Nicaragua News Service
                    January 30 - February 4, 1995
                            Vol. 3, No. 6
                         by Coleen Littlejohn
 
Major News Stories for the Week:
 
1. Three members of the National Directorate resign from the FSLN.
2. Celebration committee named for Sandino centenary.
3. Army discovers major weapons cache of rearmed bands.
4. National Assembly finishes voting on constitutional amendments.
5. Rising cotton prices stimulate plans for 1995 agricultural season.
6. Teachers to strike at opening of 1995 school year.
7. John Hull back in Nicaragua.
8. Cattle ranchers may go on strike.
_______________________________________________________________________
 
1. Three members of the National Directorate resign from the FSLN.
 
Last week three members of the FSLN National Directorate closely 
associated with the Sandinista Renovation Movement held a press 
conference and formally resigned their membership in the FSLN and its 
National Directorate.  The resignations came from Dora Maria Tellez, 
formerly Minister of Health of the Sandinista government and presently 
head of the Sandinista deputies in the National Assembly; Luis 
Carrion, former Vice-Minister of Interior and presently director of a 
local NGO and finally, Dr. Myrna Cunningham, former regional governor 
of the Northern Atlantic Coast Region (RAAN) and presently 
representing that region in the National Assembly.  The three resigned 
from the party stating that the party "had abandoned all political 
principles and ethics, and has dedicated itself to crushing the 
dignity of all those who do not think as they do."  Dora Maria Tellez 
said that the leadership of the FSLN "had betrayed the dreams and 
ideals that inspired an entire generation that gave all to the 
revolutionary cause."  Although the three were resigning from the FSLN 
Party, Tellez denied that they were renouncing their Sandinista 
militancy saying that "no one can take it away from us because it is 
an inseparable part of our lives."  She added that "it is in the name 
of that militancy and in order to be faithful to our principles that 
we are today resigning from the FSLN."
 
Another prominent militant of the FSLN, Omar Cabezas, author of the 
best selling book "Fire from the Mountains" and member of the National 
Assembly, renewed his militancy in the FSLN at a press conference 
called by him and Tomas Borge, one of the founders of the FSLN.  He 
stated that he identified in the past and continues now to identify 
with the ideas of the renovation current but, he said, "I think it is 
necessary to work from within."  He continued: "I am staying with the 
FSLN with all its errors, faults and good qualities; with its 

limitations and its virtues and with its vocation for victory.  I 
still maintain my critical attitude but in a constructive manner and 
in support of unity.  I am convinced that no renovation of the FSLN 
would mean the death of Sandinismo."
 
The FSLN reacted to the resignations with an official statement 
directed to that party's membership and to national and international 
public opinion.  The following is a translation of that statement:
 
"Year of the Centennial of Sandino"
  After repeated and unsuccessful attempts to negotiate the
differences between the FSLN and a group of now ex-militants of our 
organization, some of the latter have resigned from the party, 
including three members of the National Directorate.  
  It is obvious that from the first initial moments of the controversy 
there was a clear intention of forming a movement separate from the 
FSLN. These resignations are nothing more than the continuation of a 
plan designed to divide the party.  The origins of this attitude go 
back before the Extraordinary Congress of the FSLN [in May of 1994] 
when, during that event, the accords reached by a crystal clear 
democratic majority were not recognized because they did not satisfy 
the personal and political expectations of these companeros.  
  Those who have resigned were outstanding leaders of the FSLN and 
correctly managed their functions as Ministers of State under the 
revolutionary government.  Such antecedents contrast with their 
conduct today, programmed deliberately to weaken the heroic 
revolutionary organization that led the struggle against the Somoza 
dictatorship, and which also led the cause of the most profound 
democratic social changes ever seen in our history.
  The FSLN considers that their decision is not an obstacle to the 
future opening of negotiations with this new political organization 
and with any other similar groups, in order to achieve a national 
agreement.
  We repeat our confidence in our Sandinista militancy, who will, 
without doubt, continue to be faithful to the black and red flag of 
Sandino, of Carlos Fonseca and of the thousands who sacrificed their 
lives for the cause of the liberation of our people. 
                                       National Directorate, FSLN                                     FSLN
                                       Managua, Feb. 3, 1995
 
Meanwhile, at his press conference with Omar Cabezas, Tomas Borge 
announced that Nathan Sevilla, Gladys Baez, Roberto Laguna, Benigna 
Mendiola, Francisco Rivera, Omar Cabezas and Damaso Vargas will form 
the official FSLN group in the National Assembly.  (Barricada, Feb. 4, 
El Nuevo Diario, Feb. 4)
 
2.  Celebration committee named for Sandino centennial.
 
A provisional committee was set up last week to plan the national 
celebration of the centennial this year of the birth of Augusto C. 
Sandino.  Sandino was born on May 18, 1895.  The now-retired former 
bishop of Juigalpa, Pablo Antonio Vega, was elected president of the 
committee by its members.  Vega called on all Nicaraguans to assist 
the national committee in "organizing with dignity" the celebration of 
the birth of the "General of Free Men" as Sandino was called during 
his struggle against U.S. Marine intervention in Nicaragua in the 
1920's and 1930's.  The celebration is expected to revive the national 
importance of the figure of Sandino.  Victor Tirado, of the FSLN 
National Directorate, is the national vice-president of the committee 
whose other members include Aldo Diaz Lacayo. 
 
Daniel Ortega will be returning from Cuba where he was recuperating 
from a heart attack in time for the February 21st remembrance of 

Sandino's 1934 assassination.  A welcome home rally at the Plaza of 
the Revolution is being planned for February 18th.  (Barricada, Feb. 
3)
 
3. Army discovers major weapons cache of rearmed bands.
 
A stock of weapons which included ground to air missiles and other 
sophisticated hardware was discovered in the mountains north of Rio 
Blanco by Nicaraguan army troops, according to Lt. Col. Ricardo 
Wheelock, spokesperson for the Army.  The arms which were found in the 
house of a local peasant belonged to one of the five remaining 
commanders of irregular forces operating in the North, Ciriaco 
Palacios, also known as "El Charro."
 
The army fears that there are still 10 to 12 missiles in the hands of 
the recontra, whose total forces are now estimated to be about 300 of 
which 50 operate in Region I (Nueva Segovia), 110 in Region V 
(Chontales) and 135 in Region VI (Matagalpa and Jinotega).  The army, 
in their effort to protect this year's coffee harvest, is also 
combating another 400 armed delinquents operating for non-political 
reasons.
 
In January, the armed groups were responsible for six murders, five 
kidnappings and four blackmail attempts.  The majority of their 
victims are local farmers in the North.  (Barricada, Feb. 2)
 
4. National Assembly finishes voting on constitutional amendments.
 
Last Wednesday evening the National Assembly finished its voting on 
the second stage of approval of the amendments to the Nicaraguan 
Constitution.  The final round of voting on the amendments was 64 
votes in favor, none against and no abstentions. [There are 92 
deputies in the National Assembly.]  The new FSLN parliamentary bench 
formed by those who are in agreement with the elected party leadership 
structures opposed the amendments and did not vote.  
 
At the conclusion of the session, President of the Assembly Luis 
Humberto Guzman, announced the formation of a "National Front to 
Defend the Amendments," supposedly to be formed by people of diverse 
ideological tendencies.  The head of the committee was reported to be 
Cardinal Obando y Bravo.  Other names mentioned were Carlos Tunnerman, 
Roberto Arguello and Emilio Alvarez Montalvan.
 
According to Guzman, the amendments will become effective as soon as 
they are published in the public media.  As of Sunday, Feb. 5, the 
amendments had not been published and therefore are not yet law.
 
It is expected that the Executive Branch of the government will 
contest in court several of the most controversial and debated points 
of the amendments especially the article that prohibits close 
relatives of the sitting president to run for the Presidency.  That 
means that Antonio Lacayo, son-in-law of Violeta Chamorro will not be 
able to run for president in 1996.  According to supporters of this 
article, there is now no longer any possibility of political dynasties 
being set up in the country via the electoral process. (El Nuevo 
Diario, Feb. 2)


5. Cotton prices stimulate plans for 1995 agricultural year
 
At least 37,000 acres of cotton may be planted this year due to price 
increases for the fiber on the international market.  Farmers are now
asking the banks for financing.  Low international prices have cut 
Nicaraguan cotton production to a fraction of its 1989 level.  Cotton, 
introduced in the 1950's to Nicaraguan agriculture, was once the major 
crop in the Leon/Chinandega region, and at its peak was sowed on more 
than half a million acres, providing for thousands of temporary jobs, 
but also provoking ecological disaster in an area that was once known 
as Nicaragua's grain basket.
 
The return of cotton on a limited scale will help somewhat to
alleviate the very serious problem of unemployment in the region,  a 
problem aggravated by the decline of cotton.  Producers will also sow 
new varieties of cotton.  Traditional varieties now need over 33 
applications of pesticides due to the wearing down of the region's 
soils.  However, pest management programs, started under the 
Sandinista government and continued under the present, are also 
yielding results and enabling a decrease in the use of agro-chemicals, 
the costs of which, aggravated by low international prices, decreased 
the economic viability of cotton in the last few years.  Decreased use 
of pesticides also means that fewer peasants will be poisoned while 
working in the fields.
 
The Ministry of Agriculture expects that agricultural production will 
increase by 22% in 1995 because of increased acreage planted in cotton 
and coffee.  (Barricada, Jan. 30; El Nuevo Diario, Jan. 30)
 
6.  Teachers to strike at opening of 1995 school year.
 
The Nicaraguan National Teachers Association (ANDEN) and the 
National Confederation of Nicaraguan Teachers (CNMN), the two 
principal teacher's unions in the country, announced that the 
beginning of the Nicaraguan public school year, February 27th, will 
also be the beginning of a national teachers' strike in support of 
their demands for a 80% pay raise and an end to repression against 
teachers by the Ministry of Education.
 
The two organizations have formed a National Strike Committee to 
prepare for a successful strike.
 
7.  John Hull back in Nicaragua
 
John Hull, wanted by justice officials both in the United States and 
Costa Rica for drug and arms trafficking and money laundering, has 
been sighted again in Nicaragua, this time in the Caribbean Coast city of 
Bluefields.  The last time he was seen in the country was in April of 
1994 when he was investigating investment opportunities in the 
Juigalpa area.
 
Hull was a key contact in the supply of arms to the Nicaraguan contras 
and he was also involved in drug trafficking from his enormous 
hacienda located on the Nicaragua-Costa Rican border.  Hull has 
claimed that all that he did during that period was with the 
approval of both the US and Costa Rican governments given that he
was an employee of the US CIA.
 
It appears that on his present trip, Hull is being hosted by Augusto 
de la Rocha of the Liberal Party who is also president of the Regional 
Council of the Southern Autonomous region, the RAAS. (Barricada, Feb. 4)
 
8.  Cattle ranchers may go on strike this week.
 
As of late last week, the Nicaraguan government had still not sat down 
to dialogue seriously with cattle ranchers who are threatening to 
paralyze meat and milk production on February 5th if their demands 
for debt relief are not met.
 
Meanwhile, coffee farmers organized in the National Union of Coffee 
Producers are also frustrated with the government.  UNICAFE has 
achieved the approval of a loan for $10 million to finance small and 
medium coffee producers but the loan must be channeled through a 
national, state or private bank, which would raise drastically the 
financial costs of the loans for the small farmers due to the 
excessively high interest rates charged by Nicaraguan banks.
 
Those interest rates added to the high internal prices for 
agricultural inputs make it impossible for a coffee farmer to get 
ahead.  According to David Robleto, head of UNICAFE, a bag of 
fertilizer which could be imported directly for $10 costs double that 
in Managua markets.  (Barricada, Feb. 2)