TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009
Nicaragua Network Hotline (September 15, 2009)
1. Important agricultural areas affected by El Niño; UN official says Nicaragua is vulnerable2. Preparations underway for Atlantic Coast elections in March 2010
3. Nicaraguan Army celebrates 30th anniversary of its founding
4. Human Rights Ombudsman pledges support for LGBT community
5. Miguel D'Escoto's term at UN ends
Topic 1: Important agricultural areas affected by El Niño; UN official says Nicaragua is vulnerable
The El Niño weather phenomenon is seriously threatening important agricultural zones in Western Nicaragua. Alvaro Fiallos, president of the Union of Small and Medium Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG) said that they have an adequate supply of fertilizer and the land has been plowed but, “not a drop of water has fallen and I think that indicates the dry season has returned early.” Manuel Alvarez, president of the Union of Nicaraguan Agro-Producers (UPANIC) said that a drought threatens cattle ranching's principal grazing land. He claimed that the government had no plan to address a food crisis.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAGFOR) stated that it has installed monitors throughout the country to determine the impact of El Niño and that the first results will be available in about a week. Vice-Minister Benjamin Dixon explained that they are analyzing “more thoroughly to what extent (the drought) can affect production” mainly the planting for the second of three annual harvests that was recently begun. Fiallos expressed the hope of agricultural producers that during the last month of the rainy season, October, “some rain will fall” so the cultivated fields will grow. MAGFOR Minister Ariel Bucardo said the government is sticking with its projection that agricultural production will increase 5% this year, “but, if the drought is prolonged, it will indisputably be a blow,” he said.
Olivier De Schetter, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, who is visiting Nicaragua, said that El Niño will bring severe drought, the effects of which will be seen between January and March of 2010. He stated, “I believe that Nicaragua finds itself in an extremely difficult situation; not as bad as that of Guatemala or Haiti but close to the situation of those countries and there is no time to lose.” He said that donor countries should be flexible with their aid related to food so as not to impact those Nicaraguans who live on US$2 a day or less. De Schutter said he was impressed with the government programs in the area of food security, especially with Zero Hunger, but said that “they should be carried out in a more transparent manner and be as inclusive as possible.” He suggested that the programs be “institutionalized” under the new law on food security in order to avoid accusations of political favoritism.
Topic 2: Preparations underway for Atlantic Coast elections in March 2010
Four alliances and three parties have registered to participate in the elections for the regional councils (45 members each) of Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) and the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS). The elections are scheduled for March 7, 2010. The alliances (which include a total of 14 parties) are headed by the Sandinista Party (FSLN), the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC), the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN), and the Alliance for the Republic (APRE). The only parties with significant support on the Caribbean Coast are the FSLN, YATAMA, and the PLC. The FSLN/YATAMA alliance currently controls the RAAN and the PLC controls the RAAS. The Caribbean Coast has 250,000 eligible voters. The population is composed of a number of ethnic groups, including Miskitos, mestizos, Creoles, Ramas, Mayangnas, and Garifunas.
According to Jose Benito Bravo, also known as “Comandante Mack,” the Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN), composed of former contras, will run in alliance with the Sandinista Party “because we want poor people, the least favored, to have the opportunity to have a better Nicaragua in which our children receive education in peace and harmony.” He said that, in spite of the economic situation, the government had made enormous efforts to benefit Nicaraguans. He added that he expected the alliance to last longer than the election campaign, saying “We want to participate in the prosperity of this nation, taking it to a position that benefits us.” “The conflicts out in the countryside are small,” he said, adding “It's in Managua where there are the big battles in the media, but we are working on reconciliation.” Julio Cesar Blandon, known as Comandante Kaliman, praised the titling of land for the demobilized, an issue that “during the neo-liberal governments brought us to fighting among ourselves.”
Meanwhile, the Miskito Council of Elders, which has declared independence in April and formed the Government of the Communitarian Nation of Moskitia announced that they will not accept the regional elections. They presented a document at the offices of the Sandinista Party in Managua which explained that their system of government goes back before the “forced” annexation by Nicaragua “to a kingdom that lasted from 1630 to 1840 and then under a British protectorate until 1894.” Miskito participation in the March vote will be an indicator of how much support there is for the independence movement.
Topic 3: Nicaraguan Army celebrates 30th anniversary of its founding
Twelve thousand soldiers from all of the branches of the armed forces (infantry, naval and air) participated in the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan Army, known at the time as the Sandinista Popular Army. The head of the Army, General Omar Hallesleven, a former Sandinista guerrilla fighter, was decorated by the National Assembly with the Pedro Joaquin Chamorro National Order of Liberty in recognition of his defense of democracy and public liberties. President Ortega gave him the Defense of National Sovereignty Gold Medal.
In his speech, Halleslevens emphasized the efforts of the armed forces to become more professional, to respond to the needs of the population at times of natural disasters, and to take a leading role at the regional level in the fight against organized crime and international drug trafficking. In his 50 minute speech, Ortega demanded that the Army of Honduras “respond to the interests of the people” of Honduras and “reverse the military coup d'état” that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya in June. He said that US President Barak Obama says he wants respectful relationships with the Latin American countries “and how we would like to see those words made reality, but we know that it is not easy for him to put that into practice.” Ortega denounced the agreement signed by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe with the United States “to turn over his territory [seven military bases] for use by the US.” He emphasized that conflict in Colombia which can only be resolved by dialogue. “Our advice for President Uribe is to take the route of negotiation to end the war which has historical, political, social and economic origins,” Ortega said.
Topic 5: Human Rights Ombudsman pledges support for LGBT community
Human Rights Ombudsman Omar Cabezas promised to struggle for respect for the human and labor rights of gays and to end discrimination against them during the 2nd Central American Sexual Diversity Conference last week. Leaders of the LGBT community discussed their problems during the three day conference while seeking consensus demands to present to the governments of the region. Strengthening alliances and asserting rights was the theme of the event organized with assistance from FORUM-SYD, the Norwegian Embassy, the Fund for Equal Sexual and Reproductive Rights, and the Center for International Studies.
The results of the study, “A Look at Sexual Diversity in Nicaragua” were presented. The study showed that one in four Nicaraguans with non-heterosexual preferences are not accepted by their parents and one in three are not accepted by their siblings. One hundred percent of respondents in the study reported suffering discrimination in grade schools, high schools and universities and, while Nicaragua does not begin to compete with the violence against gays in Honduras and Guatemala, eight transsexuals have been murdered in the last five years. Some reported as well that they face discrimination in society and the church, not only in Nicaragua, but throughout Central America.
Although in Nicaragua there have been advances in legal recognition and decriminalization of sexual differences, the reality is that the consciousness of individuals in society must be changed, attendees said. Marvin Mayorga Norori, a member of the Initiative for Human Rights for Sexual Diversity, emphasized that LGBT issues are getting better coverage in the mass media and that “we are looking for political endorsement by civil society and the Central American governments.” He also asked church hierarchies “who automatically call us sinners” to respect the secular State and “not interfere in the decisions that affect us.”
Topic 6: Miguel D'Escoto's term at UN ends
September 13 marked the end of his one year term as President of the UN General Assembly for Fr. Miguel D'Escoto, foreign minister under the first Sandinista government. D'Escoto, reflecting on his UN service, said, “I am content but not satisfied because we had wanted to do more, but we should be clear that possibly no presidency in the history of the United Nations has done more.” He said that the lack of response to the great problems of the world, where half the population is marginalized and denied all the benefits and advances to eradicate poverty and end hunger, is inexcusable.
D'Escoto said that as president of the General Assembly he acted at all times as a disciple of Jesus and a militant of the Sandinista Front because President Daniel Ortega sent him to the UN to give testimony to the values that inspired the Sandinista Popular Revolution. He said that this, at times, created problems with those who have always manipulated power to impose themselves on the weak. He said that the most important achievement of this past year was “The declaration by the G192 [all the member countries of the UN] that the General Assembly is the only legitimate place to deal with the world's financial, economic, commercial and monetary architecture problems, that is, the problems that are global.”
“I believe in the UN's potential, but the people don't believe in the UN. When I assumed the presidency, its level of acceptance was the lowest in history and now that I am leaving that acceptance has grown considerably, but it is not enough.” He said the UN must be “reinvented.” “Many of the most important and influential member states don't believe now and never have believed in the importance of law in international relations. They have always believed in the law of the jungle and ‘might makes right' and they assume that fulfilling commitments [to treaties and covenants] is something reserved exclusively for weak nations.” He called capitalism “by definition, killing.” He said, “I don't believe in saying ‘savage' capitalism because that makes one think there is one that is not savage.”
D'Escoto said that two items that are carrying over to the new session are Colombia, where he called for a Truth Commission to learn the true situation there and to determine “who are the allies of the narco-traffickers and paramilitaries” and Honduras, where the coup government remains in power in defiance of world opinion. He said that other important matters pending at the UN are the Israeli attacks on and continuing blockade of Gaza and the international financial crisis.
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