jon@kracken.uci.com (Jon Harder) (06/18/91)
During the Gulf crisis the U.S. administration cited the importance of
international law. Since the war, the U.S. is using a United Nations
resolution to demand that Iraq pay Kuwait war reparations. At the
same time the U.S. refuses to pay reparations to Nicaragua for the
decade-long contra war.
In 1986 the World Court found the U.S. had violated international law
by funding and directing the contra war. The two parties were
directed to meet to determine the amount owed and the U.S. was ordered
to pay reparations. Nicaragua documented $12 billion in damages, but
the U.S. refuses to meet to discuss reparations.
In 1990, the Bush administration gave strong backing to the opposition
Chamorro party in Nicaraguan elections. When Chamorro won, $541
million in aid for 1990/91 was promised. However, the aid has been
slow to reach Nicaragua due to its failure to toe the U.S. line on
internal economic affairs and to drop the World Court case.
Now is the time to urge the Bush administration to meet with the
Nicaraguan government and fully abide by the letter and spirit of the
1986 World Court ruling in paying war reparations.
[From the Mennonite May-June Washington Memo.]