Nicanet - The Nicaragua Network

Nicaragua Network Hotlines for November 2, 2006

News topics covered in this Hotline include:


Topic 1: Members of US Congress Interfere While Others Denounce Interference

On the eve of the presidential campaign cut-off, four right-wing Republican congressmen warned Nicaraguan voters that there would be dire consequences if they elect former President Daniel Ortega to the presidency on Sunday November 5. Two other members called U.S. intervention unacceptable.

Rep. Dan Rohrabacher (R-CA), in a letter asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff "to prepare in accordance with U.S. law, contingency plans to block any further money remittances from being sent to Nicaragua in the event that the FSLN enters government." Many Nicaraguan families rely on money sent home from relatives working in the United States. Even though Rohrabacher's statement is total "muscle flexing" according to an expert on remittances at the InterAmerican Dialogue, who pointed out that the US hasn't even cut off remittances to Cuba, some Nicaraguans may cast their vote out of fear. Congressmen Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Ed Royce (R-CA) and Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) wrote variously to Nicaragua's US Ambassador and Condoleezza Rice threatening actions if Nicaraguans vote wrong. All their threats, of course, reverberate in Nicaragua where US Ambassador Paul Trivelli has intervened so loudly that even the usually quiescent Organization of American States has condemned US interference.

Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), in a press release Wednesday said, "It is simply unacceptable for American officials to pretend our government will take punitive measures if Daniel Ortega is elected president in Nicaragua," Serrano said. He went on, “I urge them to withdraw their statements, and cease support for any particular outcome in this contest.” Serrano added, "I also view as inappropriate the thinly-veiled economic threats that Secretary [of Commerce Carlos] Gutierrez made in recent days. Our trade with Nicaragua will be unharmed by the election of either candidate, contrary to what he asserted. The Secretary should not try to influence foreign elections with his statements."

The Nicaragua Network sent a Spanish translation of Congressman Serrano’s press release to numerous Nicaraguan media outlets and even read the release live on one Managua radio station.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) said, "Our nation's commitment to democracy means that our government has a solemn obligation to remain neutral in matters regarding the sovereignty and elections of other countries, especially in the western hemisphere, given our history in the region. No individual lawmaker has the right or the authority to suggest that our government will interfere with the elections of one of our neighbors."

The harshest words of criticism for U.S. intervention in Nicaragua came from Ortega’s running-mate, Jaime Morales, who was a contra leader in the 1980s. He categorized the proposal to block the vital money transfers as, "inhuman, despicable and fascist." Morales said he anticipated the US people themselves would not accept Rohrabacher’s plan, just as he expected recent interventions by Oliver North and Florida Governor Jeb Bush would be roundly rejected by US society, “because they violate universally-recognized human rights and run counter to the very principles of that nation.” Edmundo Jarquin, the Sandinista Renovation Movement Candidate, condemned intervention “by whatever country” referring to the US and Venezuela, seemingly not wanting to differentiate between Venezuela’s oil and fertilizer deals and the US’s threats.

Midnight Wednesday marked the end of the campaign in advance of Sunday's election. Candidates and campaigns are legally required to refrain from any further political acts in the campaign. The Nicaragua Network will receive late night election information on Sunday and will release what we know early on Monday.

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Topic 2: IDB and IMF Will Support New Government, “of Whatever Stripe”

Mirna Liévano de Marques, representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Nicaragua, announced that her organization would continue to support the country, “whoever wins the coming elections.” “Next Sunday’s decision is entirely up to the Nicaraguan people,” she said. “The IDB fully expects to continue to be present supporting the development of the country no matter what. It’s our job as a bank to back whatever decision the Nicaraguan people take. We’ve been in Latin America for 45 years now and we’ve seen all kinds of governments come and go.” She revealed that the IDB had earmarked some US$100 to US$120 million for Nicaragua for the coming year, “which will be available to whichever government comes into office.”

The IDB position was echoed by that of Humberto Arbulú, representing the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “In the past, the IMF has worked with governments of the Left without the slightest problem,” he said. “We have no objection to the economic plan designed by the Sandinista Front. It is this plan that we are required to evaluate, not the ideological principles of any particular government.” In the 1980s, of course, the IMF withdrew support from Nicaragua at the behest of the US. It is good to hear that they won't repeat that outrage.

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Topic 3: Candidates Get in Their Final Campaign Licks

ADeclaring that, “God does not want a society divided between the rich and the poor,” Daniel Ortega asked his followers to join him in making Nicaragua, “an example to the world of reconciliation, work and peace.” Calling for a “spiritual revolution”, the former president said, “Today more than ever we must fill ourselves with the greatest spiritual fortitude, asking God daily for the patience and intelligence necessary to avoid confrontation with those who seek to provoke us in these last days before the elections. No matter how confrontational they are, let’s make sure no single insult, no aggressive word issues from our lips. What’s at stake here is not just a change of government, of economic policy. It’s a matter of conscience, of the spirit, of making a spiritual revolution.”

Meantime, his primary Liberal rivals, Eduardo Montealegre and Jose Rizo, found themselves ensnared in an ever-more complex web of smear and counter-smear, charge and counter-charge. Scything into Montealegre, Rizo stated that, once in the presidential office, he would investigate the “great savings bonds scandal” in which Montealegre was implicated when he was finance minister under Arnoldo Aleman. “You can be sure that the guilty parties will find themselves in jail, no matter who they may be,” he concluded.

Turning on President Bolaños, US Ambassador Paul Trivelli and Daniel Ortega, he accused the two former of preparing to call “fraud” if the Bolaños and US candidate, Montealegre, should lose. “This is a desperate ploy by the President because he knows his man has already lost,” he went on. “Better that Señor Montealegre resign right now, to allow all true Liberals to unite behind my candidacy and so assure the defeat of the FSLN.” As for Ortega, Rizo demanded, “Why hasn’t he responded to the 23,000 claims of violation of human rights under his government? Why did he start the war? How does he account for the US$11 billion deficit he left as foreign debt in 1990?”

In perhaps the most carefully-orchestrated piece of skullduggery, someone printed and distributed an estimated 150,000 leaflets purporting to be Montealegre declaring his imminent resignation from the electoral race. At the same time, another seemingly well-founded rumor went the rounds that Rizo’s running mate, Jose Alvarado, was about to resign from the Constitutional Liberal Party ticket and take his followers into the Montealegre camp.

Montealegre ended the campaign strenuously re-affirming his commitment to not only wipe out Rizo, “but Ortega too” and with Alvarado still at Rizo’s side. There was, however, a new call from a group of influential Nicaraguans resident in the US, asking Rizo himself to step aside, “as his sacrifice for democracy” – this time to clear the field for Montealegre.

In his closing remarks, MRS candidate Edmundo Jarquín said that “a nation without children working or begging in the streets, without domestic violence was possible.” He added that it the goal of paying decent salaries to teachers, nurses and police officers was realizable.

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Topic 4: CSE President Rivas Accuses Government of “Trying to Stir Up Chaos”

The President of the Supreme Electoral Council, Roberto Rivas, claimed that “there are powerful invisible forces at work” which, together with the Bolaños government may well be planning to cause a situation of chaos on election day. He said that on election day, “anything could happen: from observers denouncing electoral fraud, through power cuts just at crucial data transfer times, even to power surges beamed down from satellites to take out emergency generators.” “Even without all this,” he went on, “what concerns us most is that President Bolaños himself is ‘heating up’ the electoral climate, apparently to cast doubt on the whole process which we assure you will be carried through with complete transparency and excellent organization.”

He went on, “It’s most interesting that the electoral climate is not being stirred by political organizations, or by street demonstrations, or by the electoral organization, but rather by the attitude and interference of the Executive. For example, the administration is already talking about recounts and vote challenges, before a single vote has been cast. This seems very dangerous and points to an invisible hand behind the scenes manipulating the process.”

Rivas discounted any possibility of fraud, claiming that this election will have more observers present than even the elections of 1990, when the FSLN lost to Violeta Chamorro and the US-backed United National Opposition coalition. “If you believe there can be fraud with several observers in every polling place then you must believe the observers themselves are party to such action and want a particular candidate to win.”

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Topic 5: Reactions to National Assembly’s Criminalizing Therapeutic Abortion

TheReaction to the National Assembly's 52-0 (out of 93) vote to remove the more than 100 year old law protecting abortion when the life or health of the mother is in danger, continued this past week. Some 20 national associations of medical doctors were joined by representatives of both the Pan-American and World Health organizations in demanding that the Assembly members re-examine the matter with urgency, claiming that their action would result in a 60% increase in the number of deaths among mothers giving birth, currently standing at 83.4 per 100,000 live children born.

“Every year the Health Ministry records about 600 ectopic pregnancies (when the fetus is implanted outside the womb),” said Matilde Jirón, a doctor specializing in reproductive health. “To that number, you have to add about 400 molar pregnancies (when the placenta grows tumors). In both these cases, therapeutic abortion is absolutely necessary to save the mother’s life. Between 10 and 15% of pregnancies miscarry naturally, but many of the remainder come to us bleeding or with other problems associated with their pregnancies. To staunch the blood may affect the fetus. To leave the mother to bleed may kill both her and her child. Tell me, what are doctors to do? This Assembly has sent women to the guillotine. It must reconsider its position urgently.”

The deputies were particularly criticized because, due to the extraordinary haste with which the measure was pushed through the Assembly, they made little or no attempt to consult with the wider community or with relevant scientific opinion. Liberal deputy, Wilfredo Navarro, dismissed as “interference by countries where licentiousness rules,” a letter sent to the Assembly from international groups working in reproductive health. In common with national organizations of women and others, the letter again urged that consideration of the matter be delayed until after the elections “to avoid it becoming politicized.”

Marcos Carmona, Director of the Permanent Commission for Human Rights declared that access to therapeutic abortion was an universally accepted principle that transcended cultural differences; and that it was, “entirely in keeping with the necessities, position, conditions and realities of the vast majority of Nicaraguan women,” a position echoed by the US-based Human Rights Watch. For their part, women’s organizations quickly began picketing the campaign headquarters of the four political parties that supported the measure and swore to challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court of Justice and, if necessary, the Central American Human Rights Commission.

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This hotline is prepared from the Nicaragua News Service and other sources. To receive a more extensive weekly summary of the news from Nicaragua by e-mail or postal service, send a check for $60.00 to Nicaragua Network, 1247 E St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. We can be reached by phone at 202-544-9355.