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HomeMy WebLinkAboutProclamation 89- Designating Sister City in Nicaragua PRO C LAM A T ION DESIGNATING SISTER CITY IN NICARAGUA ***************************** WHEREAS, the success of the sister-city projects in the United States since their establishment by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 has increased international understanding between citizens of the world; and WHEREAS, substantial numbers of Bozeman area residents have expressed an interest in maintaining continuous, ongoing contact with the city of Rivas, Nicaragua through cultural, educational, agricultural, and technical exchanges; and WHEREAS, a goal of Bozeman Friends of Rivas is to sponsor such exchanges in order to foster democratic relations on a people-to-people level between the citizens of the two communities; and WHEREAS, Bozeman Friends of Rivas is supported by funds raised in the Bozeman area community and does not require and has no intention of requesting city funds to facilitate the sister-city relationship. NOW THEREFORE, I, Alfred M. Stiff, Mayor of the City of Bozeman, do hereby proclaim the City's intent to pursue a Sister-City relationship with Rivas, Nicaragua. SEA L IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the City of Bozeman, in the State of Montana, to be affixed at Bozeman, Montana, this 1st day of May, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-Nine. ?~ 177 ~ ~~F M. STIFF --V -' BOZEMAN FRIENDS OF RIVAS, NICARAGUA History of the Sister-City Movement The sister-city movement is neither controversial nor partisan. It began in 1956 with President Eisenhower's People-to-People program as an effort to stimulate private citizens in many fields--the arts, education, athletics, law, medicine, business--to organize themselves to reach across the seas and national boundaries to their counterparts in other lands. tt If we are go ing to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace," he said, "then the problem is for people to get together and lead governments--if necessary to evade governments--to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a bit more of each other." President Eisenhower described the sister-city concept as a manifestation of two deeply held American convictions. "First is our belief in effective, responsive local government as a principal bulwark of freedom. Second is our faith in the great promise of people-to-people and sister-city affiliations ln helping build the solid structure of world peace." Subsequent administrations have likewise endorsed the sister-city concept. John Kennedy's Alliance for Progress program in Latin America promoted people-to-people exchanges in science, technology, education, and culture, as well as massive government aid to support economic development, land reform, and the like. The Alliance-sponsored Partners of the Americas program encouraged Latin American countries to acquire U.S. "sister states." Examples of such pairings are Oregon and Costa Rica, Vermont and Honduras, and Wisconsin and Nicaragua. Kennedy said these pairings were set up so that "through personal relations our curiosity can be fulfilled by a sense of knowledge, cynicism can give way to trust, and the warmth of human friendship can be kindled.ft President Johnson praised the sister-city programs because they "work outside government in a field vital to the promotion . . of friendship among citizens of every land so they will understand each other and be able to live in peace." President Reagan said "out of this effort comes a spirit of friendship, which, multi- plied by thousands of sister cities, results in improved economic, cultural, and social relationships between people everywhere." Sister Cities International, formed in 1967 as a private foundation, had by 1987 recognized 1,282 sister-city relationships between 786 American cities and 1,153 foreign counterparts. All 50 states are involved and 86 foreign countries. By 1988, Nica- ragua alone had 87 sister cities in the U.S. and 209 in Europe. In light of the common misperception that Nicaragua is a communist country, it is interesting to note that of its 209 European sister cities, only three (all in East Germany) are within the Soviet sphere. BOZEMAN FRIENDS OF RIVAS, NICARAGUA Sister City Benefits 1 . The sister-city movement is motivated fundamentally by the desire for world peace. We may argue about whether peace is possible but its desirability is presumably not an issue. 2. We believe that sister-city projects are a positive step toward peace because they involve and familiarize Americans with foreign cultures at a personal level. 3. Sister-city projfcts promote awareness of true cultural I differences, providing the perspective essential to understanding --...- our own culture ~ a culture and not a universal way of life. Such perspective allows us to see the good and bad features of our system so that we may direct our society (and our future) instead of being directed by it. 4. Sister-city projects promote awareness of universal human similarities. Because people tend to fear and distrust what they do not know, involvement with our sister-city friends can lead to the vital realization that in a very real sense we are all sisters and brothers, with similar needs, similar dreams, and identical human rights. As this planet gets smaller, the danger of being isolated by distrust and of not respecting the equal rights of others becomes more perilous. 5. We believe that heartfelt involvement in the plight of others, whether giving material assistance or sharing in the solution of their problems, fosters spiritual growth; the "giver" usually senses that more has been received than was given. This is truly a win-win situation. The same spiritual benefit arises from domestic volunteer programs (which we heartily support), but such do not connect so directly to the quest for world peace. . . BOZEMAN FRIENDS OF RIVAS, NICARAGUA Rivas, Nicaragua Rivas, Nicaragua is a city of about 30,000 people close to Lake Nicaragua in the southwestern part of the country. It lies in an agricultural area and has a college of agriculture that provides training in veterinary science, agronomy, zoology, and agricultural administration. A group of people in Bozeman have had an interest in Rivas for several years. We have been in contact with them and tried to assist them in their attempt to improve their agricultural production and to rebuild their city after the devastation of the war and the recent hurricane. Members of their local government have expressed interest in visiting Montana and Bozeman to observe our local government and our agricultural methods. In particular, they would like to visit us to discuss irrigation methods that could be adapted to their needs. A farmer to farmer exchange would be valuable to both communities. We believe that this sort of exchange fosters an understanding not possible in any other way. F~R BOZEMAN FRIENDS OF RIVAS, NICARAGUA P.O. BOX 6575 BOZEMAN, MT 59771-6575 An affiliate of the Bozeman Central American Peace Group and the Montana Friends of Rivas, Nicaragua April 26, 1989 Ms. Robin Sullivan Clerk of the Commission City Hall Bozeman, MT 59715 Dear Ms. Sullivan: The Bozeman Friends of Rivas request that consideration of the enclosed proclamation endorsing a sister-city relationship between Bozeman and Rivas, Nicaragua be scheduled for discussion and action by the Commissioners in the near future, preferably for the next City Commission meeting. Enclosed is some pertinent information relating to the proclamation. We thank you for assisting us in this matter. Sincerely, 12~1).T)~ Robert D. Roughton for Bozeman Friends of Rivas , \ . . STATEMENT BEFORE THE BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION PROTESTING THE DESIGNATION OF RIVAS, NICARAGUA AS A SISTER CITY John Nehring - May 8, 1989 Mayor Stiff, Commissioners, I'm John Nehring. I live in Bozeman at 604 Arnold. With me is Cleora Lodge, another Bozemanite, who joins me in asking you to reconsider last week's sudden decision to adopt Rivas, '. We're accompanied in spirit by several Nicaragua, as a sister city. dozen other Bozeman cit:izens, whose signatures appear on the original copies of my letter--which I've left with your clerk, Robin Sullivan. We're deeply concerned that four of our city commissioners chose to adopt a sister city in a country which fosters adversarial relationships with its Central American neighoors and the United States_ We question the wisdom of this choice, the circumstances which prompted this choice, and the absence of public participation in this choice. According to last Tuesday's newspaper, the request to adopt Rivas came from Bob Roughton, a non-resident of Bozeman and a fairly recent arrival to Gallatin County. Mr. Roughton drove to Rivas las t fall with a bus load of supplies to help relieve hurricane-caused suffering in that city. As I recall, U.S. Customs officials temporarily confiscated those goods because of our government's trade embargo with Nicaragua. Eventually, Mr_ Roughton was allowed to leave the United States and deliver his disaster aid to Rivas. I applaud Mr. Roughton's efforts to help the unfortunate people of Rivas in a tangible way. I also applaud the desire of others who seek to improve the lot of people living in places like Rivas. I ask you, though, how will declaring Rivas as our sister city accomplish this worthy goal? . }. . , -2- Will there be a regular flow of visitors between Bozeman and Rivas, as well as a sharing of our material wealth and technical knowledge with the people of that third-world city? How can such an interchange take place, given our government's restrictions on commerce with Nicaragua? Will Bozeman's insistence on a meaningful relationship with Rivas, Nicaragua, persuade the U.S. Government to relax its embargo on Nicara- guan trade? By what means, then, could we pers uade the Sandinis tas to widen political choice, increase economic freedom, and cease their sup- port of Marxist insurrections in other Latin American nations? Or do we believe that a "hands-off" U.S. policy toward Nicaragua will allow the Sandinis tas to turn their economy around and finally fulfill the promise of their 10-year-old revolution? This would truly be an economic miracle, since they're modeling their society after the Soviet Union, a militaristic state which still can't feed its populace after 72 years of Marxist policies and programs! I'm unable to visualize the benefits of sisterhood to the people of Rivas. I'm doublY unable to see how this relationship will benefit Bozeman. What can we in Bozeman learn from the people of Rivas? Do we want to learn how to cope with the hardships of a mismanaged, centrally-controlled economy? A cynic could argue that such skills are indeed useful in Montana. I'd prefer that we make better use of people's talents and creativity by promoting greater economic and social freedom in our state and city. And, after reading that Mayor-Elect Hawks wants to overhaul our crazy-quilt planning and zoning codes, I'm optimistic that Bozeman ~ moving in this preferred direction. , , ~ I - 3 - Do we want to learn how to live with armed soldiers on street corn- ers? I'd rather increase political participation so we don't end up with an unpopular government that has to spend 10 percent of Gross National Product just to defend itself from its own people. That's the reality of Nicaragua under the Sandinistas. You didn't seek my opinion on this sister city issue. I'm thankful. nevertheless, for the freedom of speech which allows me to express this opinion. Such criticism of a government decision--to say nothing of uncensored media coverage thereof--fs unthinkable in Rivas, Nicaragua. If we're going to adopt more sister cities--and I hope we will--let's adopt them from countries--~ Costa Rica--whose successes and freedoms we want to emulate, rather than from a country like Nicaragua whose failures and repression we want to avoid! I respectfully suggest that you folks put the cart before the horse las t week Commissioner Martel is absolutely right that we have insuf- ficient information about Rivas on which to base an intelligent sister city decis ion. I urge you, therefore, to rescind this decision and wait until such time as a sister city policy has been established before recons ide ring Rivas. Thank you. r", f6rMJ ,'4" 5o\lr'H '. V.J. ~. of 5 f~ ( IWr:~4 - 4...),'1 JI../Jf."t..- /<1'6/. fJ.:J.r()~ ~I..:e.../ D~~...,,/ 1'-/fJS f~crdtrfe~'~ Brllt'~."t" Dr'67 V~gDok) w~JL,,~/ Ro', VtJ { ~ TL CIA ('I"" {qg{-jJ /'t"ltj', -./ \f-.,iDIAJ I'I.tw./ di.l~/ ft..... t/... ~iJ/)"1J G.1.A ~ ao2e-. .oc:<r'~ c~ci~ II'. L 9~ q aJ /9~q. May 4, 1989 Mayor Al Stiff Bozeman Municipal Building 15 North Rouse Bozeman, MT 59715 Dear Mayor Stiff: We, the undersigned citizens of Bozeman, Montana, wish to protest strongly the May Day decision of the Bozeman City Commission to adopt Rivas, Nicaragua as a sister city. We commend City Commissioner Walter Martel for his courage in resisting this well-meaning, but misguided action. We commend the Commission for its prudence in declaring a morator- ium on further sister city proposals until a standard policy for evalu- ating such proposals can be established. We respectfully request the Commission to rescind its hasty decision on Rivas until such time as this policy is in place. We believe that a sister city relationship is somewhat akin to a marriage. In our culture, a marriage takes place after two people get to know each other. Ideally, a sister city relationship should be an official recognition of existing interaction between the residents of each city. At the very least, the official declaration of sisterhood should be preceeded by a period of public comment and discussion on the merits of such a declaration. Neither of these conditions preceded the May 1st decision to declare Rivas, Nicaragua, as our sister city. We hope you will agree with us that this hasty decision should be res cinded. Sincerely, ~~~~ ~f ~c06 '~'1~~~ ',," · ~ ~ //.4 ~13,' . / . {./ ... // ~ '1?/J'/fy~ ~ ~,~ ~~~J--~ / J ~~~~~ 0/u~~f ~ ~~ ~. R~I)MJvbLt~ (1 oJ1d OPf iJt5(I~ , li 4 1989"';'-" ay, ",'\ji.,!';".'. .. Mayor Al Stilf Bozeman Municipal B~il.c:Ung 15 . North Rouse ...~ Boze,man. liT 59715 ' .. , \: \ Dear 'Mayor Stiff: We, the unders.lgned citizens of Bozeman, Montana, wish to protest strongly the May Da)r decision of the Bozeman City Commission to adopt Rivas, Nicaragua as i1 sister city. We commend City Commissioner Walter Martel for his courage in res is ting this well-meanina, but misgujded actlon. . We commend the Commission for its prudence in deolaring a morator- ium on further sister city proposals until a standard policy for evalu- ating such proposals can be established. We respectfully request the Commission to rescind its hasty decision on Rivas until suoh time as this polley is in pI ace. We believe that a sister city relationship is somewhat akin to a marriage. In our culture, a marriage takes place after two people get to know each other. Ideally, a sister city relationship should be an official recognitioxi of exis ting interaction between the residents of each city. At the '\1'ery least, the official declaration of sisterhood should be preceederA by a period of public comment and discussion on the merits of such a declara tion. Neither of these condttions preceded the May 1st decision to declare Rivas, Nicaragua, as our sister city. We hope you w:..il agree with us that this hasty deojsion should be rescinded. Sincerely, - f 4 ---"" r/;;/ ~. )/(r~ ---- ..'< J 'L -'\ " <i~ \O~. t0A~~~~m. -nil tZ/. ~aU; ~ ~;-. May 4, 1989 Mayor Al Stiff Bozeman Municipal Building 15 North Rouse Bozeman, MT 59715 Dear Mayor Stiff: We, the undersigned citizens of Bozeman, Montana, wish to protest strongly the May Day decision of the Bozeman City Commission to adopt Rivas, Nicaragua as a sister city. We commend City Commissioner Walter Martel for his courage in resisting this well-meaning, but misguided action. We commend the Commission for its prudence in declaring a morator- ium on further sister city proposals until a standard policy for evalu- ating such proposals can be established. We respectfully request the Commission to rescind its hasty decision on Rivas until such time as this policy is in place. We believe that a sister city relationship is somewhat akin to a marriage. In our culture, a marriage takes place after two people get to know each other. Idea.lly, a sister city relationship should be an official recognition of existing interaction between the residents of each city. At the very least, the official declaration of sisterhood should be preceeded by a period of public comment and discussion on the merits of such a declaration. Neither of these conditions preceded the May 1st decision to declare Rivas, Nicaragua, as our sister city. We hope you will agree with us that this hasty decision should be rescinded. Sincere J.y, ~ "1' A~ c \ t tL UPr WI l\v . ~) .1-1. .. ... \'-11 / .. ICo~ ~tdd) 17{/ . I cIlA;{/Lvrrtt. \ ( (... I U.t.:-4..-/ (" (/~p, CJf-.2c. I/,~~Av-e) ~tM-- " , Iii /7 ~ C... "- il r s J..IUM'-C ~ 80JJJJj~ A-pt31t1 z B~ /-7/ 57f'~Ad~-#':-~ I[)S~h~~/ +- , I.f~ ~Z:- :/7'J ~_.l-'/ r~_ ~~A-t _/8~ jfk1nr441. ~ 't1;~/I (J ~~~ -~;3N4~('pJ;;.- , , MEMO - . -.--..- --. Pamela Jones tic 5/8/89, 2 :15 p.m. Re: Designation of sister-city, Nicaraugua Protesting the designation on the basis that I do not support communism in any form. 100 Erik Dr. 586-4828 They cannot be lumped into the same category as annual ceremonial proclamations such as: Library Week, Boy Scout Week, Girl Scout Week, Be Kind to Animals, etc. Sister cities are personal relationships between citizens of the respective cities, based on friendships via reciprocal visits and exchanges, mutual respect and common objectives. Therefore, sister-city relationships have value, are treasured and should not be proclaimed willy-nilly, unilaterally or spuriously. Page 2 MEMO 4. REPENTANCE AND ABSOLUTION Not in the context of a religious sermon, but if an error was made, then confess or acknowledge the fact and correct it, if possible, rather than brushing it off that it won't happen again (even City Commissioners are prone to err on occasion). 5. SUGGESTED ACTION l. Motion to rescind Rivas Proclamation of 5-1-89, or 2. Motion to table Rivas Proclamation until after the City of Bozeman has established criteria or policy for sister-city designations. .. << WORLD , . . .' NICARAGUA A Faint Glimmering of Hope that a Sandinista Sunset Nears SUMMARY: The failing Sandlnlsta regime In Nicaragua Is ....lIng heat from Its neighbors to deliver on a vow to conduct democratic elections next February. In view of Its track record, the chances seem poor that the government will ch_rfully uphold Its end of the bargain. But there Is another element that could turn the trick: the undeniable power of people detennlned to live free. peoPle Power forced Philippine dic- tator Ferdinand Marcos to hold an election he did not want. He stole it, but the Power was so strong he was forced to give it back. During the fall plebi- scite in Chile, People Power brought such close international scrutiny that military dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte dared not even try to steal it. He just plain lost it. While it has toppled some pretty tough Ortega (seated, far right) was under pressure from neighbors at Thsoro Beach. hombres in recent years, the Power has still never overpowered a communist dictatOI- which is the overriding factor. It is a disas. Congress agreed to extend humanitarian ship. But the Bush administration and its trous economic situation with inflation ap- aid to the Contras through February (un- Central American allies are betting t:1at proaching 100,000 percent, and the Sandi- less, that is, anyone of eight congressional conditions are ripe for People Power to nistas are held responsible by the people for leaders chooses to exercise a veto and end sweep through Nicaragua this year and lift this;' he says. the aid earlier, in November). In retum, the opponents of the communist regime to vic- Second, there is the spirit of Tesoro Bush administration pledged not to seek tory in national elections scheduled for r.C(t Beach. At a February summit meeting of military aid for the Contras. year. If they lose the bet, they lose Nicaa- five Central American presidents in 1esoro The accord keeps the rebels in reserve gua. Beach. EI Salvador, the four democratic as a hedge against Sandinista electoral mis- The National Endowment for Dem'c;- presidents ganged up on their communist chief. If the accord lives up to its promise, racy is an independent, publicly funeed neighbor, Nicaragua. They said to the San- it could have an even more important effect, organization that provides financial supp--"t dinistas, in effect: "OK, you want an end healing :the partisan divisions that crippled and training to those trying to build dem,). to the Contra war? You got it. But in ex- U.S. pOlic~ in Nicaragua throughout the cratic institutions - free trade unions, in- change, no more excuses. Democratize. Reagan years =-- divisions that the Sandi- dependent media and the like - in non- Now." As a result, the Sandinistas, under nistas learned to exploit with a deft touch. democratic countries. The endowment was President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, have If it works, Democrats and Republicans instrumental in the successful democratic promised free elections next February. will be rooting for the same team in Nica- transition in Chile, aiding the crucial voter "There is strong support now in the ragua ~. the democratic team - for a registration drive there. It will attempt to region for a fair democratic test in Nicara- change. Gershman thinks it will. "If the playa similar role in Nicaragua in the 10 gua, and the Sandinistas will be subject to issue can be democracy;' he says, "and the months leading up to its elections and will a great deal of pressure, not only from issue is not the merits . . . of supporting an have $2 million in congressionally ear- Central America . . . but also Carlos An- armed opposition in Nicaragua, then I think marked funds at its disposal for that pur- dres Perez;' predicts Gershman. Perez, the a broad bipartisan consensus can be built." pose. Can democratic forces there capture new president of Venezuela, is a social There is a final factor: 1989 is a lousy power peacefully from the Sandinista democrat and a highly respected voice on year to be a client state of the Soviet Union. junta? Endowment President Carl Gersh- the democratic left in Latin America and Not only are the Sandinistas failures, but man sees hope. Europe. In their eyes, his early support for the prototype for their revolution and aU While the peaceful surrehder of power the Sandinista revolution and belief in its others like it has failed too. Gershman ex- by a communist regime would be unique in promises of democracy lend weight to his plains: "You have a crisis in the Soviet 20th century political history, Gershman current criticism of the regime for betraying Union aIld Eastern Europe and the possible sees an equally unique confluence of dr- those promises. reevaluation of hemispheric policy by the cumstances that "makes the political opjnn lbe third factor is the accord reached Soviet Union. . . . Whether the resources a feasible one" in Nicaragua. First, "y:m between the Bush administration and Con- are there to sustain a failed revolution, have an economic crisis in Nicaraguu. gress on Nicaragua. Under the accord, which is what this is. remains to be seen. 28 . INSIGHT I MAY 8, 1989 ... ( . "We will serv~ as an alternative, and we will capture , . ., . . ! all the great discontent with the government, and we will awaken the enthusiasm of the population." ~ .- They are out on an ideological limb, they ful sign about Ortega's willingness to build are in deep economic crisis and they cannot legitimacy into the process," be bailed out by their communist allies, and The opposition is demanding that the it is not clear that the Wcstem Europeans government allow absentee voting by Nica- or other Western dcmocratic countries will raguans living abroad, Hundreds of thou- be prepared to provide them with any kind sands of Nicaraguans have fled Sandinista of assistance unless they allow a true demo- rule. The exiles are concentrated in Costa cratic process ," Rica, the United States and Honduras, The But despite increased economic and Sandinista electoral law allows them to diplomatic pressures to democratize, the vote, provided they return to Nicaragua to Sandinistas remain "a very dctennined and cast their ballots. As Jose Castillo, an in~ cohesive political force;' Gershman cau- dependent Nicaraguan radio broadcaster, tions, "and thcy have all the levers of power explains, this is tantamount to denying at their disposal." The obstacles to a genu- them the vote, Most of these refugees are ine democratic process in Nicaragua re- undocumented aliens and "even in the U.S. main immense. And they look even bigger the inunigration status of the majority is if you are a Nicaraguan. precarious;' he says, '~nd the [Sandinista] Undcr the lesoro Beach agreemcnt, the government knows this well. '" They Sandinistas were obligated to create the can't leave the U,S, to go vote," In addition, conditions for a free election through re- it is not easy to find the scratch for a plane fonn of their electoral and media laws by ticket to Managua if you are a dishwa.,<;her April 25. In developing their electoral re- or busboy in Miami, fonns. the Sandinistas refused to consult The opposition fonnula for guarantee- with representatives of the unified internal lng balanced representation on the five- opposition. The opposition bloc, compris- man Supreme Electoral Council that will ing more than a dozen political parties, has wpervise the elections has been rejected in issued an 18-point retonn proposal as well favor of a fonnula giving the Sandinistas Hernandez: State workers fear firings. as a detailed list of proposed amendments majority control of the body as well as its to the electoral code, Both have been ig- presidency. The Sandinista proposal falls the basis of Sandinista domination of Nica- not1~ by the regime. short of a recent call for balanced member- raguan politics and society is left virtually The failure to negotiate ground rules ship by a Venezuelan delegation sent by untouched by the Sandinistas' refonn bill. WIth the opposition has already aroused Perez to revicw Nicaraguan electoral rules, Lino Hernandez, executive director of the suspicion about Sandinista sincerity. "They Says Gershman: ''The electoral tribunal has Pennanent Commission on Human Rights. don't act like people who want the process to be changed. . , , Right now it is an Nicaragua's only independent monitoring to work. They are playing games with the entirely Sandinista-dominated body and group, describes,how fiscal austerity dic- internal opposition;' says an aide to a cen- has no integrity whatsoever as an impartial tated by the etenomic crisis has further lrist Democratic congressman, Says a State monitor." tightened Sandinista political control of Department official, "It's not a very hope- The party-army-state fusion that fonns those employed in the large state sector. "Thousands of public "employees are being laid off or fired;' he says. 'This is being done on the basis of partisan criteria. Those who participate more in Sandinista party activities, those who are more vocal in their support of the party are retaining their posi- tions in the bureaucracy. . . . It is necessary to have a law . ". . that will guarantee public employees the right to affiliate themselves with any political party they choose, with- out having to fear being fired," The military draft is another powerful instrument of political control. Through the draft, "the Sandinista party is at the m0- ment controlling a high percentage of Nica- raguan youth;' says Hernandez. "Never be- fore has recruitment been as high as it is .... now. This allows the government, the mili- ~ tary - which is the same thing - to have ~ a good percentage of the Nicaraguan pop- ulation. many of them young, in the mili- tary barracks for the next two years. At the same time, it impedes the development of ('..ershman says Nicaraguans hold the Sandinistas responsible for economic crisis. the loppositionl political parties. The ma- INSIGHT / MAY 8, 1989 21 . t - t .. ... .. , , . : .- 1 r'\:")o.'~~' '. ,: ~' I" H . , , R,..t:r_ begun to percolate throughout opposition cadres at all levels in recent months, ac- cording to recent visitors to Nicaragua. This opt~mism is itself significant, marking a recovery of sorts. Last July, the impres- ~ ..'live strides of a labor-based opposition to- ward unity and activism crossed the thresh- ~ old of Sandinista tolerance. The Sandi- It:. , nistas rolled them up. They violently broke r(', .' : -- up a large rally in the city of Nandaime, - ;"'t g jailed several of the opposition's foremost l!l leaders (including Jarquin) and expelled \ ~ U.S. Ambassador Richard H. Melton. Labor union protest of Sandinista economic policies in February last year Fear gripped the opposition, and what had been a burgeoning protest movement jority of party activists are youths between With the beginning of a new phase in screeched to a halt. The United States re- 17 and 24 years old. Once called to serve Nicaraguan politics, a new protagonist en- sponded with a loud bark, but no bite. in the military, they have just two alter- ters the scene: the internal opposition. It is (Speaker of the House Jim Wright went so natives: Either go to the military base for composed of a disparate group of more far as to echo the Sandinista line that the two years, where the only political influ- than a dozen political parties that occasion- protests were no more than a dark CIA plot ence to which they are subjected is the ally act in concert as the 14-party bloc and to revive the flagging prospects for renewed Sandinistas, or become a fugitive, which is an opposition labor coalition called the Per- Contra aid.) The opposition interpreted this what thousands are doing in different manent Congress of Workers, Long prone as confinnation of the implicit Sandinista neighborhoods of Managua," to debilitating factional squabbles (some message to them: '.You are alone. You are Opposition proposals that would pro- self-induced, some prompted by Sandinista in our hands." Afraid and isolated, the op- hibit active-duty military personnel fmm agents provocateurs who have infiltrated position sank into a despair that lasted until voting and public officials from using. the virtually every institution regarded as a the recent reawakening of hope. power of the state for partisan political ,nr- threat to the regime's monopoly on power), A lot of pieces have to fall into place for poses have not been incorpomted inte. 1\ Ie the internal opposition now inherits the People Power to lift off in Nicaragua. Con- revised Sandinista electomllaw. leading role in the anti-Sandinista struggle gressional libemls and Central American Official harassment of opposition acfiv- as last rites are being performed for the democmtic leaders have to deliver the ists remains a fact of Nicaraguan poLtical Nicaraguan resistance movement. promised pressure on the Sandinistas; Con- life. 'There is a pennanent campaig..n of tra aid is no longer an excuse. The Sandi- harassment against the opposition po1itl\~al Agustin Jarquin Anaya, the leader of nistas have to deliver on democmtic reform; parties in tenns of the intermediate cadres one of the opposition's largest par- the Contra threat is no longer an excuse. and grass roots levels. At the moment, the ties, the Social Christi[ill Party, The opposition has to unify and soldier government, because of international atten- outlines the opposition's game plan: "The through to the end of the electoral process, tion on the political situation in Nicaragua, strategy follows three lines. First, demand even if the Sandinistas cheat; "the Contras is not touching the national leadership of fulfillment of [Sandinista] commitments will do if' is no longer an excuse. the parties, but. . . people are called to the and denounce noncompliance. The second The optimism and hope of the opposi- state security offices, members of political part of the strategy will be to prepare our- tion should not be underestimated, how- parties at the lower levels are visited at their selves for this electoral process with enthu- ever, for People Power is set in motion by homes by state security agents who give siasm and optimism, as if they were the the belief that political change is possible them the following choices: Eithertll~y most free elections in the world, . . . and and therefore political participation is sen- collabomte with state security, informing we need the coopemtion of dcmocmtic sible, despite the risks. Mass political par- on all of the political party plans, or they friends around the world. The third step is ticipation brings drama, and drama brings leave the party, or they go to jail. Perhaps to begin to form unity in strategy, program the international spotlight ~ the press, the they will not actually jail them, but it is a and candidates." fact-finding missions and the election ob- permanent intimidation campaign,'. Ac- He is optimistic that the opposition can servers With the arrival of the spotlight, cording to Hernandez, the police harass- rise to the occasion. "Despite our lack of a synergy takes over: Participation expands ment serves not only to intimidate activists democratic civic culture, . . . despite the with the expansion of its international au- but also to "create an atmosphere of fear Sandinistas' efforts to divide political dience, and media coverage expands in turn around these people so that people in their groups;' he says, "I believe all the groups to encompass greater participation. Com- community will be afraid of appearing pub- are beginning to act with more maturity. pared with the Philippines and Chile, Nica- licly as friends of the activists," We are presenting a united opposition to the mgua is an itsy-bitsy country; in theory it In promising that foreign funding of government. . . . We will present a unity should be possible to bathe every crevice opposition parties will be permitted, the [presidential] candidate. We will serve as of it in the great white spotlight. And unjust Sandinistas have met one key opposition an alternative, and we will capture all the power abhors a spotlight. But the differ- demand. Previously, the receipt of any great discontent with the government, and ence, of course, is that Nicaragua is a com- funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress we will awaken the enthusiasm of the pop- munist power, so the spotlights may never (which covers Gershman's Endowment) ulalion." click on. was punishable by 10 to 12 years in prison. Jarquin reflects an optimism that has -'- Daniel Wattenberg 30 INSIGHT I MAY 8,1989 .' ' JfA Y 2 Z ~989 1905 \,J. College Bozeman, Montana lvlay ~?2, 1989 Bozeman City Commission Ci ty lIall 34 North House Bozeman, Montana Dear Commissioners: I w8svery glad to learn from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle of the May I decision of the Bozeman City Commission to desic~ate Iii vas, Nicaragua as Bozeman 1 s " sister city" because this action expresses through pUblic pOlicy the desire we have to respond to the needs of the distressed, regardless of the ideological identity of their governments. The Bishop of our new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Herbert Chilstrom, writin~ in the Chicago Tribune on December 30, 1988, urged American citizens to insist upon the principle of unconditional caring in public pOlicy. Bishop Chilstrom visited Central America last August and recalls: "Life in Nicaragua, after seven years of civil strife, is harsh. But there is an incredible will on the part of people to put together a society that works. Before the hurricane many people lacked the bare essentials: food, clothing, housing, medical care. The situation has worsened in the wake of the hurricane. I was humbled to learn that in the midst of this deprivation Nicaraguans are donating their blood to help the Armenian earthquake victims." Bi~;hop Ghilstrom concluded: "The time is ripe to initiate a new era of reconciliation and peaceful dialogue with our neighbors to the south. As we have normalized relationships with socialist governments in other parts of the world, we can now do the same with nations in our own hemisphere...The humanitarian assistance provided by the U. S. government to people in Armenia and Ethiopia better reflects fundamental American values than the denial of su~ aid to people in Nicaragua. It is time for us to reach out to people in ways which affirm our common humanity and common future with all the world1s people." I have quoted Bishop Chilstrom at some length because he states so well the essence of my own convictions in this matter. I hope that the Commission will reaffirm its designation of Rivas as a sister city and will find tangible ways to implement that action. Thank you for considering my views. Sincerely, ,- "I , '>1/ ",...J,/~l { ,"L r'1'n,:. e A:( ( f:;tella Anacker --------..--------