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| Central American University - UCA |
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Number 88 | Noviembre 1988 |
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Nicaragua
NICARAGUA BRIEFS
Envío team
ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL ROLE FOR NICARAGUAThe World Interparliamentary Union elected Nicaragua to its Executive Committee during its 80th conference held September 19-24 in Sofia, Bulgaria. With firm backing from non-aligned countries, Nicaragua was chosen for the position over Bolivia by an overwhelming 102 of the 106 members.
As a member of the 12-nation Executive Committee, Nicaragua has a voice in convening special conferences, especially concerning regional conflicts, and the selection of new members. The World Interparliamentary Union also works to promote cooperation among parliaments on such issues as international law, decolonization, human rights and the fight against racism and apartheid.
Carlos Núñez, president of Nicaragua's National Assembly and head of his country's delegation to the conference, interpreted the choice as "a show of confidence in the Sandinista revolution" and a recognition of Nicaragua's active encouragement of cooperation in the international community.
REGION'S PRELATES AID MOTHERS OF KIDNAPPED,
OBANDO TOO BUSY TO HELPSince June of this year, the Commission of Mothers for the Defense of Peace and Life, a coalition of mothers whose children have been kidnapped by the contras, have spent every Thursday at the doors of the Curia of the Archbishop of Managua. They have been trying to get an audience with Cardinal Obando y Bravo, who, in his capacity as president of the National Reconciliation Commission, can intercede with the contras by requesting they free civilians taken against their will. Each Thursday they get about the same response: "The Cardinal cannot receive you, he is in a meeting."
But their patience paid off when six mothers, led by Clorinda Benavides, were invited by Costa Rican Archbishop Román Arrieta Villalobos to visit that country on October 3 to speak with President Oscar Arias. During this meeting, Arias agreed to place the subect of the thousands of Nicaraguans kidnapped by the contras on the agenda of the upcoming Central American presidential summit in El Salvador. He said afterwards that he "felt profoundly impressed and moved" by the plight of the Nicaraguan mothers. They also met with the International Red Cross, Amnesty International and the Central American Human Rights Commission, among other groups.
A group of the mothers, accompanied by Lea Guido, head of AMNLAE, the women's organization, addressed Nicaragua's National Assembly, where they received pledges of help for an upcoming trip to Honduras. At the invitation of Archbishop Héctor Enrique Santos, eight mothers will travel to Honduras at the end of October where they hope to meet President José Azcona and visit contra training camps.
Meanwhile, the Commission of Mothers for the Defense of Peace and Life promises to continue their Thursday vigil to try to meet with Cardinal Obando.
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a monthly magazine of analysis on Central America