Nicaragua News Service Published by the Nicaragua Network Education Fund May 26-June 2, 1996 Vol. 4, No. 21 Major news stories for the week: 1. Ad-Hoc Registration begins in Northern municipalities. 2. Electoral Alliances finalized; 24 presidential candidates 3. Other Election News 4. Mendieta caballo-gate scandal 5. News Briefs ======================== 1. Ad-hoc registration begins in Northern municipalities. The ad-hoc registration process in a total of 26 municipalities began this week in a climate of tension and some violence. The Supreme Electoral Council had been unable to conduct a census and permanantly register voters in these municipalities due to the threat of violence and a shortage of money. USAID observer Cynthia Garzony was kidnapped for a day and a half by re-armed contras who demanded a greater voter registration effort in Nicaragua's remote regions as she observed the registration process near Somutigne. [Associated Press 6/2] Other kidnappings were reported, as were the deaths of 2 people in Wina, near San Jose de Bocay. A police patrol carrying out registration related work was ambushed as well. The latter attacks were attributed to armed men under the command of "El Lobo," who was responsible for the January attack on Arnoldo Aleman's caravan early this year that left a bodyguard dead. Garzony was kidnapped by "El Pajarillo", and the notorious "El Charro" was also involved in several incidents. Garzony was released after negotiations between El Pajarillo's band and CIAV-OAS representatives. The official government spokesperson during the kidnapping was Minister of Social Action William Baez, rather than any military authority. The army had warned Garzony and other observers of the dangers they faced by going into the area. Baez called it "an isolated incident" in a "remote area", and said he does not feel that it jeopardizes the electoral process in the long run. However, the incidents of the weekend and late last week served to underscore what is still a tenuous and fragile stability in the countryside. Baez said "We're going to go after El Pajarillo because we cannot permit these actions." He made special mention of the CIAV-OAS negotiating team. Also important to ongoing negotiations with armed groups in the north are Bishops Mata (Esteli) and Brenes (Matagalpa). [La Prensa 6/1 and 6/2; Barricada 6/1] OAS chief observer, Salvadoran Oscar Santamaria, said this past week that the ad-hoc registration period is too short and should be extended. He also says that the Supreme Electoral Council's (CSE) capacity to take on work needs to be doubled. Financially, that seems unlikely, at best. The ad-hoc registration period is 2 weekends this year, compared to 4 in 1990. [La Prensa 5/31] USAID Nicaragua Mission Director Mark Schneider was in Nicaragua for 3 days to observe the registration process. [La Tribuna 6/1] Rosa Marina Zelaya, CSE head, called the registration process "positive". However, 62 registration tables were closed for reasons of "logistics and security". Most of the closed tables were in Paiwas, but problems were also reported in the Bocay area. In addition to the ad-hoc registration process, a 10-day verification process (for those who have already registered) began on June 1. Verification is underway in 119 municipalities, including Managua. [La Prensa 6/2] Though this key step of the electoral process began (if somewhat fitfully) as scheduled, larger snags may soon emerge due to a serious cash flow problem. Though the executive branch has pledged $38 million cordobas (US$4.75 million), only $10 million cordobas (US$1.25 million) has been disbursed to date. [La Prensa 6/2] Special measures have been implemented by the police to guarantee that the ad-hoc registration process moves forward in a timely fashion. During the registration days, the sale of alcohol is prohibited in the 26 municipalities where registration is taking place. In addition, the transport of toxic or explosive materials was outlawed, as was the carrying of firearms. Measures took effect May 29 and will be in effect through June 10. [La Prensa 6/2, Barricada 6/1] In other police related electoral matters, National Police Chief Fernando Caldera said his institution will need $42 million cordobas (US$5.25 million) total (which he said they don't yet have) to mount an adequate security plan for the upcoming elections. This past week, he presented the plan to CSE President Rosa Marina Zelaya. During the ad-hoc registration process, 8,000 police officers will be mobilized throughout the different municipalities. Caldera said the budget the police need has been approved, and is not open to discussion, but expressed concern because the money has yet to be handed over. Part of the budget is also needed to protect candidates during the rest of the election period, as well as to safeguard the movement of official documents and materials. In addition, police presence will be needed at political demonstrations and, of course, on election day itself, when some 20,000 police officers will be deployed. Zelaya said the police presence is crucial and warned of the "tense and difficult situations" that are sure to arise in the future. [Barricada 5/27, La Prensa 6/2] EDITOR'S NOTE: The number of police stated in the previous two paragraphs exceeds what we understand to be the total number of police in Nicaragua. The numbers may include members of the Nicaraguan army, or they may simply be reported inacurately. 2. Electoral Alliances As of Friday, the CSE had 5 electoral alliances registered in its offices, along with 19 individual presidential candidates, for a grand total of 24 presidential candidates. The period in which candidacies and alliances is now closed although the CSE has not yet ruled on whether to allow the candidacy of President Chamorro's son-in-law and former Minister of the Presidency Antonio Lacayo. The constitutional amendments passed last year forbid close relatives of a sitting president from running from that office. Allies of Lacayo appealed that restriction to the Supreme Court which referred the decision to the Supreme Electoral Council. The alliances are as follows: a. Alianza Liberal [PLC (Aleman); PALI (neo)liberals); PUCA (Central American Unification); PLIUN (Partido Liberal de Unidad Nacional); CAUS (the Communist-affiliated union) and the PLN (the Nationalist Liberal Party, Somoza's traditional party--this party has yet to receive legal status)] The candidates are Arnoldo Aleman and Enrique Bolanos. b. UNIDAD [MUR (Movimiento de Unidad Revolucionaria); MCN (Movimiento de Convergencia Nacional); PIAC (Partido Integracionista Centroamericana); PSD (Docial Democrats); PSC (Social Christians)] The candidates are Alejandro Serrano Caldera, former rector of the UNAN, and Juan Sanchez Barquero. c. UNO-96 [PND (Partido Nacional Democrata); MAC (Movimiento de Accion Conservadora); MDN (Movimiento Democratico Nica.)] Candidates are Alfredo Cesar and Roberto Teran. d. Alianza Nicaraguense [UDC; ANC (Accion Nacional Conservadora)] Former Arriba Nicaragua candidate Alvaro Robelo heads this slate. e. PAN y FUERZA [PAN (Partido de Accion Nacional); Fuerza 96] Their presidential candidate is former Central Bank president Francisco Mayorga. Individual parties on the slate include the MRS (with Sergio Ramirez as presidential candidate); MORENA (Movimiento de Renovacion Nacional, with well-known right-wing radio personality Alan Tefel Alba heading up the slate); PUL (Partido de Unidad Liberal, with banker and La Tribuna publisher Haroldo Montealegre); the PRN (Enrique Quinonez); and of course, the FSLN with Daniel Ortega and PRONAL with Antonio Lacayo. [El Seminario May 31-June 6 edition] 3. Other Election News In a recent public appearance, Alvaro Robelo, now presidential candidate for the Nicaraguan Aliance, called himself a "messenger from God" and a "missionary" who came to redeem the poor. He also declared a "nuclear war" against his enemies, and accused them of torpedoing his campaign efforts with false accusations. The La Prensa article described him as making "the gestures of one possessed." [La Prensa, 5/28] A front page story in the June 1st La Tribuna was headlined "Robelo: Ficha del FSLN". The story quotes Jose Pallais, former campaign chief for Robelo as charging that the FSLN is behind Robelo's candidacy. Pallais accuses the FSLN of "infiltrating" Arriba Nicaragua. According to Pallais, the FSLN-Robelo link dates back to February when Robelo returned from Rome and lent the FSLN much needed campaign funds. [La Tribuna, 6/1] The CSE says there are 2.95 million potential voters, up from a preliminary figure of 2.25 million. [La Prensa 5/31] Nicaraguans living abroad who wish to vote may register abroad (from June 1-10), but must come to Nicaragua in October if they wish to vote, says a Foreign Ministry official. Only those with the money for the flight, and a secure immigration situation, would be able to consider this option. [La Prensa, 5/28] The CSE will call for elections on the Atlantic Coast, now that the National Assembly has approved a Law of Political Division. Puerto Cabezas is once again to be known as "Bilwi". Rama, Nueva Guinea and Muelle de los Bueyes will vote in Chontales; while Waslala and Paiwas are now part of Matagalpa. [La Prensa, 5/28] 4. Mendieta Caballo-gate Scandal In what some say is proof that new Comptroller General Agustin Jarquin is taking his job seriously, former Minister of Government Alfredo Mendieta was called before a court to testify regarding his role in what Jarquin says was the improper use of state funds to buy thoroughbred horses that then ended up in the hands associates of Mendieta and other Ministry of Government officials. In his statements to the legal authorities, Mendieta implicated Antonio Lacayo and former Agricultural Minister Roberto Rondon in the scandal (dubbed "caballo-gate" by La Tribuna). Mendieta said, "Tono [as he is known throughout Nica] ordered me to give the horses away" to friends and associates. The horses were supposed to form a mounted police force aimed at reducing cattle theft in the Chontales region. [Barricada 5/29 and 6/1; La Tribuna 6/1] NEWS BRIEFS * Foreign Minister Ernesto Leal confirmed rumors that US Immigration and Naturalization Service agents are in Nicaragua to investigate an "alarming increase" of undocumented illegals arriving in the US by air from Nicaragua. [La Prensa 5/31] * The government reports a 6% increase in the price of basic market basket items, for the month of May alone. The basic market basket is a measure of essential household costs for a family of five. [Barricada 5/30] * A huge sewage channel to redirect sewage waters away from the Tiscapa volcanic lake is still only half finished, in spite of the fact that it was begun over 2 years ago. The canal, which has already cost millions of cordobas, was former Managua Mayor Aleman's brainchild and has led to endless traffic jams along the Radial Santo Domingo, near one of Managua's major intersections. Managua muncipal officials say the money is not there to finish the project. [La Prensa 5/28] Plans for the controversial dry canal to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans with a rail route across Nicaragua, are proceeding under the auspices of the Interoceanic Canal of Nicaragua (CINN), a consortium of more than 15 companies from Asia, Europe and the United States. [La Prensa 5/29]