Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site flairvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!decvax!decwrl!flairvax!baba
From: baba@flairvax.UUCP (Baba ROM DOS)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Nicaragua
Message-ID: <772@flairvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 29-Sep-84 03:48:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: flairvax.772
Posted: Sat Sep 29 03:48:15 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 1-Oct-84 04:34:17 EDT
References: <3590@decwrl.UUCP>, <502@tty3b.UUCP>, <157@ttidcb.UUCP>
Organization: Fairchild AI Lab, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 34

(A friend of mine has been working in Honduras and Costa Rica for the last 
 few years, and has traveled in Sandinist Nicaragua.  Thought I'd pass along 
 some of his observations in my own words based our conversations.)

The Sandinist revolution in Nicaragua was remarkably broad-based and popular,
and was generally supported by the people of the surrounding countries. There
is no question of the legitimacy of the Sandinist government.

Many Nicaraguans are unhappy with the turn of events since the revolution.
The political base of the government narrowed to the left, and "Danielito"
Ortega has been taking on strongman trappings.  The influence and privilege 
of the Cubans is resented, though the Cuban aid in reconstruction is generally 
appreciated.  The quality of life has never recovered from the revolution.  
There are shortages of food and jobs.  The anti-religious bent of the government
(despite the presence of a priest in the directorate) bothers the more devout, 
especially in rural areas, where support for the Contras is stronger than most 
press reports would indicate.  This is not to say that the Sandinistas would
necessarily loose a fair election, but they have cause to fear one.

The Miskito Indians of the Atlantic coast, who speak an English dialect and 
who have remained culturally distinct, are regarded with suspicion by the
Sandinistas.  The Miskitos resent the government's (Spanish) literacy 
campaigns and attempts to organize them into co-operatives.  The Sandinistas 
fear a Miskito revolt and/or independence movement as much as they fear the
Contras.  There have been forced relocations ("out of combat zones") and 
political repression, though not necessarily on a genocidal scale.

Hondurans and Costa Ricans are alarmed by Nicaragua's militarization.
Nicaragua has about as many men under arms as Mexico, a country with
20 times Nicaragua's population.

(BTW, My friend is teacher and former Peace Corps volunteer and is opposed to
 almost every facet of Reagan's foreign policy *except* in Central America!)