VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700920043-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: March 24, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

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PAGE 001 NC 0317037
TOR: 2402562 MAR 86 MANAGU 01942
00 RUEAIIB
ZNY SSSSS ZOC STATE ZZH
UTS4955
00 RUEHC
DE RUEHMU x/1942 0830208
ZNY SSSSS ZZH ZZK
0 2401032 MAR 86 ZFF4
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 9659
BT
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
MARCH 21-23, 1986
1. (C) SUMMARY: CODEL MONTGOMERY COMPOSED OF CONGRESS-
MEN G. V. MONTGOMERY (D-MS), KENNETH GRAY (D-IL),
GEORGE DARDEN (D-GA), AND SANDER LEVIN (D-MI) VISITED
NICARAGUA MARCH 21-23. DURING THE VISIT THEY SPOKE WITH
VICE PRESIDENT RAMIREZ, CARDINAL OBANDO Y BRAVO, PRIVATE
SECTOR OPPOSITION LEADERS, LABOR LEADERS, LINO HERNANDEZ
OF THE INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AND SEVERAL
INDIVIDUALS OPPOSED TO MILITARY AID TO THE CONTRAS. THE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HELD INCOMING AND OUTGOING PRESS
CONFERENCES AND MET WITH PRESS REPRESENTATIVES SEVERAL
TIMES DURING THE VISIT. THEY ATTENDED A PRIVATE DINNER
BRIEFING HOSTED BY THE AMBASSADOR, A BREAKFAST BRIEFING
WITH DAO PERSONNEL AND A LUNCH WITH LA PRENSA LEADERSHIP
HOSTED BY THE DCM. ALTHOUGH NO NEW GROUND WAS UNCOVERED
DURING THE MEETING WITH RAMIREZ, THE MEETING WAS CORDIAL
AND THE EXCHANGE FRANK. IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, NICARAGUAN
INTERLOCUTORS MADE IT PLAIN THAT THE INTERNAL SITUATION
CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. THEIR FREEDOM OF ACTION IS
INCREASINGLY RESTRICTED A(~ WHILE A SMALL NUMBER SEE SOME
HOPE THROUGH CONTADORA, MOST ARE DECIDEDLY PESSIMISTIC
ABOUT THE FUTURE. BOTH SIDES OF THE AID TO THE CONTRA
QUESTION BELIEVE THAT THE CONGRESS WILL REVERSE ITSELF
IN MID-APRIL AND VOTE SOME KING OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE.
END SUMMARY.
2. (U) CODEL MONTGOMERY ARRIVED FRIDAY EVENING AT
SANDING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND WAS MET BY THE
AMBASSADOR AND OTHER EMBASSY PERSONNEL. THE DELEGATION
BRIEFED THE PRESS, JOURNALISTS AND TV, FOR APPROXIMATELY
15 MINUTES. CHAIRMAN MONTGOMERY EXPLAINED THE PURPOSE OF
THE VISIT WAS A FACT-FINDING MISSION AND THAT THE DELE-
GATION WAS BALANCED BY TWD CONGRESSMEN WHO HAD SUPPORTED
THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST FOR MILITARY AID FOR THE CONTRA
AND TWO WHO HAD VOTED AGAINST. EACH OF THE DELEGATION
MEMBERS EXPLAINED WHAT HE HOPED TO OBTAIN FROM THE TRIP.
3. (LOU) MEETING WITH VIRGILIO GODOY, PRESIDENT OF THE
LIBERAL INDEPENDENT PARTY (PLI).
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THE DELEGATION WENT IMMEDIATELY FROM THE AIRPORT FOR A
MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIBERAL INDEPENDENT
PARTY, VIRGILIO GODOY. SUMMING UP THE MEETING, GODOY MADE
THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
-- DESPITE DISCLAIMERS, THE SANDINISTAS WOULD HAVE ACTED
VERY MUCH THE WAY THEY HAVE WHETHER OR NOT THE UNITED
STATES SUPPORTED THE CONTRAS. HE BELIEVES THAT WHILE AT
PRESENT NICARAGUA IS NOT COMPLETELY TOTALITARIAN, IT IS
MOVING RAPIDLY IN THAT DIRECTION.
-- U.S. INTERFERENCE RESULTS FROM SOVIET INTERFERENCE IN
NICARAGUA. THE PROBLEM HAS TAKEN ON AN EAST/WEST DI-
MENSION BECAUSE OF SOVIET ACTIONS.
-- THE UNITED STATES IS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE
IT IS SUPPORTING A GROUP, THE CONTRA, OUTSIDE THE LAW.
THIS, PLUS THE SIZE OF THE UNITED STATES, ALLOWS THE
SANDINISTAS TO POSTURE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE
A SMALL DAVID TO THE U.S. GOLIATH.
-- THE PROBLEM FOR NICARAGUANS AND FOR AMERICANS IS THIS:
CAN DEMOCRACY SURVIVE IN NICARAGUA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND
LATIN AMERICA?
-- THE RECENT VOTE IN CONGRESS IS VIEWED IN NICARAGUA AS
A VICTORY FOR THE SANOINISTA GOVERNMENT AND FOR THE
SOVIETS AND CUBANS.
-- U.S. POLICY MAKING IS HAMPERED AS COMPARED TO SOVIET
POLICY MAKING BECAUSE WHILE GORBACHEV ORDERS, THE U.S.
DISCUSSES; WHILE PRAVDA PRINTS THE COMMUNIST LINE, THE
U.S. PRESS MAKES DAILY SCANDALS ABOUT AID TO THE CONTRA;
AND WHILE SOVIET AID IS SECRET, U.S. AID IS INTER-
NATIONALLY KNOWN, CREATING SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. ONE DAY THE RESULT OF ALL THIS WILL BE THAT
THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE TO BUILD A "WALL AS HTGH AS
CHINA'S ABOUT THE COUNTRY" BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES WILL
HAVE NO FRIENDS LEFT.
4. (LOU) GODOY ALSO SAID THAT WHETHER NEW U.S. AID TO
NICARAGUA WAS USEFUL DEPENDED ON WHO GOT IT. HE ALSO
NOTED THAT SOVIET MILITARY AID WOULD NOT END IF U.S.
MILITARY AID STOPPED. HE ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF
ALWAYS SEEING CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA IN A UNILATERAL
WAY, RESISTING THE TRUTH THAT THIS IS A CONFRONTATION WITH
S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 08 MANAGUA 01942
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
THE USSR. WHEN ASKED WHAT THE ANSWER WAS, GODOY SAID THAT
DISCUSSION IS IMPORTANT; IT COULD LEAD TOWARD CONSENSUS.
HE HIMSELF HAD JUST MET WITH THREE POLITICAL PARTIES,
TWO MARXIST, AND MARCH 22 PLANNED TO MEET WITH
CONSERVATIVES. GODOY ALSO SAID THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY
IS LIMITED IN ITS RIGHTS, BUT THE POOR SUFFER FROM A
DETERIORATING ECONOMY. ASKED HOW THE UNITED STATES COULD
HELP, GODOY SAID FULL U.S. SUPPORT OF CONTADORA WAS
IMPORTANT. IF CONTADORA FAILS, IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF THE
SANDINISTAS AND THIS WILL SHOW THEM UP FOR WHAT THEY ARE.
HE ADDED THAT A PROBLEM WILL RESULT IF THE UNITED STATES
WITHDRAWS UNILATERALLY FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. WHO CAN SAY
THE SOVIETS AND CUBANS WILL DO THE SAME? HE INDICATED A
MAJOR DIFFERENCE EXISTS BETWEEN THE DICTATORSHIP OF
SOMOZA, WHO HAD A SMALL ARMY AND FEW MODERN WEAPONS, AND
THE SANDINISTAS, WHO HAVE OVER 125,000 MEN AND 250 TANKS.
GODOY SAID THE CONTADORA FORMULA WHICH CALLS FOR INTERNAL
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DEMOCRACY IS WHAT IS NEEDED. A NUMBER OF PARTIES HAVE
CALLED UPON THE SANDINISTAS TO NEGOTIATE, BUT ONLY SILENCE
COMES FROM THE GOVERNMENT. GODOY BELIEVES THE SANDINISTAS
PRACTICE A FORM OF "MEDIEVAL FANATICISM AND OPPORTUNISM"
AND IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DISLODGE THEM, BUT THE ONLY
PEACEFUL SOLUTION APPEARS TO BE STRONG SUPPORT OF CONTA-
DORA.
5. (U) MEETING WITH LEADERS OF THE SUPERIOR COUNCIL OF
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE (COSEP).
TO CLOSE THE EVENING, THE DELEGATION HAD A DINNER MEETING
WITH THE FOLLOWING PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS:
ING. ENRIQUE BOLANOS, PRESIDENT OF COSEP
DR. JAIME BENGOECHEA, PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF
INDUSTRIES
DR. LEON RUIZ AMADOR, PRESIDENT, NICARAGUAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
ING. PEDRO CUADRA, PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF CONSTRUC-
TION
ING. GILBERTO CUADRA, PRESIDENT, NICARAGUAN DEVELOP-
MENT INSTITUTE (INDE)
DR. CARLOS QUINONEZ, PRESIDENT, NICARAGUAN ASSOCIA-
TION OF PROFESSIONALS (CONAPRO)
ING. MARIO HANON, PRESIDENT, NICARAGUAN RICE GROWERS'
ASSOCIATION
6. (C) THE COSEP LEADERS AGREED THAT IT IS THE
SANDINISTAS WHO HAVE CHANGED THE POPULAR 1979 REVOLUTION
INTO A MARXIST-LENINIST NIGHTMARE. THE NICARAGUANS
? DESCRIBED EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION, THE EVENTS
WHICH FOLLOWED, AND SOME OF THE PRESENT OPPOSITION
LEADERS IN THE ARMED OPPOSITION AND HOW THEY CAME TO BE
OPPONENTS OF THE REGIME. BOLANOS SAID THE OAS IS
"PRESENTLY ~IN BAD SHAPE. IN 1979 IT CALLED PUBLICLY FOR
SOMOZA'S OUSTER, BUT TODAY THE SAME COUNTRIES WHO VOTED
FOR THAT RESOLUTION STAND SILENT FOR FEAR OF THEIR OWN
LEFT." BOLANOS WAS CRITICAL OF BOTH OAS INACTION AND THE
CONTADORA PROCESS. HE SAID THE CONTADORA PROCESS HAS
"NO CARROT AND NO STICK." WHEN ASKED WHAT COULD BE DONE
TO STRENGTHEN THE OAS NOW, BOLANOS REPLIED THAT IT CANNOT
BE STRENGTHENED AT THE PRESENT TIME. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF
THE WEAKNESS OF BOTH THE CONTADORA PROCESS AND THE OAS,
THE COSEP LEADERS AGREED THAT WHILE A "TRUE MILITARY
SOLUTION" IS UNOBTAINABLE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP
MILITARY PRESSURE ON THE SANDINISTAS. ASKED POINT
BLANK IF THEY SUPPORTED MILITARY AID TO THE CONTRA, THEY
REFUSED TO REPLY. IN PRIVATE REMARKS LATER SEVERAL
INDIVIDUALS TOLD CONGRESSMEN THEY BELIEVED THE USG SHOULD
"SEND IN THE MARINES." THEY MADE THE POINT THAT THE
SOVIETS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN OVER USDOLS 600 MILLION IN
MILITARY AID TO THE SANDINISTAS AND URGED THE U.S. TO
"CATCH UP."
7. (C) ONE COSEP LEADER SUGGESTED A POWERFUL SOUTH
AMERICAN COUNTRY SUCH AS ARGENTINA OR BRAZIL BE URGED TO
USE ITS INFLUENCE IN RESOLVING THE CONFLICT. THIS MIGHT
REMOVE SOME OF THE EAST/WEST IMPLICATIONS FROM THE PRE-
SENT STALEMATE. WHEN pUERIED IF AN ADDITIONAL USDOLS 100
MILLION IN AID WOULD MERELY BE MATCHED BY THE USSR,
LEADERS SAID THAT THE USSR DOES HAVE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT
IT CAN SPEND, ALTHOUGH NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THOSE LIMITS WILL
BE. SEVERAL POINTED OUT THAT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A WAR
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION WITH
NICARAGUA CAUGHT IN BETWEEN.
8. (C) BOLANOS MADE THE POINT, SUPPORTED BY OTHERS,
S E C R E T SECTION 03 OF 08 MANAGUA 01942
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E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
THAT THE NICARAGUAN OPPOSITION IS REQUESTING ONLY
MILITARY AND POLITICAL AID FROM THE UNITED STATES, AND
INDIVIDUALS ARE WILLING TO MATCH U.S. MONEY WITH
NICARAGUAN BLDOD. AND WHILE BOLANOS CONCEDED THAT THERE
APPEARED TO BE LITTLE POSSIBILITY OF A MILITARY VICTORY
AGAINST THE SANDINISTAS, STATING THAT THEY HAD AT LEAST A
QUARTER OF A MILLION ARMED AND TRAINED MEN, HE ALSO
SAID THAT NICARAGUA WAS NO PHILIPPINES EITHER, AND THERE
WAS VIRTUALLY NO POSSIBILITY OF A POPULAR UPRISING THANKS
TO THE TOTALITARIAN CONTROLS AND FEAR WHICH THE SANDINISTAS
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE.
LINO HERNANDEZ BEGAN BY DISCUSSING THE HISTORY OF THE CPDH,
ITS ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE SOMOZA DICTATORSHIP AND ITS
PRESENT FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER THE SANDINISTAS.
HERNANDEZ SAID A COMPLICATING FACTOR IS THAT INTER-
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS AMERICAS WATCH AND OTHERS,
WHICH SHOULD BE OBJECTIVE, BECAUSE OF POLITICAL BIAS
GLOSS OVER VIOLATIONS BY SANDINISTAS AND SENSATIONALIZE
THOSE BY THE CONTRAS. HE BELIEVES THESE GROUPS DO DAMAGE
TO NICARAGUA BY DISTORTING REALITY. HERNANDEZ DESCRIBED
THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION UNDER THE SANDINISTAS AS ONE
OF THE WO&ST IN THE AMERICAS. HE ACCUSED LATIN AMERICAN
GOVERNMENTS OF "KEEPING SILENT IN COMPLICITY." WHILE HE
SAID THE UNITED STATES CANNOT SOLVE ALL NICARAGUA'S PRO- .
BLEMS, LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES HAVE NOT "TAKEN THEIR
TRUE POSITION," DESCRIBING THE PRESENT CONTADORA PROCESS
AS A VEHICLE FOR NEUTRALITY WHICH BUYS TIME FOR THE
SANDINISTAS TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR TOTALITARIAN REGIME. HE
DESCRIBED EL CHIPOTE PRISON AS THE WORST IN LATIN AMERICA
OR PERHAPS IN THE WORLD, AND SAID STATE SECURITY PRISONS,
OF WHICH MANY ARE SUBTERRANEAN, WERE TERRIBLE. PRISONERS
ARE KEPT IN THE DARK WHERE THEY BREATHE AIR COMING FROM
A TUBE IN THE CEILING, ADDING THAT NO HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
OR THE RED CROSS HAVE EVER HAD ACCESS TO THESE PRISONS.
INSTEAD, THEY GO TO MODEL PRISONS WHERE SMALL GROUPS ARE
TREATED BEAUTIFULLY AS A REWARD FOR SPYING IN OTHER
PRISONS ON INMATES. HE DECLARED PART OF THE RESPONSI-
BILITY FOR THE LITTLE INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CON-
DITIONS IN NICARAGUA LIES WITH FORIEGN DIPLOMATS WHO SAY
NOTHING. RELIGIOUS AND PSUEDO-RELIGIOUS PERSONS ALSO
SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT. SOME ARE DUPED BY CAREFULLY
MANIPULATED VISITS; OTHERS ARE BIASED FROM THE BEGINNING
AND RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES TO ESTABLISH SUPPORT
GROUPS WHICH THEN PRESENT A FALSE PICTURE OF WHAT REALLY
HAPPENS IN NICARAGUA.
10. (C) HERNANDEZ SAID THE CPDH HAS EVIDENCE THERE ARE
BETWEEN 6,000 AND 7,000 POLITICAL PRISONERS. AN ADDITIONAL
2,500 FORMER NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ARE AL50 UNDER DETENTION.
HE SAID THE NUMBER OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IS CONSIDERABLY
HIGHER NOW THAN DURING SOMOZA'S TIME IN POWER. ALSO,
TODAY THERE ARE SOME 20 MAJOR PRISONS, SOME FOR COMMON
CRIMINALS ANO SOME UNDER CONTROL OF STATE SECURITY (THE
DGSE) FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS. NINE OF THESE DGSE PRISONS
ARE MAJOR INSTALLATIONS SUPPORTED BY MANY SMALLER DGSE-
CONTROLLED PRISONS WHICH ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
ti. (C) HERNANDEZ ALSO DISCUSSED THE SO-CALLED POPULAR
ANTI-SOMOZA TRIBUNALS WHICH, HE SAID, IS ONE KANGAROO
COURT OPERATING IN MANAGUA, RUN OUTSIDE THE REGULAR JUDI-
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CIAL SYSTEM. IT IS COMPOSED OF THREE PEOPLE, TWO DELEGATES
OF THE SANDINISTA BLOCK COMMITTEES (COS) AND ONE WHO BE-
LONGS TO THE SANDINISTA LAWYERS' ASSOCIATION. LESS THAN
ONE PERCENT ARE ACQUITTED AND CHARGES ARE BASED UPON WHAT
A PERSON "MIGHT HAVE DONE" SINCE EVIDENCE IS RARELY AVAIL-
ABLE. HERNANDEZ SAID THE TRIBUNAL IS ACTUALLY A MEANS OF
EXACTING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC VENGEANCE. IN THE LAST
TWO YEARS SOME 1,500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONVICTED. HE ALSO
SAID THAT IN THE PAST TWO TO THREE MONTHS SOME 700
NICARAGUANS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AND ACCUSED OF COOPERATING
WITH THE CONTRAS. THEY HAVE BEEN HELD WITHOUT PROOF.
HERNANDEZ BELIEVES THEY ARE ACTUALLY ARRESTED BECAUSE THEY
DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN SANDINISTA ORGANIZATIONS, DO NOT
ATTEND BLOCK COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND HAVE SHOWN BY THEIR
INACTIVITY THAT THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE SANDINISTA SUP-
PORT NETWORK, MAKING THEM ENEMIES OF THE REGIME BY DEFAULT.
12. (C) CONCLUDING THE MEETING, HERNANDEZ SAID THAT, IN
HIS JUDGMENT, THE CPDH IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE
BECAUSE IT WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE TO CLOSE IT DOWN. HE SAID,
HOWEVER, THAT THE DAY IT APPEARS THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING
MORE DAMAGE TO THE SANDINISTAS THAN ITS CONTINUED EXISTENCE
IS WORTH WILL BE THE DAY IT DISAPPEARS.
S E C R E T SECTION 04 OF 08 MANAGUA 01942
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
THE DELEGATIbN SPENT APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR WITH CARDINAL
OBANDO Y BRAVO. ASKED TO GIVE A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE
PRESENT SITUATION, OBANDO SAID THAT, IN HIS JUDGMENT, THE
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE SANDINISTA
REGIME. SOME OF THIS RESULTS FROM MARXIST IDEOLOGY AND
SOME FROM THE DETERIORATING ECONOMIC SITUATION. THE CARDI-
NAL SAID THAT TODAY THE POOR IN SOME BARRIOS OF MANAGUA
GO HUNGRY AT NIGHT. WATER SHORTAGES ARE SERIOUS IN THE
CAPITAL. HE HIMSELF HAD "NOT SEEN WATER DURING THE DAY FOR
TWO MONTHS" AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE WAR OBVIOUSLY COMPLI-
CATES PROBLEMS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF PROBLEMS ARE CREATED
BY THE "MARXIST-LENINIST REGIME." OBANDO EMPHASIZED THAT
ALTHOUGH THE CHURCH IS CRITICAL OF THE SANDINISTA REGIME
IT WAS ALSO CRITICAL OF THE SOMOZA REGIME. TODAY, HOWEVER,
THE SANDINISTAS HAVE LAUNCHED A "CAMPAIGN OF HATRED"
AGAINST THE CHURCH AND AGAINST HIMSELF PERSONALLY.
14. (C) THE CARDINAL NOTED THAT THE SANDINISTAS RECENTLY
HAVE TAKEN A SERIES OF MEASURES AGAINST THE CHURCH. HE
SAID THE CHURCH BULLETIN, IGLESIA, WAS CONFISCATED ALONG
WITH PRINTING EQUIPMENT. THE RADIO STATION, RADIO
CATOLICA, WAS CLOSED DOWN PERMANENTLY RECENTLY AFTER
HAVING BEEN SUSPENDED SEVERAL TIMES, ONCE FOR QUOTING THE
CARDINAL WHEN HE SAID IN A HOMILY THAT "LIBERTY IS A GIFT
FROM GOD." OBANDO ALSO SAID THAT THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL
WELFARE AGENCY, COPROSA (A FORMER RECIPIENT OF USAID
FUNDING), WAS TAKEN OVER BY ARMED SOLDIERS WHO HAVE SINCE
STRIPPED THE OFFICES OF EQUIPMENT, AIR CONDITIONERS, ETC.
A COPROSA BANK ACCOUNT HAS ALSO BEEN SEIZED. WHEN ASKED
IF DONATIONS OF U.S. SURPLUS FOOD COULD BE SENT TO THE
CHURCH FOR DISTRIBUTION, OBANDO EXPRESSED STRONG DOUBT
THAT IT WOULD EVER REACH THE POOR.
15. (C) WHEN ASKED WHY THE GON SEES THE CHURCH AS A
THREAT, THE CARDINAL SAID THE CHURCH IS TRYING TO "MAINTAIN
ITS OWN CHARACTER." IT IS A POOR CHURCH, BUT STRONGLY
SUPPORTED BY THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE 80 PERCENT OF
NICARAGUANS WHO ARE CATHOLIC. OBANDO SAID THAT THE
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SANDINISTAS PROBABLY SEE THE CHURCH AS A DANGER BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE LISTEN TO THEIR BISHOPS. HE GAVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF
PIETY THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO WALK MANY MILES TO ATTEND
MASS OR SPECIAL RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES SUCH AS HOLY WEEK
EVENTS. THE CARDINAL SAID THAT THOUSANDS CAME WHILE THE
SO-CALLED POPULAR CHURCH COULD ONLY ATTRACT SCORES OR A
FEW HUNDRED TO HIGHLY PUBLICIZED POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS
EVENTS MEANT TO SUPPORT THE SANDINISTAS. OBANDO ALSO
MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL COMANDANTES HAVE SAID THAT ONCE
THEY FINISH WITH THE CONTRA PROBLEM THEY WILL "FINISH
WITH THE CHURCH."
16. (C) WHEN SPECIFICALLY ASKED BY CHAIRMAN MONTGOMERY
IF HE SUPPORTED CONTRA AID, THE CARDINAL PREFACED HIS
REMARKS BY REMINDING THE CODEL THAT THEY WERE NOT IN THE
UNITED STATES AND THAT "A PERSON COULD BE KILLED" FOR
SPEAKING OUT ON CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS. MILITARY
AID IS ONE OF THOSE SUBJECTS. THE CARDINAL ADDED THAT
HE IS A "PASTOR AND NOT A POLITICIAN" AND HAD NO SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS. HE THEN PROVIDED, HOWEVER, A COMMENT BY
WAY OF THE FOLLOWING ANECDOTE: "WHEN A FATHER SEES TWO
OF HIS CHILDREN FIGHTING, HE NATURALLY WANTS TO DO WHAT
HE CAN TO STOP THEM FROM FIGHTING. IF ONE HAS A KNIFE
AND REFUSES TO STOP, WHILE THE OTHER ONE IS UNARMED AND
WILL SURELY BE KILLED BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE MEANS
TO DEFEND HIMSELF, THEN PERHAPS THE UNARMED CHILD HAS A
RIGHT TO RECEIVE A WEAPON HIMSELF." HE QUICKLY NOTED THAT,
AS THE BISHOP OF LEON, JULIAN BARNI, WAS RECENTLY REPORTED
SAYING TO THE PRESS, THE SOVIET UNION HAS ALREADY
DELIVERED TO THE SANDINISTA GOVERNMENT MORE THAN USDOLS
100 MILLION WdRTH OF ARMS AND NOW THE GOVERNMENT DEMANDS
THAT THE "IMPERIALISTS," I.E. THE UNITED STATES, NOT
INTERFERE IN NICARAGUAN AFFAIRS. THE CARDINAL SAID
NOTHING FURTHER ON THE SUBJECT AND IT WAS NOT PURSUED BY
THE CODEL.
17. (C) THE CARDINAL STRESSED THAT THE POSITION OF THE
CHURCH IS THAT ALL PARTIES NEGOTIATE IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT
A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT. BUT HE LEFT CLEAR
HIS DOUBTS THAT THE NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENT WOULD PURSUE
SUCH A SOLUTION AND REPEATED THE OFT-QUOTED COMMENT OF
COMANDANTE TOMAS GORGE THAT "WE WILL ONLY NEGOTIATE WITH
THE CONTRAS THROUGH THE BARREL OF A MACHINE GUN."
18. (C) WHEN ASKED HOW COULD THE COUNTRY SOLVE ITS OWN
DESTINY, THE CARDINAL SAID THAT NO INTERFERENCE FROM
S E C R E T SECTION 05 OF 08 MANAGUA 01942
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
EITHER PRO OR ANTI SANDINISTA SUPPORTERS WOULD BE THE
IDEAL. HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT UNDER A MARXIST-LENINIST
SYSTEM SUCH AS IS BEING ESTABLISHED IN NICARAGUA THE
SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. HE SAID THE WAR IS NOT MERELY
ONE BETWEEN NICARAGUANS, BUT OUTSIDERS, T00. A DIFFERENCE
IS THAT SOMOZA ONLY HAD FROM 4,000 TO A MAXIMUM OF 16,000
SOLDIERS AT THE END. TODAY THE SANDINISTAS HAVE 100,000
PLUS SOPHISTICATED ARMS TO MAINTAIN THEMSELVES IN POWER.
PEACE, IF IT CAN BE ACHIEVED, IS BASED UPON TRUTH,
JUSTICE, LOVE AND FREEDOM.
19. (S) ASKED IF HE WOULD ACCEPT AID FROM THE UNITED
STATES, HE SAID IT DEPENDED UPON HOW IT WAS GIVEN. IF
IT WERE ACCOMPANIED BY PUBLICITY, IT WOULD PROBABLY HURT
THE CHURCH AND HE WOULD HAVE TO REFUSE IT. LATER,
CONGRESSMAN GRAY TOOK HIM ASIDE AND ASKED IF IT COULD BE
GIVEN INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE VATICAN AND THE CARDINAL
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AGREED THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY. AS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID,
HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT IT WOULD BE DIVERTED BY GON
AUTHORITIES FOR USE BY THE MILITARY. MAINTAINING CONTROL
OF FOOD COMMODITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT.
20. (C) THE CARDINAL SAID ADDITIONAL ARMS, FROM WHATEVER
SOURCE, WOULD ONLY RESULT IN MAKING THE COUNTRY POORER.
HE STRESSED THAT TIME IS ON THE SIDE OF THE SANDINISTAS.
MOST CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE BEING SUCCESSFULLY UNDER-
MINED. EVEN THE CHURCH SUFFERS SOME FROM THIS ATTEMPT.
MANY OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND YOUNG HAVE LEFT NICARAGUA.
THERE IS A "BRAIN DRAIN" THAT IS TERRIBLY SERIOUS FOR THE
FUTURE. MARXIST EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS IS ALSO DIS-
TURBING AND SERIOUS FOR PARENTS WHO DO NOT WISH THIS KIND
OF INDOCTRINATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
21. (S) OBANDO ALSO EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE
CONTADORA PROCESS, DESPITE HIS ADMIRATION FOR ITS ATTEMPTS
TO ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF CENTRAL
AMERICA. HE SAID THAT THE DANGER IS EXTERNAL PRESSURES
WILL BE REMOVED AND THUS LEAVE THE SANDINISTAS FREE TO
CONSOLIDATE THEIR TOTALITARIAN REGIME INSIDE THE COUNTRY.
HE SAID THE SOVIETS WOULD NOT WILLINGLY WITHDRAW THEIR
INFLUENCE IN SUCH A STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT COUNTRY. THE
CARDINAL NOTED THAT "THE SITUATION IS EXTREMELY TENSE,
MORE TENSE THAN ANYTIME SINCE THE REVOLUTION."
22. (C) WHEN QUERIED AS TO WHAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
D0, OBANDO SUGGESTED THAT OBJECTIVE JOURNALISTS BE SENT
TO TALK WITH PEOPLE, EXPOSE THE TRUTH OF THE SITUATION
HERE. HE SAID THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO TALK TO TV
REPORTERS FOR FEAR OF BEING ARRESTED, BUT JOURNALISTS CAN
STILL TRAVEL RELATIVELY FREELY AND SHOULD DO S0. BUT IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT OBJECTIVE REPORTERS BE SENT AND NOT
THOSE ON THE LEFT WHO MASK THE REALITIES. IF A COMMISSION
WERE SENT OBANDO BELIEVES IT WOULD BE MANIPULATED BY THE
SANDINISTAS. THE COMMISSION MEMBERS WOULD BE PRESENTED
WITH A SANITIZED VERSION OF THE TRUTH AND IT WOULD BE
VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MEMBERS TO TRAVEL BY THEMSELVES.
23. (C) MEETING WITH ALVIN GUTHRIE, PRESIDENT OF THE
CONFEDERATION OF UNIFIED LABOR (CUS).
THE DELEGATION MET WITH ALVIN GUTHRIE, PRESIDENT OF CUS
FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. MR. GUTHRIE SAID HIS UNION IS
UNDER CONTINUOUS ATTACK BY SANDINISTA AUTHORITIES.
DESPITE MANY PROBLEMS IT MAINTAINS A MEMBERSHIP OF SOME
22,000 PEOPLE PLUS SUPPORT OF PERHAPS ANOTHER 100,000.
GUTHRIE BELIEVES THE SANDINISTAS ARE OUT TO DESTROY THE
UNION, BUT SAID HE USES THE LAW TO CARRY ON HIS UNION
ACTIVITIES AND FIGHT THE SANDINISTAS. HE SAID THE LATEST
INCIDENT OCCURRED FEBRUARY 22, 1986, WHEN 19 OF HIS
MEMBERS WERE IMPRISONED, ACCUSED OF MURDER AND CATTLE
STEALING--BOTH TRUMPED-UP CHARGES. WHEN ASKED HOW THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT COULD HELP, GUTHRIE REPLIED,
"GIVE US A PLURALISTIC, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. THAT IS WHAT
WE NEED MOST."
EACH SIDE MADE OPENING REMARKS PRIOR TO A SERIES OF
QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS. RAMIREZ PREFACED HIS REMARKS
BY A SHORT DISCUSSION OF THE NEED FOR CORDIAL RELATIONS
WITH THE UNITED STATES. CHAIRMAN MONTGOMERY EXPRESSED
THE NEED FOR AMICABLE RELATIONS. HE NOTED THAT CON-
SIDERATION FOR A COMPROMISE BILL ON CONTRA AID IS LIKELY
TO BE PRESENTED IN MID-APRIL AND THAT SOME FORM OF AID
WILL PROBABLY PASS.
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E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF COOEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
25. (C) AFTER THE OPENING REMARKS, THE VICE PRESIDENT
SAID THAT COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA HAVE SIGNED A BORDER
AGREEMENT WHICH SHOULD BRING PEACE TO NICARAGUA'S SOUTHERN
BORDER. HE HOPES THE-SAME TYPE OF AGREEMENT CAN BE
NEGOTIATED WITH HONDURAS. IT IS THE KIND OF ARRANGEMENT
WHICH THE CONTADORA COUNTRIES ARE SEEKING TO BRING ABOUT.
RAMIREZ SAID NICARAGUA'S MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE REAGAN
ADMINISTRATION'S ANTI-COMMUNIST CRUSADE, WHICH HAS GROWN
TO PARANOIA AS FAR AS NICARAGUA IS CONCERNED AND NOW IS
A MAJOR DISTORTION OF REALITY. HE SAID HE WATCHED THE
PRESIDENT'S SUNDAY SPEECH AND WAS ASTOUNDED BV ITS
ACCUSATIONS. PORTRAYING NICARAGUA AS SPREADING COMMUNISM
TO BRAZIL WAS ONE EXAMPLE. HE FINDS IT EXTRAORDINARY
HOW ALIENATED OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES ARE WITH THE
UNITED STATES ON THIS ISSUE, DESCRIBING THE SITUATION AS
THE WORST MOMENT SINCE THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR. TO HAVE
BRAZIL, ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY CALL IN THE AMERICAN
AMBASSADOR AND REQUEST EXPLANATIONS OF A U.S. PRESIDENT'S
SPEECH IS EXTRAORDINARY AND UNHEARD OF, ACCORDING TO
RAMIREZ. THE VICE PRESIDENT EMPHASIZED THAT NICARAGUA
SEEKS "INDEPENDENT, DIGNIFIED" RELATIONS. IT WILL NOT
"SUBMIT" TO THE UNITED STATES, BUT WANTS MUTUAL RESPECT.
E6. (C) WHEN ASKED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITHIN THE COUNTRY,
HUMAN RIGHTS, PRESS CENSORSHIP, ATTACKS ON THE CHURCH,
RAMIREZ INSISTED THAT NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENT CONCERNS ARE
LEGITIMATE AND REQUIRE SPECIAL MEASURES. TRUE, RELATIONS
ARE NOT EASY, INDEED VERY DIFFICULT, WITH THE CHURCH.
BUT THERE ARE G000 REASONS FOR THE PROBLEMS, AND IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR GROUPS LIKE CARITAS TO FUNCTION. HE SAID
THAT ANY FOOD DONATIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE
ACCEPTED. AS FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS, ETC., THESE STORIES
WERE NOT TRUE AND HE SUGGESTED THE DELEGATION STAY LONGER
TO SEE THE REALITY FOR THEMSELVES. RAMIREZ SAID SUSPENSION
OF CIVIL RIGHTS RESULTS FROM THE CONTRA WAR, A CREATION
OF THE UNITED STATES. ALL WOULD CHANGE WITHOUT THE
CONTRAS.
27. (C) RAMIREZ, IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION ON THE ARMS
BUILD-UP, SAID THE GON DOES NOT WANT TO "CONTINUE" TO ARM
ITSELF. "WHEN OUR RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED, WE WILL NOT NEED
TO DEFEND OUR TERRITORY." RAMIREZ DISPUTED THE STATEMENT
THAT THE LEVEL OF ARMAMENTS IN NICARAGUA DESTABILIZES THE
REGION. HE SAID THE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN HONDURAS
DESTABILIZED THE REGION. HE CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES
TO SUBSTITUTE WORDS FOR ARMS. AS FAR AS A U.S. INVASION
IS CONCERNED, RAMIREZ SAID THAT NICARAGUA WAS NOT GRENADA
AND WOULD "FIGHT TO THE LAST MAN" IF NEED BE. HE ALSO
SAID THAT UNDER CONTADORA THERE ARE GUARANTEES OF ALL
BORDERS AND A COMMITMENT BY ALL NATIONS TO NOT SUPPORT
SUBVERSIVES. HE SAID NICARAGUA COULD AGREE TO THESE
CONTADORA PROVISIONS AND SEEKS A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.
HE ALSO SAID THAT IF THERE IS SIMULTANEOUS REDUCTION IN
ARMAMENTS NICARAGUA WILL ALSO REDUCE. "IT WOULD BE
WONDERFUL IF WE COULD ALL REDUCE TO THE LEVEL OF COSTA
RICA," HE STATED. HE ALSO SAID THE GON WOULD HAVE NO
TROUBLE WITH THE 700 CUBAN ADVISORS IN THE COUNTRY LEAVING
IF U.S. ADVISORS DEPARTED THE REGION. RAMIREZ SAID THE
BEST MEANS TO AVOID A COLLISION IS BY SUPPORTING CONTA-
DORA. HE CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT NICARAGUA WOULD ONCE
AGAIN BE AT CONTADORA NEGOTIATING APRIL 4-6 IN PANAMA.
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28. (C) AS THE TWO GROUPS WERE PART
MEMBERS WENT UP TO RAMIREZ AND SAID,
STAND THAT WE CAME HERE IN COMPLETE SINCERITY
PRESIDENT SMILED AND REPLIED,
WAS SHAKING HANDS WITH CHAIRMAN MONTGOMERY,
DELEGATION TO LEAVE WITH HIM AND ATTEND A "FACE THE
PEOPLE" RADIO-TV PROGRAM SCHEDULED A FEW MINUTES LATER.
THE DELEGATION EXPRESSED ITS APPRECIATION, BUT TOLD HIM
THAT SCHEDULING WOULD NOT PERMIT IT. BOTH SIDES INVITED
THE OTHER TO COME AGAIN AND ONE MEMBER ASKED IF PRESIDENT
REAGAN COULD COME DOWN. RAMIREZ SAID THE GON WOULD
WELCOME HIM AT ANY TIME AND THAT HE HIMSELF HOPED TO
OBTAIN A VISA TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES.
THE DCM HOSTED A LUNCHEON MEETING FOR THE CODEL WITH THE
PUBLISHERS AND EDITORS OF LA PRENSA, THE OPPOSITION
NEWSPAPER. INCLUDED WERE: JAIME CHAMORRO, CRISTIANA
CHAMORRO, HORACIO RUIZ, AND CARLOS RAMIREZ. EXAMPLES OF
CENSORSHIP WERE SHOWN TO THE DELEGATION AND A DETAILED
DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE ON THE METHODS OF CENSORSHIP AND
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE PAPER DUE TO
SANDINISTA RESTRICTIONS.
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
30. (U) MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COORDINADORA
DEMOCRATICA.
THE DELEGATION MET WITH THE FOLLOWING LEADERS OF THE
COORDINADORA DEMOCRATICA (CD):
- DR. EDUARDO RIVAS GASTEAZORO, PRESIDENT
- DR. ANDRES ZUNIGA, VICE PRESIDENT
- DR. RODOLFO MEDIA, LIBERAL CONSTITUTIONAL PARTY
- LIC. ADAN FLETES, SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY
- LIC. AZUCENA FERREY, SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY
- DRA. MYRIAM ARGUELLO, CONSERVATIVE PARTY
- DR. MANUEL MATUS, SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
- LIC. JACAN LOPE, CONFEDERATION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
- DR. JORGE RAMIREZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COORDINADORA.
31. (C) THE DELEGATION FIRST DISCUSSED THE NOVEMBER 1984
ELECTIONS AND REASONS THE CD DID NOT PARTICIPATE. SPEAKERS
SAID THAT THE SITUATION HAS DETERIORATED CONSIDERABLY
SINCE THE OCTOBER 15 SUSPENSION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES, THAT
POLITICAL SPACE IS NARROWING AND CENSORSHIP IS DEFEATING
EFFORTS AT GETTING OU'f THE MESSAGES OF THE OPPOSITION
PARTIES. SOME OF THE PARTIES APPEAR MORE SUCCESSFUL IN
ORGANIZING AND CARRYING ON SOME POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.
32. (C) THE LEADERS ALSO NOTED THAT TODAY THE SANDINISTAS
ARE "ARMED TO THE TEETH" AND THAT WHAT IS NEEDED
URGENTLY IS INTERNAL DIALOGUE TO DIFFUSE AN INCREASINGLY
DIFFICULT POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION. ONE
SPEAKER NOTED THAT SANDINISTA STRATEGY IS TO SPIN OUT
CONTADORA AS LONG AS POSSIBLE IN THE HOPES THAT ONCE
SIGNED THEIR NEGLECT OF KEY PROVISIONS WOULD BECOME
EVIDENT T00 CLOSE TO THE 1988 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR
PRESIDENT REAGAN TO DO ANYTHING. THE DELEGATION WAS GIVEN
A COPY OF THE SIX-PARTY LETTER CALLING ON DANIEL ORTEGA
TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE IMMEDIATELY AND BEGIN
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE POLITICAL PARTIES. ADAN FLETES
OF THE SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY ADDED THAT HIS PARTY HAD
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WRITTEN ANOTHER LETTER TO ORTEGA MARCH 22 AGAIN RENEWING
THE CALL. ONE LEADER SAID THAT THE REASON THE
SANDINISTAS DO NOT WISH TO NEGOTIATE INTERNALLY IS THAT
THIS WOULD REMOVE THE EAST-WEST CONFRONTATION ASPECTS
TO THE PROBLEM, ALLOWING THE UNITED STATES TO WITHDRAW.
THIS WOULD NOT BE THE DESIRE OF THE SOVIET UNION WHICH
ENJOYS SEEING ITS ADVERSARY TIED DOWN IN A SMALL CENTRAL
AMERICAN COUNTRY.
33. (C) WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE
VARIOUS PARTIES BEFORE THE REVOLUTION, INDIVIDUAL
POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES BRIEFLY DESCRIBED THE "BIRTH"
OF THEIR ORGANIZATION. PARTICULAR NOTE WAS MADE OF THE
FACT THAT, THOUGH PERHAPS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, MOST OF
THE PARTIES REPRESENTED IN THE COORDINADORA WERE
ESTABLISHED IN OPPOSITION TO SOMOZA. IN SPITE OF THAT
FACT, IT WAS GENERALLY AGREED THAT ALL OF THE PARTIES HAD
MUCH MORE "POLITICAL SPACE" UNDER SOMOZA THAN UNDER THE
SANDINISTAS.
34. (C) AS MEMBERS OF COORDINADORA, THE PARTIES COL-
LECTIVELY SUPPORT A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO NICARAGUA'S
PROBLEMS AND, AS SUCH, DO NOT FAVOR MILITARY AID TO THE
CONTRAS. ALL AGREED THAT DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE MUST BE IN-
CREASED AGAINST THE SANDINISTAS, ESPECIALLY FROM OTHER
LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS. HOWEVER, SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL PARTY
LEADERS, WHEN ASKED BY A MEMBER OF THE CODEL, DID OPENLY
SUPPORT U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTRAS (BY A
SHOW OF HANDS). THEY ARGUED THAT IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO
"RESTORE" SOME MILITARY BALANCE AND THE ONLY EFFECTIVE
PRESSURE THAT COULD BE PUT ON THE GON TO FORCE IT TO
NEGOTIATE.
THE CODEL HELD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH A GROUP OF
RELIGIOUS AND LAY WORKERS OPPOSED TO AID TO THE CONTRAS
AND U.S. POLICY GENERALLY. THE GROUP INCLUDED REV. NORMAN
BENT, A MORAVIAN PASTOR, REV. GUSTAVO PARAJON, AND
SEVERAL AMERICANS RESIDING IN NICARAGUA. THE DELEGATION
DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC READ-OUT OF THEIR MEETING, BUT
DID MAKE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL COMMENTS:
A) THEY WERE GENERALLY "UNIMPRESSED" BY THE PRESENTATION
OF THE GROUP;
B) THEY FOUND THE GROUP "EXTREMELY BIASED." ONE MEMBER
OF THE DELEGATION SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THEY MUST HAVE
ARRIVED WITH SOME OF THEIR "PREJUDICES" AND NOW THEY RE-
S E C R E T SECTION 08 OF OS MANAGUA 01942
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU, US
SUBJECT: VISIT OF CODEL MONTGOMERY TO NICARAGUA
FUSED TO "SEE ANY WRONG;"
C) TWO MEMBERS OF THE CODEL REMARKED THAT "THEIR IDEA OF
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS NOT THE SAME AS OURS"
D) THE DELEGATION COMMENTED THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF
"STIFF pUESTIONS" AND "SPECIFIC EXAMPLES," THE GROUP
DENIED THAT THE SANDINISTAS WERE MARXISTS AND WERE
VIOLATING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE NICARAGUAN PEOPLE.
36 (C) THE CONTRA AID OPPONENTS PORTRAYED THE CONFLICT
WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HIERARCHY AS A RESULT OF THE
CATHOLIC HIERARCHY SEEKING TO MAINTAIN ITS PRIVILEGED
POSITION WITHIN NICARAGUA. OBANDO Y BRAVO WAS DESCRIBED
BY ONE GROUP MEMBER AS "A TOOL OF SOMOZA."
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THE AMBASSADOR HOSTED A PRIVATE DINNER-BRIEFING FOR THE
DELEGATION SATURDAY EVENING.
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM MANAGUA, THE DELEGATION HELD A
30-MINUTE PRESS CONFERENCE AT SANDING INTERNATIONAL AIR-
PORT IN WHICH THEY DISCUSSED THEIR FINDINGS AND
IMPRESSIONS. A TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS
BEING SUBMITTED SEPTEL. BERGOLD
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