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TORTILLA CON SAL a different focus - Nicaragua - un enfoque diferente News summary for June 24th 2008 by Karla Jacobs
Donor country representatives express "concern" about cancellation of parties legal status The ambassadors of the countries and international institutions that form part of the Budget Assistance Group (Denmark, Norway, Germany, Finland, Holland, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, the European Union, the World Bank and the Inter American Development Bank) issued a statement on June 20 expressing their "serious concerns" about the implications of the recent Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) decision to cancel the legal status of two political parties (the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) and the Conservative Party (PC) ). The in-country representatives of the Budget Assistance Group (which between loans and donations contributes US$500 million to Nicaragua's annual budget) instead of casting a shadow of doubt over the legality of the CSE decision questioned the effectiveness of Nicaragua's electoral legislation saying it leaves a "wide margin for interpretation." The donors went on to express their "fear" that the CSE decision implies the closing of democratic spaces and warned that such moves could put the financial support received by Nicaragua from the Budget Assistance Group at risk. Finally, the diplomats said they would be "closely observing the development of the situation." Referring to the foreign ambassadors' statement during a public event on June 21 President Daniel Ortega said "they think they have the right [to criticize the Nicaraguan authorities] because they give us a few measly handouts which they call aid, ... but which represents a tiny payment on the unpayable debt they have [with the countries of Africa, Latin America and Asia] ... These gentlemen should understand that [in Nicaragua] there is a dignified people, we are not like Judas, we are not going to be bought for 30 pieces of silver." Foreign Cooperation Secretary: donors should accept our agenda or leave During an interview broadcast on Channel 4 on June 23 the Foreign Cooperation Secretary Valdrak Jaentschke emphasized the importance of "two key words" in his explanation of the principles behind the Sandinista government's foreign cooperation policy; "dignity and sovereignty." Jaentschke said that it is only during the last few days that the profound differences between the international donor community and the Nicaraguan government have come to light, but that during the last year and a half the FSLN government has been consistent in its insistence on Nicaragua's right to demand unconditioned aid and loans, something the donor community has been unable to accept. According to Jaentschke, the donor community want the government to follow orders about how aid and loan money is spent, as previous neoliberal governments have done. The donor countries "have not been able to accept the substantial changes, the profound transformation in the way in which Nicaragua manages its external relations." Jaentschke went on to explain that the government's insistence on imposing its own agenda is based on the obvious failure of the foreign funded aid programs and other conditions imposed by foreign governments to reduce poverty levels within the country between 1990 and 2006. Referring to the statement issued by donor country representatives in which effectively the government was warned to toe the line or risk losing access to foreign aid (see story above) Jaentschke said "if they want to cut off [financial support] ... because we don't do as they say ... well they should cut it off." MRS continue to denounce CSE decision This week leaders and supporters of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) continued denouncing what the party considers the "illegal and arbitrary" Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) decision to cancel its legal status thus inhibiting the party from participating in the upcoming local elections. When on June 19 the Managua Appeals Tribunal (TAM) decided to investigate the MRS appeal against the CSE decision but failed to order the immediate overturning of the resolution to cancel the party's legal status, the MRS issued a statement claiming that it had been "confirmed once again that the judicial system, like the CSE and all other state institutions, is totally subordinated to the project which aims to progressively shut down democratic political spaces." On June 20 the MRS, the Conservative Party (PC), which also had its legal status cancelled) and a number of NGOs coordinated a protest march against the recent CSE resolution. Different press agencies estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 people took part in the march against what the organizers describe as Daniel Ortega's attempts to install an "institutional dictatorship" in the country. During her address to the crowd MRS founder Dora Maria Tellez called for unity among the forces opposed to Ortega's government. The objectives of the march were praised by Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) alliance candidate for Mayor of Managua Eduardo Montealegre who read a public letter of support for the MRS and the PC to the press earlier in the day. Controversy has grown around funding sources for opposition protests against the coalition government of the FSLN and its allies. A report by the centre-right Bolsa de Noticias concerning funding by the International Republican Institute for opposition activities was subsequently rejected in a letter by the IRI's Nicaraguan director as untrue. However, the web site of the opposition umbrella group Movimiento por Nicaragua lists among its funders not just the IRI but also the National Endowment for Democracy, USAID, the National Democratic Institute and the Open Society Institute among others. Government announces final offensive of literacy campaign: to eradicate illiteracy by 2009 On June 23 in commemoration of the 72st anniversary of Carlos Fonseca Amador's (founder of the FSLN) birth, President Daniel Ortega announced the final offensive of the ongoing National Literacy Campaign coordinated by his government. During a meeting with representatives of municipal and departamental commissions of the National Literacy Campaign from across the country, Ortega said that the final 13 month period of the campaign aims to eradicate illiteracy in Nicaragua by July 19 2009, the date which will mark the 30th anniversary of the triumph of the Popular Sandinista Revolution. Director of the campaign Mario Rivera explained that so far 170,000 Nicaraguans have learned to read and write thanks to the National Literacy Campaign, 71% of beneficiaries are between the ages of 15 and 30 and 70% are women. Rivera said he feels confident that the aim to benefit the estimated 500,000 illiterate people that remain in Nicaragua will be reached with the implementation of a strategy which contemplates an intense increase in the campaign's coverage over the next 13 months. Seizure of BANPRO CENIs bonds lifted On June 18 Judge Julio Cesar Arias lifted the court embargo on the CENIs bonds (Negotiable Investment Certificates) owned by the Bank of Production (BANPRO) after Special Prosecutor Armando Juarez ceded to the Central Bank President Antenor Rosales' request for such a measure to take place. It would appear that this move constitutes an attempt by the different state institutions involved in the complicated resolution of the CENIs case, to consolidate a unified position. Last week Rosales announced the renegotiation of the payment terms of the CENIs bonds held by BANPRO which significantly reduces the amount the government should pay out to BANPRO this year. On announcing his permission to lift the embargo Juarez confirmed, however, that the criminal investigation into the CENIs scandal continues and he and his team plan to make formal accusations against a number of former public officials and individuals in the near future. Nicaragua condemns European Union's new immigrant legislation The Nicaraguan Human RIghts Ombudsman Omar Cabezas, who is also the President of the Ibero American Ombudsman Federation (FIO), condemned the immigration Return Directive, a piece of legislation ratified by the Parliament of the European Union (EU) on June 18. Cabezas described the legislation, which sentences illegal immigrants to between 6 and 18 months in jail without trial, as "aberrant" and "fascist." He went on to describe the criminalization of immigration to be a "dangerous, unjust and mistaken political decision [which] ... violates fundamental human rights" of immigrants. President Daniel Ortega also condemned the legislation which he described as representing a form of "state terrorism." Similar condemnation of the legislation has been expressed by governments throughout Latin America during the last few days. Colombia at OAS: Nicaragua publicly supports "terrorists" The Colombian Ambassador at the Organization of American States (OAS) Camilo Ospina accused the Nicaraguan government of "publicly supporting terrorists" and being "apologists for terrorists" during declarations to the organization's Permanent Council on June 23. "It is necessary for me to denounce here the illegal activities of the Nicaraguan government which protects, promotes and openly apologizes for terrorist groups," said Ospina in reference to comments made recently by President Daniel Ortega concerning the aslyum his government awarded to two Colombians in May. Ortega's government awarded asylum to the Colombians Marta Perez and Doris Torres who survived the Colombian Army attack on a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) camp in Ecuador on March 1. The FARC is considered a terrorist organization by Colombia, the US and the European Union, although this classification is not shared by the majority of Latin American nations. The Nicaraguan Ambassador to the OAS Dennis Moncada responded to his Colombian counterpart's accusations by saying "we all know that our States have ... the faculty and the sovereignty to award aslyum to people [subject to] persecution, and we all know that States cannot protest against nor demand this right to aslyum [be denied], because [aslyum] is an internationally recognized human right." The dispute between the two nations surrounding the asylum awarded to Perez and Torres intensified this week when the two Colombians appeared with Daniel Ortega during a public act in Managua on June 19. PLC Executive Committee warn candidates not to criticize party leaders Twice in one week the National Executive Committee (CEN) of the second biggest party in Nicaragua, the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC), publicly warned its candidates for the upcoming municipal elections (scheduled to take place on November 9) not to criticize the party's leaders. On June 18 the CEN sent a letter to candidate for Managua's post of Vice Mayor, dissident PLC deputy Enrique Quiñonez, warning that if he continued to make public criticisms of the party's leader on his weekly radio program ("Crossfire" on Radio 15th of September) he would risk being replaced as the party's candidate. On June 23 the party's honorary president Arnoldo Aleman reiterated the warning, this time to all PLC alliance candidates for mayors, vice mayors and councellors, during a press conference. Also during the press conference Aleman presented a letter the CEN sent to PLC alliance candidate for the post of Mayor of Managua, Eduardo Montealegre. (former PLC member and government minister, now leader of the dissident liberal movement "Let's Go With Eduardo") in which Montealegre is advised to bring to an end any association he may have acquired with the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) and concentrate on strengthening unity within the PLC alliance. Pregnant twelve year old could die unless authorities permit therapeutic abortion A twelve year old girl who was raped and impregnated by her father is in intensive care at the "Bertha Calderon" Women's Hospital in Managua. According to the doctors attending her, who preferred not to be identified, a therapeutic abortion is necessary in order to save her life. They are wary to act, however, in order to avoid potential legal action being taken against them. The doctors responsible for the girl have sent a letter to the Ministry of the Family (MIFAMILIA) asking for instructions about how to proceed in this case. In Nicaragua "gynecologists and obstetricians work under immense pressure," said one doctor, "and in this sort of case we only act under direct orders" from the authorities. Since October 2006 therapeutic abortion is illegal in Nicaragua, even if a pregnancy threatens a woman's life. In October 2006, just days before the 2006 presidential elections the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua imposed the issue of therapeutic abortion on the national agenda. Ten days before the elections, the three main political parties (the FSLN, the PLC and the ALN) ratified the criminalization of therapeutic abortion making Nicaragua one of the only three countries in Latin America where abortion is not permitted under any circumstances. Bitter dispute over use of Mejia Godoys' songs On June 13 Carlos Mejia Godoy, composer of the majority of the most well known songs about the Nicaraguan revolutionary process during the 1970s and 80s, prohibitted the Sandinista Party (FSLN) from using his music during party or government events threatening to take legal action should his instructions not be obeyed. He did so in response to the Supreme Electoral Court (CSE) decision to cancel the legal status of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) (see second story). A few days later his brother Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy, who also composed numerous songs dedicated to the revolution, did the same. Both Carlos and Luis Enrique left the FSLN during the 1990s. In the 2006 elections Carlos ran as candidate for Vice President for the MRS party. The Mejia Godoys' songs, which include several anthems dedicated to the FSLN, form an integral part of the cultural content which defines the party's historical identity. During the last week numerous FSLN militants have expressed outrage at what they consider the songwriters' attempts to "privatize" works which have such enormous collective significance for Nicaraguan society. A bitter dispute between FSLN militants and the Mejia Godoy family and their supporters in the MRS has ensued. Social Security Institute fine permanent in country IMF commission The Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS) fined the permanent in-country commission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) C$20,000 (a little over US$1,000) for failing to allow its inspectors to carry out a routine audit of the obligatory social security payments the organization makes for its members of staff in Nicaragua. Executive President of the INSS Roberto Lopez explained that this was the second time in a row that the in-country IMF commission has prohibited INSS inspectors from carrying out the routine audit. This summary is based on publicly available Nicaraguan news and information media and original research. |
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