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| Central American University - UCA |
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Number 130 | Mayo 1992 |
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Nicaragua
NICARAGUA BRIEFS
Envío team
OFF WITH THE TRUCE!
On March 10, Lucio Jiménez, secretary general of the Sandinista Workers' Confederation (CST), declared an end to last year's truce, in which the workers agreed to give the government time to carry out its economic adjustments and show positive results. The Permanent Congress of Workers, an umbrella group of unions linked to UNO, joined the CST in questioning the government's economic policies eleven days later. Both worker organizations warned in a joint declaration that the current unemployment and low wages "could provoke uncontrollable social disorder within any organization if the government remains deaf to the problem."
UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNIVERSITY BUDGET CUT
University students, professors and other staff marched to the Supreme Court of Justice on February 28 to submit a charge of unconstitutionality against the current national budget's section on university financing and against the government's intentions to privatize university education. Constitutionally, the universities have a right to 6% of the total state budget, but this year $7 million was cut from their budget line.
POLICE AND ARMY GO AFTER CIVILIANS
For the first time in 12 years, the army and police carried out a joint action against civilians on March 26. Workers from the state grain agency ENABAS had interrupted traffic along the Pan-American Highway between Sébaco and Matagalpa and taken over ENABAS grain silos in the area. Barricada reported that the army was unnecessarily violent in its treatment of what reporters described as a peaceful protest. A Barricada photographer who took pictures of a soldier shooting a worker in the foot was roughed up and his camera destroyed.
The military operation involved 400 members of the two armed forces. Minister of the Presidency Antonio Lacayo acknowledged that 36% of the current police force has joined since the new government took office. Other sources say that the majority of these new police are former contras.
BROTHERS-IN-LAW AT WAR
March witnessed two spectacular rounds between Antonio Lacayo and National Assembly president Alfredo César, in what is being called the "war of the brothers-in-law" (César is married to one of Lacayo's sisters). The first round took place on March 13, during the National University-sponsored forum "The Possible Nicaragua." Lacayo surprised the audience by denouncing those who "seek out and visit generals in the Pentagon, as if the 1996 elections would be decided in Washington or Miami." It was a clear allusion to César's visit several days earlier to General Colin Powell in the United States.
In the second round, six days later, César refused Lacayo entry to the National Assembly to explain the country's economic situation, alleging a supposed "procedural conflict." The Assembly had requested the appearance of the four ministers in the economic Cabinet and President Chamorro had appointed Lacayo, in his capacity as head of that Cabinet, to lead the delegation. When Lacayo arrived, César would not give him access to the parliament, saying that he had not been invited. Lacayo was forced to leave, and retaliated by withdrawing the entire delegation. In a press conference called to explain what had happened, Lacayo called his brother-in-law a "cunning quack lawyer."
SANDINISTA ASSEMBLY SEEKS ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE
The Sandinista Assembly met in extraordinary session in El Crucero on March 28-29 to discuss the FSLN request to join the Socialist International—which was approved—and the country's current crisis. The Assembly acknowledged the increasingly acute economic situation due to unemployment, the recession in national production, deteriorating living standards and generalized hunger.
The Assembly decided to promote a dialogue among the FSLN, the government and all political and social forces in search of national accords that would reduce some of the impact of the adjustment measures on the poor. It also recognized the legitimacy of the grassroots struggles against the neoliberal plan. The Assembly charged the National Directorate with forming a commission to prepare alternative socioeconomic proposals, which would be submitted to the range of grassroots, producer and labor organizations for consultation. Minister of the Presidency Antonio Lacayo reportedly agreed to consider such an alternative during his meeting with the FSLN National Directorate on March 14. In exchange for giving the FSLN some measure of decision-making power over aspects of the economic plan, Lacayo is understood to have asked for continuing support of the government.
DONOR COUNTRIES SHORT SHRIFT NICARAGUA
The mixed Nicaraguan delegation, meeting with the Donor Countries' consultative group in Washington on March 26, was unpleasantly surprised by an offer of some $200 million for 1993-94. It had expected closer to $550 million. Analysts stressed that Nicaragua has a "clean" financial record and has complied with the economic program, thus giving it a professional, serious image as a country that fulfills its obligations.
Nicaragua's delegation was made up of Minister of the Presidency Antonio Lacayo and the other economic Cabinet ministers, as well as FSLN leader Daniel Ortega and representatives of the country's different economic sectors. Lacayo told the assembled representatives of the donor countries and multilateral lending agencies that "we came together to tell the world to help us rebuild our country, that all the effort we have made this last year in the economic field has produced encouraging, but very fragile, results."
Daniel Ortega explained that the FSLN is not a classic Latin American opposition, whose objective is to trip up any government activity. "When governments are successful, as today, we should be happy," he said. "We have not hesitated to back the government but the price the Nicaraguan people have had to pay is very high." Daniel Núñez, who as president of the Union of Farmers and Ranchers represents more than 125,000 peasants, stressed that Nicaragua is key to Central American stability and has great agricultural potential.
Other members of the Nicaraguan delegation included Alberto Chamorro, president of the Chamber of Industry; Zacarías Hernández, union leader and UNO member; and Juan Sacasa, a businessman confiscated during the Sandinista government who has returned to Nicaragua to promote investment.
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a monthly magazine of analysis on Central America