounters between indigenous groups and people from other regions of Nicaragua who have settled on communal indigenous lands. Seven of the victims have been indigenous and two were settlers. The latest victim, one of the settlers, died on Sept. 12 in a Managua hospital of wounds from an encounter in Tasba Raya the previous day. The areas most affected by the conflict have been Esperanza, Rio Wawa, Wisconsin, Francia Sirpy, Tasba Pay, Rio Coco, and Tasba Raya. Indigenous families fleeing from the conflict have taken refuge in Waspam and Bilwi.

Tasba Raya president Romel Constantino Washington said, “The clashes continue and there are more deaths but we don’t yet know how many. The colonists are armed with weapons of war, with AK, UZI, rifles, and a lot of ammunition while the Miskitos have homemade weapons.” He said that a high level official of the National Police had told him that the police did not have enough officers in the region to resolve the conflict and guarantee the safety of the indigenous. He added, “The communities are defending themselves alone; this situation will continue because the government is not concerned.”

National Assembly Deputy Loyd Bushey Davis of the Yatama Party said that he supported a truth commission that would investigate to see who is committing the crimes. He said, “No indigenous leader can sell land and any who committed that crime should feel the full weight of the law. This should be resolved so that the indigenous can live in peace. It is not possible that these displacements and massacres should continue.” Simeon Rocha, legal representative of the Council of Elders said, “The colonizers have sacked our timber and now they want our land…. We want the truth commission to be composed of [not politicians but rather] representatives of the bishops and indigenous community leaders.”

David Zywiec, auxiliary bishop of Bluefields, said, “The indigenous and mestizos have the right to live a dignified life in peace. Those who have acted outside the law, whether selling or collaborating in the sale of indigenous lands—which cannot be sold—whether they are indigenous territory members or settlers, the prosecutor’s office has the obligation to bring them before the courts.” Zywiec went on to say, “As pastors, we are saddened to see that poor indigenous and poor peasants have been victims of deceit, fraud and violence.”

On Sept. 14, indigenous community members held a peaceful march through the streets of Bilwi demanding that the government push forward the process of saneamiento or removal of non-indigenous settlers from indigenous territories as a way to end the violence in the region. [Saneamiento is the last (and still incomplete) of the five stages in the government’s demarcation and titling process in which titles to their traditional lands have been given to indigenous communities.]

National Assembly Deputy and Yatama leader Brooklyn Rivera said, “Behind this are the traffickers in lumber, in land, and large landowners who take over more and more territory, sacking our natural resources.” He accused the government of favoring the settlers and called on government leaders to change tack and name the members of the promised commission to continue the process of removal of settlers from indigenous lands. (Informe Pastran, Sept. 14; La Prensa, Sept. 13, 15)

2. Nicaragua celebrates independence day holidays

Nicaraguans are celebrating on Sept. 14 and 15, the country’s national holidays. This Sept. 15 marks the 194^th anniversary of the Central American declaration of independence from Spain and Sept. 14^th marks the 159^th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto at which united Central American forces defeated the forces of US filibusterer William Walker at a hacienda north of Managua. Traditionally, school children march on the 14^th in cities, towns and villages all over Nicaragua. This year, President Daniel Ortega attended a ceremony in one of the Managua plazas. Before hearing students pledge allegiance to the flag, Ortega urged them to show their commitment to Nicaragua by completing their educations. He said, “On this day when we remember the heroic Battle of San Jacinto and the Independence of Central America, let us pledge before God, our country, and our families that we will continue studying with a spirit of service with an enormous sense of responsibility to contribute to development, to the strengthening of our country so that each day Nicaraguan families will have a better life.” He added that today more than ever Nicaragua “is committed to the process of Central American integration and Latin American integration in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).” The festivities that followed included student bands, rhythm marchers, folk dances and singing groups. Students at the Managua Teachers College and the Josefa Toledo de Aguerri School presented “El Guegüense,” a work that has been named a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The celebrations were marred on Sept. 11 when a child was killed in an accident during the carrying of the Central American torch of independence through Nicaragua en route to Costa Rica. Government spokesperson Rosario Murillo stated, “In an accident that we all lament, the child fell and lost his life when a barrier broke on the back of a [San Rafael del Sur] city truck transporting children who participated in the carrying of the torch.”

When the torch passed through Managua on that day, President Ortega remembered both the brutal coup d’état against President Salvador Allende of Chile in 1973 and the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001. He said, “We hope that never again will we have such a Sept. 11 and that acts of violence, wars, and death will disappear from the planet.” At the same gathering, Ortega honored the Nicaraguan soccer team that advanced to the third elimination round in the regional lead up games to the 2018 World Cup in Russia before losing to Jamaica at a game in Managua on Sept. 8. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 9, 11, 14, 15; El Digital 19, Sept. 15; Informe Pastran, Sept. 14)

3. Nicaragua continues to reduce child mortality ahead of other nations

While globally the reduction in child mortality (birth to five years of age) has failed to meet UN Millennium Development Goals, in Nicaragua child deaths have dropped from 67 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 22 today. These figures are taken from a report issued by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank Group, and the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). Worldwide, the most common causes of death for children younger than 5 years of age are diarrhea, malaria, HIV-AIDS, pneumonia, with the last being the greatest cause of death. On a global level, in 1990, 12.7 million children died. That has been reduced by 53% to 5.9 million currently. That is still 16,000 dead children per day, which is considered too many to meet the Millennium Development Objectives of the UN. While praising the efforts of countries to cut child mortality, especially since 2000, the report called on nations to “redouble their efforts.” Flavia Bustereo, deputy director of the WHO said, “We know how to prevent unnecessary child mortality. Quality care at the time of birth that includes simple and affordable measures such as ensuring early skin to skin contact of mother and child, exclusive use of breastfeeding, and special attention to low birth weight and sick babies can save thousands of lives every year.”

Sandinista government health programs have contributed to the decrease in child mortality since 2007. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo last week announced the inauguration of a new health center in Masaya, health fairs in Nandaime, Granada, and Niquinohomo, and announced the near completion of the expansion of the Rio San Juan health center. She also announced that there will be an inauguration of a new health center in the community of Castilla in Rancho Grande, Matagalpa, and the enlargement and improvement the health center in San Lucas in Rio Coco. In addition, medical teams have visited 116,988 homes in 37 municipalities in the dry corridor of the Pacific. She said, “We have distributed thousands of packets to the families that need them, including vitamins for children, pregnant women, and senior citizens as well as collecting information for the national nutrition report.” Also, 1,400 groups of women organized under Zero Usury in 60 municipalities have received loans, improving their family economies and by extension their health. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 10; Informe Pastran, Sept. 11)

4. Business news: Entrepreneur Day and Carlos Slim visit

Businesspeople, government officials, union leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations, and politicians gathered to celebrate the Day of the Entrepreneur in Managua on Sept. 8. In his speech, Jose Adan Aguerri, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), said that COSEP this year celebrated its 43^rd birthday and that he had served the group for ten years as vice-president and president. He noted that the Nicaragua of today is not the Nicaragua of ten years ago and he listed the achievements of those ten years. Exports have grown by 400% from US$1.35 billion per year to US$5.14 per year, almost twice the average for Central America. Foreign direct investment has more than quintupled from US$250 million to US$1.4 billion, an amount only exceeded by Costa Rica. Nominal GDP (unadjusted for inflation) has grown from US$4.465 billion to US$11.79 billion, an increase of 164.1%. Deposits in the nation’s financial system have grown by 131% while international currency reserves have grown by 239% and foreign debt has been reduced by 11%. Credit extended by the private banking sector has increased by 217%. Between 2009 and today, 15,000 homes have been built; three times as many as during the years between 1996 and 2009. 

Aguerri said, “Nicaragua is a country made poor because our history is characterized by a lack of dialogue, a lack of tolerance and confidence, by special interests, by confrontation….” He insisted that COSEP was committed both to the economy and to democracy. He went on to say, “In COSEP we are aware that the country has institutional problems and challenges and we are committed to search for solutions but not at the cost of regression and impoverishment which is what some voices would like to happen and on which they try to discredit us. We have to fight for democracy but not at the cost of the economy. Neither is it a case of growing the economy at the cost of democracy. Our commitment is with democracy and with the economy. We have to learn from the past. The nation is one.” He said that the strength of Nicaragua’s electoral institutions will be a determining factor in the country’s continued growth and that, “In relation to the 2016 electoral process it is necessary for us to have independent national and international observation and a voter registration process that is not affected by politics.” He ended by summarizing, “Nicaraguan entrepreneurs want success for the country and progress for our people. …. For us questioning and disagreeing are not the problem. The problem is altering, lying, manipulating for your own ends. …. The tasks are great but we have begun. The Nicaragua of today is very different from the Nicaragua of a decade ago.”

In related news, billionaire Mexican businessman Carlos Slim visited Nicaragua last week and met with Nicaraguan government officials and businesspeople. He said that he was impressed with the harmony between the private sector and the government and added that during his lunch with President Daniel Ortega they spoke not only about his increasing his investments in Nicaragua but support he might give to social and educational projects “which the Nicaraguan chief executive was very interested in promoting.” (Informe Pastran, Sept. 8, 11)

5. Crime news: Matamoros pleads guilty; homicide rate down further

Samir Antonio Matamoros, who shot at a crowd of protesters in front of the Supreme Electoral Council on Sept. 2, pleaded guilty on Sept. 11 to homicidio en grado de frustración which appears to be second degree attempted murder, illegal possession of weapons, and exposure of persons to danger. He was sentenced to four years in prison. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 11)

During the celebration of the 36th anniversary of the National Police, President Daniel Ortega announced that more funding will be budgeted to strengthen public safety in Nicaragua. He added that the selfless sacrifice of the Police must be fully supported, because the institution is playing a key role in the building of a safe and prosperous Nicaragua for all. Speaking at the same event, Nicaragua Police Chief Aminta Granera, said the homicide rate in the country fell from 8.7 to 8.6 per 100,000 inhabitants during the last year. "This is the lowest homicide rate in Central America and third in all of Latin America. This year 78% of crimes reported were minor offenses, while just 5.9% were considered serious or extremely dangerous crimes," Granera said. She said 87 out of each 100 cases reported were solved and referred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution. "Police effectiveness has improved and public safety has been strengthened. We are proud of these achievements and we are committed to safeguard these positive results and continue to strengthen public safety in the country", the Police Chief said. (Nicaragua News, Sept. 10)

6. ENACAL expands street and public area lighting and free internet

Salvador Mansell, executive president of the National Electrical Transmission Company (ENACAL), announced that the plan for urban public space lighting and free internet will be expanded beginning this month in neighborhoods, sports fields, and 400 public schools and with free internet in the principal parks of the country.  In Managua, the project will include 3,000 energy-saving LED street lights on the principal streets and lighting for the 150 most populous neighborhoods, lighting for 81 parks and 25 sports parks. Four hundred schools, 129 regular and sports parks will receive free internet. ENACAL is replacing the sodium vapor street lights on the principal streets in Managua. One hundred employees are working on the expanded public lighting project. Departmental capitals will also receive new street lighting and the plan includes free internet in all 153 municipalities according to Mansell. The internet connections will have the capacity to serve 250 people at a time.

Apart from this program, access to electricity in rural areas continues to grow. In Palacaguina, 50 houses have been hooked up to the national grid and twenty houses the Los Amarguitos community in Pueblo Nuevo, Esteli, now also have access to electricity. (Informe Pastran, Sept. 10, 11; El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 10)

7. New street improvements forget pedestrians, including President Ortega

In a story that would be funny if it were not for the fact that 130 Nicaraguan pedestrians have lost their lives this year through the end of August, President Daniel Ortega experienced personally the lack of planning for foot traffic as Managua adds its infrastructure to “improve” traffic flows. When Ortega went to inaugurate a new overpass in the Rubenia district, it was discovered that no pedestrian crossings had been included in the project. After having to be helped across a concrete wall and jumping to the ground, the unamused president ordered city engineers to build pedestrian bridges within 90 days. Architect and city planner Orlando Rodriguez used the story to highlight what he believes to be a lack of strict rules governing new public and private construction and the need to take pedestrian safety into account. He also said that in order to reduce pedestrian deaths, there is a need for greater road safety education. In addition to poor pedestrian access, he faulted reckless walkers, inattentive drivers and the lack of clearly marked crosswalks as the sources of the fatalities. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 13)