cries@mtxinu.COM (09/14/89)
/* Written 5:36 pm Sep 12, 1989 by cries in ni:cries.regionews */
/* ---------- "Nica Campaign: Funds, other aspect" ---------- */
FUNDS AND MORE FUNDS
(cries.regionews from Managua September 12, 1989
158lines 7404 bytes)
On September 5, the National Assembly approved a budget for
the 1989-90 electoral process. Almost 2700 million cordobas
(approx. US$10.6 million) will be taken from the nation's
coffers to finance the elections. The Supreme Electoral
Council (CSE) has estimated that a total of $25 million is
necessary.
Of the figure approved by the Nicaraguan parliament, 17.4
million cordobas ($695,000) is for use in the campaigns of
all the parties and coalitions that run.
The amount allotted for campaigning was sharply criticized
by opposition parties represented in the Assembly. In
particular, the Democratic Conservative Party (PCD), whch
claims to need $2 million for its own campaign, raised
objections. PCD deputy Enrique Sotelo lamented, "It's like
being invited to a party when there's not even enough to pay
for the music." An FSLN deputy told opposition members to
"ask for foreign aid."
Some in the opposition will receive financing from US-based
organizations linked to the National Endowment for Democracy
(NED). According to a New York Times report, the National
Democratic Institute has budgeted over $1 million to support
anti-Sandinista forces. A breakdown of that amount has
$500,000 going to aid democratic and civic political
organizations, $550,000 for communications activities,
$200,000 for opinion polls, and $35,000 for international
observation. Since organizations such as Via Civica are
essentially front groups for opposition parties, it can be
assumed that so of the funds they receive will wind up in
the campaign war chests of the candidates even though this
violates the norms of NED procedure.
This quasi-governmental body is supposed to promote
"democracy" in the general sense and not work to support the
election a particular candidate or party. That would be seen
for what it is, direct US intervention in the domestic
affairs of a country.
Despite that, however, a possibility exists tht the US
government may make an exception to the rules and authorize
the disbursement of an additional $3 million for NED work in
Nicaragua. (The sum of $3 million was approved earlier this
year for other NED-Nicaraguan activities.) This new money
would go to help finance the presidential campaign of
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. Initial reaction by Sandinistas
to the news was reserved. An article in the September 10
FSLN daily Barricada simply noted that according to law,
half of all donations to political forces running in the
elections is to go into a fund managed by the Supreme
Electoral Council (CSE). The money will be divided between
all the contending parties to help defray their campaign
costs.
The National Opposition Union (UNO) is expecting to receive
substantial sums for its electoral battle against the
Sandinistas according to its campaign manager, Antonio
Lacayo, son-in-law of UNO presidential candidate Chamorro.
When asked by La Prensa about resources for the election
campaign, Lacayo stated, "We have been offered large amounts
by the international community and by the friends of
democracy for this campaign and afterwards, for the
reconstruction of Nicaragua."
NICARAGUAN CAMPAIGN TRAIL 1989-90
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Mariano Fiallos Oyanguren is the president of the Supreme
Electoral Council (CSE), the body in charge of overseeing
the election process in Nicaragua. The five-member CSE has
the task of orgainizing many of the logistical aspects of
the campaign period, the registration of voters, and the
voting itself on February 25, 1990. In an interview
published in the September 1 FSLN daily Barricada, Fiallos
talked about some of these aspects.
Financing the elections
"The funds will come from the national budget with donations
and tax monies being put into the electoral budget. To the
degree that we receive foreign financing, the amount which
comes from taxes will be reduced."
Foreign financing so far
The CSE estimated that $25 million would be necessary for
the elections. As of the beginning of September, $3.5
million or 14% of that had been received from foreign donors
interested in seeing a fair and full electoral contest.
For computer equipment, West Germany and Spain gave $1.6
million and $250,000 respectively. Sweden donated $595,000
for technical assistance, equipment, and other materials.
Finland came up with $685,000 for paper. Switzerland sent
$150,000 for computer equipment and paper. Canada chipped in
$40,000. And the US-based groups Quest for Peace/Quixote
Center and Nicaragua Network donated $250,000 for pens,
pencils, and felt markers.
Election costs
"The operations that will eat up most of the budget are the
registration of citizens to vote and the voting itself. For
the registration, 50,000 Nicaraguans have to be mobilized to
staff the 1393 polling stations for the first four Sundays
in October. As well, as a result of the agreements made at
the all-party dialogue [August 3-4], we also have the
responsibility of mobilizing and paying travel expenses for
the parties' poll watchers, estimated at between 20 and
30,000, in addition to the 50,000 citizens who will be
working as officers of the CSE."
Prevention of voting twice
"The voting has to be done in the same neighborhood in which
the citizen registers. This means that everyone has to
register in their neighborhood, in front of their neighbors
and the scrutineers from t political parties. No one can
vote anywhere but the same place where they registered.
"On the document to be given to citizens who register there
will be a seal, a stamp, which will make it useless for
voting tce. As well, indelible ink will be used with the
additional guarantee that the finger will first be cleaned
with acetone in order to prevent some tricks which have
occured in other countries where people put grease or
vaseline on their finger so that the ink can't penetrate."
Observers
"The CSE, the Foreign Ministry, and the political parties
through the CSE can invite and accredit observers whose
functions are the following: observe, see what's happening,
inform themselves, and draft a report for the organizations
they belong to in line with the agreements that those bodies
have made with the CSE and the government.
"There will two kinds of observers. Official ones are those
who belong to the teams sent by the United Nations and the
Organization of American States. Accredited ones are those
that belong to delegations sent by governments, political
parties, and other non-governmental organizations that may
come. As well, anyone else who is interested and journalists
can come so long as they meet the requirements of the
Immigration Department. These will not be considered
official observers. Some observers will come by agreements
made with international bodies and others will be invitees."
(We encourage feedback. Send comments, suggestions, etc. to
us via e-mail. Address cdp!ni!cries)
---
Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange
-=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-