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 **