rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (06/26/91)
/** reg.nicaragua: 128.0 **/ ** Topic: 6/21 NICANET HOTLINE ** ** Written 1:22 pm Jun 21, 1991 by nicanet in cdp:reg.nicaragua ** NICARAGUA NETWORK HOTLINE ** 202-544-9360 June 21, 1991 You have reached the Nicaragua Network Hotline recorded Thursday, June 21, 1991. To reach our office, call: 202-544-9355. This is our second bulletin about the UNO assault on property rights laws passed under the Sandinistas which has precipitated the gravest crisis in Nicaragua since the transition of government. We will update this hotline as quickly as we get new information. If you did not get to hear our regular hotline this week, send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please specify that it is the June 18 hotline that you want. This hotline will begin with the latest information we have and will be followed by our June 20 update. The bill to repeal the property rights laws has been referred to the Laws and Justice Committee of the National Assembly. That committee is made up of only UNO delegates since the FSLN is on walk out. An UNO spokesperson said they will wait 2-3 weeks until the national dialogue talks make some decisions about privatization. They will use that as a basis for their recommendations to the full National Assembly. This is an attempt to buy time and to blackmail the national dialogue participants. The right is also trying to stir up a popular reaction against the FSLN with respect to what is being called "La Pinata." The press in the US, what little there has been, is also promoting the idea that repeal of these laws will simply effect property the Sandinistas supposedly assigned to themselves before turning over the government. Daniel Ortega and Jaime Wheelock, both members of the FSLN National Directorate, made a presentation to the diplomatic corp detailing exactly what the process was in the last 10 years of assigning property, the land reform, houses, and plots. Wheelock pointed out that in the period from February 26 to April 25, 1990, the Ministry of Agrarian Reform gave out 10,000 titles that legalized 7.5 million mazanas of land, most of which had been previously promised; some of which constituted special cases. 70% of these titles went to cooperatives and 30% to individual owners. 98% of these titles formalized land ownership for thousands of families who had benefited from the agrarian reform. He rejected the claim that only Sandinistas have benefited from the delivery of titles to land and reminded that the UNO government has committed itself to continue the process of turning over land titles initiated by the Sansinista government. Minister of the Presidency Antonio Lacayo was out of the country when the right wing made its move. He returned and on Thursday held what was described as very deep discussions with some members of the National Directorate. Violeta Chamorro reportedly also went on television to appeal to the National Assembly not to rescind the laws. Contrary to what the UNO people say, they really are not talking about a simple modification of the laws. This is an attempt to begin dismantling the Transition Protocol agreements. The FSLN and the popular organizations are committed to a peaceful struggle. Father Miquel D'Escoto, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Front for Popular Struggle, has repeatedly called for non-violent, peaceful resolutions to these national challenges. As the crisis deepens they are stopping at each stage to negotiate a peaceful solution. But, the situation is very tense. People are agitated. Bombs have gone off in front of the houses of some UNO deputies, Radio Ya the Sandinista station, and in other parts of the country. The FSLN has compromised and worked for national dialogue and reconciliation since handing over the government. But issues of property, and leadership of the army and police are fundamental issues over which the war of liberation against the Somoza dictatorship and the war against US-backed contras were fought. The National Assembly action has provoked a very strong reaction on the part of the people. This is one of the most heartfelt issues. The people do not want them to touch these laws, nor will they let them. The FSLN is trying to encourage the government to take measures to put a stop to this. If the Mayor's offices and banks had issued the land titles when they were supposed to this issue would not be so extreme. The FSLN is encouraging the government to hand over titles now to avoid having this situation escalate even further. ** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **