NICARAGUA/REBEL LEADER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000200950005-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: November 16, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/06/27: CIA-RDP88-01070R000200950005-9
16 November-1983
NICARAGUA/ BROKAW: In Central America, the Sandinista government of
REBEL LEADER Nicaragua is concerned that what happened in Grenada may happen
in Nicaragua, and this man, Commandante Zero, is one of the
reasons for that concern. He is the leader of one of the groups
of rebels fighting the Sandinistas, and right now he's in the
United States trying to drum up financial support. Fred Francis
has been following it.
FRANCIS: Eden Pastora has been waging a guerrilla war for six
months in the.southern jungles of Nicaragua, he says, without
CIA money, to overthrow a Marxist regime which he helped bring
to power. Ten days ago he left the bush to come here, to win
public support for a war in which opinion polls say few
Americans want to become involved. Pastora wants to show that
he is a guerrilla commander with political skills, that he can
move comfortably in the bright lights of congressional corridors
and meet with congressmen who want no part of them. To Democrat
Barnes of Maryland he said, 'I'm ready for dialogue, to use that
gift of God, the spoken word.' It was the first time the'
46-year-old Commandante had ever lobbied in Washington, and he
clearly enjoyed it. He is not campaigning for CIA money, which
makes him unique among revolutionaries who come here. PASTORA
(Commandante from Nicaragua through translator): If we were
getting CIA money, and I am aware of the fact that the CIA
doesn't just give away pennies, we would now be surrounding
Managua.
FRANCIS: Pastora is here for recognition. To declare that he's
independent of East and West and he is campaigning against this
man, Adolfo *Calerro, the guerilla commander from northern
Nicaragua who is supported by the CIA. Last night Pastora
snubbed *Calerro on a television show, because he said
*Calerro's men are former soldiers of the dictator Somoza. It
makes a big difference in the politics of war. While Pastora is
received warmly by the foreign editor of the-Washington Post,
*Calerro is a favorite of White House officials. *Calerro has
an easy way in Washington, winning support for his rebel army of
more than 6,000 men. Next week Pastora will return to the.
Nicaraguan jungle, having declared his independence and tested
his political talents, but without the new weapons which his own
supporters say are needed more than a commandante who is
recognized on American television. Fred Francis, NBC News,
Washington.
Approved For Release 2008/06/27: CIA-RDP88-01070R000200950005-9