Nicaragua Network

1. More casualties in indigenous land struggle; Assembly lifts Brooklyn Rivera’s legislative immunity
2. Series of tremblers affects El Sauce and Achuapa
3. Praise for Ambassador Powers as she leaves
4. CID Gallup releases new poll
5. Food supply and agro-exports fine despite rumors
6. Malnutrition continues to decline
7. Housing fair exceeds expectations

1. More casualties in indigenous land struggle; Assembly lifts Brooklyn Rivera’s legislative immunity

Three Miskitos were wounded and another killed in the North Caribbean Autonomous Region last week in continued unrest over land invasions into indigenous territory. Among the wounded was Tasba Raya president Constantino Romel who was shot by police in an incident on Sept. 16 which is described in different ways. The statement from the National Police said that the Police and Army had set up a road block between Waspan and Francia Sirpi and that “At 10:30 pm, a grey pickup truck passed through the roadblock paying no attention to the signal to stop made by those at the roadblock and it fled from the area. Later, at 11:15 pm, that same vehicle returned through the roadblock, again paying no attention to the signal to stop, shooting and avoiding the roadblock at high speed.” The police explained that to protect the lives of the police officers involved they took several preventive shots; nevertheless, “the pickup fled with its tires blown out.” However, the indigenous party YATAMA stated that “a pickup truck that was coming from the community of Tasba Raya, municipality of Waspam, after delivering provisions of aid collected in Bilwi, was suddenly attacked by an Army unit on the highway out of Waspam.” For YATAMA, what happened was a coordinated ambush to kill its leaders. Along with Romel, Rosman Flores and Oguendio Peralta were also wounded.Since September 2, seven indigenous have died and 15 have been wounded.

There are several versions but few details about the death of Mario Lemans, a YATAMA leader on Sept. 14. La Prensa said that he died “in a confrontation between indigenous and colonizers on Sept. 14.” Nicaragua Hoy reported that “Government shock troops surrounded the headquarters of YATAMA and its radio station, shooting several leaders, including Leman who died several hours later.” Radio La Primerisima said that YATAMA leaders had cancelled the traditional Sept. 14 independence day student parade and called on supporters to attack anyone who came out to march. Informe Pastran said, “During an Independence Day parade, [at which the indigenous] demanded the removal of settlers, protesting that the government had not responded to their demands, a shot reached Mario Lemans, a YATAMA leader.”

In a surprise development on Monday, Sept. 21, the National Assembly lifted the legislative immunity of YATAMA Deputy Brooklyn Rivera after being presented with materials documenting sixteen cases of illegal sale of indigenous lands totaling 1,500 square kilometers in Miskito and Mayangna territories. Sandinista Deputy Edwin Castro said that the evidence had been gathered by a special committee formed by the government on Sept. 9 and that the committee would continue its investigations. Rivera denied the charges and asked Assembly leadership to create a legislative committee to investigate his case, saying that if there was proof then it should be brought before a court of law. His demand was supported by opposition Independent Liberal Party (PLI) Deputy Wilber Lopez who said that it was a human rights issue. After an intense debate, the Assembly vote was 62 to 22 to lift Rivera’s immunity. Castro said that the documents implicating Rivera included copies of illegal purchase agreements and implicated other YATAMA figures who composed what he called “bands of mafiosos who trafficked in the illegal sale of indigenous lands.” He said that in recent years the government had issued communal land titles to 23 indigenous territories, representing 301 communities with more than 200,000 people, on 37,000 square kilometers or 31% of national territory. [The sixteen cases of illegal land sales can be read here: http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/general/190664/asamblea-quita-inmunidad-a-rivera-por-vender-tierras-y-promover-caos]

Meanwhile, Elvin Castro, community judge of Francia Sirpi, said that the community had given the colonists one month to move out its territory adding, “If within one month they do not comply with this, then they will die.” He called on President Daniel Ortega to “send his military into the mountains and remove those settlers.” Four hundred indigenous families, about 2,400 people, live in Francia Sirpi but 1,000 of them have fled to Puerto Cabezas and 200 to Waspam because of the violence. Elvin Castro explained, “The colonizers come to destroy the forests that we have cared for such a long time, destroying the watersheds, the plants and the animals.” He added that “The government has supported the colonizers with firearms so that they can make problems.” Another community leader, Ramon Santis said, “We suspect that under this land there is uranium and silver and later they will bring to our communities all of the people that they will remove from their farms to build the canal.” [These indigenous lands are on the opposite side of the country from the canal and by law the land cannot be bought, sold, or given away.]

In Waspam, religious leaders including Moravian, Catholic, Anglican and other pastors, issued a communique on Sept. 17 which said, “We ask the local, regional and central government authorities to search for an immediate solution, opening space for dialogue to come to an agreement on a mechanism for saneamiento of the indigenous territories in accord with the Autonomy Law and the Law for the Demarcation and Titling of Indigenous Land.” [Saneamiento, removal of illegal settlers on indigenous land, is the fifth and final stage in the government’s process for indigenous communal land titling.]  (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 17, 18, 21; La Prensa, Sept. 16, 17, 19; Nicaragua Hoy, Sept. 18; Informe Pastran, Sept. 18, 21; Radio La Primerisima, Sept. 21)

2. Series of tremblers affects El Sauce and Achuapa

A series of earth tremblers has affected the municipalities of El Sauce and Achuapa over the past week, with the strongest reaching 4.9 on the Richter scale on Sept. 14 at 2:13 am. Government officials said that it would be necessary to demolish 166 homes in El Sauce because severe damage made them unsafe. A total of 524 houses in 22 communities were affected by the tremblers. Expert seismographers arrived from Cuba to join experts from El Salvador and Mexico assisting Nicaraguan scientists with the investigation into the causes of the series of quakes. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said that the government was building 400 temporary rooms to house families until their houses could be rebuilt or repaired. The government is also installing new seismic monitoring stations in El Sauce and Acuapa, a region that did not previously have them.

A national earthquake drill to prepare for a 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Masachapa took place on Sept. 22^nd at 10:00 in the morning. The call to participate came from President Daniel Ortega, the System for Prevention and Attention to Disasters (SINAPRED), and the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and was directed at churches, businesses, and schools. Government spokesperson Rosario Murillo said that the response had been “massive,” estimating that more than 1.5 million people participated in 140 municipalities. Murillo reported that the sirens in three towns failed to go off automatically and had to be operated manually. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 15, 16, 17, 21, 22; Informe Pastran, Sept. 17, 18, 21)

3. Praise for Ambassador Powers as she leaves

On Sept. 22, Nicaragua decorated outgoing US Ambassador Phyllis Powers with the Order of Jose de Marcoleta with Grand Cross for her diplomatic service which began in 2012. Foreign Minister Samuel Santos highlighted Powers support for Nicaragua’s fight against organized crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking and said that she had pushed for the final resolution of the property claim issue and helped obtain assistance from the US Department of Agriculture for Nicaragua’s small farmers.

The previous week was marked by media interviews and events and tributes from various sectors of Nicaraguan society and government, including a reception at the US ambassador’s home on Sept. 17 attended by a virtual “who’s who” of Nicaraguan society including government officials and political, business, and civil society leaders. On Sept. 16 the Nicaraguan-American Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon to honor Powers at which she said, “From the day I arrived, Nicaraguans have made me feel welcome wherever I have traveled. From the bottom of my heart, I thank the people of Nicaragua for their warmth, hospitality and kindness.” Speaking with journalists after the event, presidential economic adviser Bayardo Arce said that Powers worked to improve bilateral relations and was respectful of Nicaragua. Santos said, “She was able to correct errors that her predecessors had committed in communicating through the media. With her if we had something to say we communicated through diplomacy which is the correct way and respectful of Nicaragua. We still have a long way to go but we are on a very positive path.”

When asked by journalist Luis Galeano on Channel 23 television if the anti-imperialist speeches of Daniel Ortega bothered her, she replied, “There is a history of Nicaragua with the United States and I understand that; a history of the Marines who were in the waters off Bluefields [to overthrow Pres. Zelaya] and all the history that followed. But today, with the policies of Obama, we aren’t in that type of activity because it isn’t the epoch of the Monroe Doctrine.” On the subject of elections, she said, “The Nicaraguan people merit transparent elections, for their votes to count.” An interviewer from La Prensa asked her if the US was concerned about Chinese involvement in the proposed canal and she said “We are not worried. We also do business with China, a great deal. And they are involved with the ports in Panama and there is no problem.” (Informe Pastran, Sept. 16, 17; El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 16, 22)

4. CID Gallup releases new poll

CID Gallup Latinoamerica released its latest poll results on Sept. 16, which were published first in El Nuevo Diario. For the survey, 1,202 individuals were interviewed in urban and rural areas throughout the whole country with the exception of Corn Island. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8% and a confidence level of 95%.

Thirty-two percent of those polled said that their family’s economic situation was better than a year ago. The CID Gallup poll for May of this year reported that only 21% of those surveyed had that perception. Thirty-four percent said their situation was the same and 34% said that it was worse, compared to 46% in May. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed believe that the country is on the right track while 29% feel it is on the wrong track. Forty percent told CID Gallup that lack of jobs is the country’s principal problem while 35% said that the rise in prices was the major challenge and 13% said the drought was main problem.

On other issues, 55% said they believed crime and violence had increased while 22% said it had declined. Eighteen percent said that they had been a victim of crime, the same percentage as last year. Fifty-six percent said that they or a family member had been affected by either Chikungunya or dengue. In answer to questions about potable water, 56% said that they had water in their houses day and night; 22% said they had water either in the day or in the night; 14% said it came every other day; 4% every week, and 5% said that they did not have potable water. Sixty-two percent said that they knew there was financing in the banks for the purchase of housing while 30% said they thought there was no financing. With relation to Law 779 which protects women against violence, 37% said that they knew a lot about the law, 24% something, 29% a little and 10% nothing. However, 34% said that they believe the law has not helped at all while only 28% said it had helped a great deal.

Twenty-five percent of those polled said they were very interested in politics; 20% were somewhat interested; 29% were a little bit interested and 25% were not interested at all. Fifty-seven percent said that they sympathize with the Sandinista Party, 5% with the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC), 3% with the Independent Liberal Party (PLI), and 35% said they had no party preference. Of the country’s prominent political figures, First Lady and Communications Coordinator Rosario Murillo topped the list with 70% indicating they had a favorable opinion of her and 17% an unfavorable opinion. Next was her husband, President Daniel Ortega, with ratings of 65% favorable and 24% unfavorable opinions. Fifty percent said that Ortega will leave the country better than he found it and 18% said he would leave it worse off. However, a majority do not want him to leave soon with 54% saying that he should be reelected next year while 33% disagree. CID Gallup analysis of the results noted that programs such as Zero Hunger, Zero Usury, expanded electricity coverage, and assistance to flood and drought victims have contributed to Ortega’s favorable ratings. Seventy-four percent of those polled had valid voter registration cards while 34% said they had a great deal of confidence in the honesty of the electoral process, 13% some confidence, 22% little confidence and 25% no confidence. Forty-eight percent said they were very sure that they would vote in the 2016 elections while 22% were sure that they would not vote. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 16, 18, 19; Informe Pastran, Sept. 16, 17; Nicaragua News, Sept. 18)

5. Food supply and agro-exports fine despite rumors

The Association of Producers and Exporters (APEN) is confident that 2015 exports will be similar to the $2.7 billion in exports tallied in 2014 and that the second and third harvest seasons will make up for the losses in the first harvest. APEN said there is still a danger that the drought will be prolonged but that food security on a national level is not in danger. The government agrees and has not issued a state of emergency declaration. Michael Healey, president of the Union of Nicaraguan Agricultural Producers (UPANIC), criticized those who are spreading rumors of a supposed beans and corn shortage which could lead to speculation and increased prices. “It is not healthy that people walk around speculating on prices of beans and corn when we know the government can import them and lower prices.” He explained that while the drought has impacted some municipalities in the dry corridor, there are other areas of the country where it has been raining and farmers are planting and covering the national market. (Informe Pastran, Sept. 17, 21)

6. Malnutrition continues to decline

In the last year, serious malnutrition among children was reduced by more than a quarter from 8.9% to 6.9% in the dry corridor on the Pacific side of the country as revealed by a door-to-door nutrition survey in the 37 municipalities that make up the corridor. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said, “We have made substantive improvements, but as long as there is malnutrition in Nicaragua we will not rest and we will be responsibly engaged in ensuring [the continuation of] these family and child nutrition programs, including the school meal programs and others that help improve children’s health all over the country, not only in the dry corridor.” (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 21; El Digital 19, Sept. 21)

7. Housing fair exceeds expectations

The 20^th National Housing Fair drew 54 companies selling new homes and, as in past fairs, visitors showed the most interest in low-cost homes with prices up to US$32,000 that qualify for a 2.5% government subsidized reduction in the interest rates on their mortgages. Agents for housing projects in a number of urban areas reported a higher than expected number of sales contracts written during the three day fair. Kathya Mendoza said that 18 homes, ranging from US$17,000 to US$37,000, were reserved in the two developments being built by the company she represents. Social Housing Law 677 was passed to enable teachers, police, firefighters, and other workers in lower paid occupations to become homeowners. The law has led to a housing construction boom in the country and has even increased the sales of homes that don’t qualify for the subsidy.  Projections are that 4,500 new homes, the majority subsidized, will be purchased in 2015. (El Nuevo Diario, Sept. 19, 21)