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!)