CIA, POPE AND LIBERALS TAKE AIM AT SANDINISTAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505140022-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: December 29, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505140022-4
THE GUARDIAN (US)
Z9 December 198Z
CIA, pope and liberals
take aim at Sandinistas
By HARRY FRIED
Fighting in northern Nicaragua along the
Honduran border has escalated as U.S.-
backed counterrevolutionary forces based in
Honduras appear to be attempting to
establish "liberated zones" inside Nica-
raguan territory.
Sandinista military spokespersons charged
last week that a group of 900
counterrevolutionaries attempted to take
over the area of Jalapa, Nueva Segovia, near
the Honduran border. Most were driven
back into Honduran territory.
Exposes of the Reagan administration's
ongoing efforts to overthrow the Sandinista
government, meanwhile, have made this
operation the most overt "covert" CIA
action in that institution's history. Recently,
the defection of an Argentine intelligence
agent has brought to light more details of the
U.S. role in the counterrevolutionary
attacks.
These revelations have provoked new
domestic challenges to U.S. destabilization
of Nicaragua on the congressional and
judicial fronts. Nevertheless, the White
House has given no indication that it intends
to let up on its campaign to kindle the fires of
war in' the border region, which some
observers fear could become the flashpoint
of a regional Central American conflagration.
The external pressure on Nicaragua, at the
same time, has increasingly polarized the
internal political situation. The majority of
Nicaraguans have rallied around their
embattled revolution; but some liberal
bourgeois figures, critical of emergency
measures that restrict civil liberties, are
withdrawing their tentative support of the
Sandinista government. The most recent
example of this was the resignation of
Nicaraguan AmbassadortotheU.S. Francisco
Fiallos Navarro last weekend. While criticiz-
ing Reagan policy toward his country, Fiallos
charged that Nicaragua was in danger of
"going from a rightist dictatorship to a leftist
dictatorship."
Pope John Paul 2 is also doing his part to
sow internal rifts, by refusing to visit
Nicaragua on his upcoming Central America
tour next spring unless Nicaraguan priests
resign from their government posts. The
popes projected visit has also set off a battle
between the Catholic hierarchy and the
government over who would be in charge of
the pontiffs itinerary.
Fiallos, the country's fourth ambassador to
Washington since the Sandinista National
Liberation Front (FSLN) defeated dictator
Anastasio Somoza three-and-one-half years
ago, said he was leaving the post because of
political differences with the FSLN leader-
ship.
One week earlier, an interview Fiallos had
granted to the opposition Nicaraguan daily La
Prensa was censored in Nicaragua. "I decided
that if they wouldn't let them print it, I would
resign," he said in a press conference. In the
interview Fiallos criticized the U.S. policy of
destabilization of the Sandinista government
and suggested that in order for Nicaragua to
confront the threat, internal changes must
take place. Such changes, he suggested.
should include elections and an end to press
censorship.
Fiallos' resignation is reminiscent of the
exit just over a year ago of Nicaragua's
previous ambassador to the U.S., banker
Arturo Cruz. He has since worked with those
anti-Sandinistas who, grouped around Eden
Pastora ("Commander Zero") and Alfonso
Robelo, have condemned both the FSLN
leadership for being too radical and the
Reagan administration for supporting ex-
Somoza guardsmen. In their analysis. the
Reagan policy further "radicalizes" the
FSLN.
The revelations of an Argentine intelligence
operative involved in anti-Sandinista activi-
ties meanwhile added new bits of information
to the now irrefutable body of evidence that
the CIA is spearheading the attacks on the
Nicaraguan revolution.
In late October, Hector Frances of
Argentina's "Intelligence Battalion 601"-
the Argentine army intelligence agency-left
San Jose, Costa Rica, where he had been
based for several months. A few weeks later
Frances appeared on Mexican television
explaining that he had been part of an
international plan to overthrow the Nica-
raguan government.
Frances' declarations indicate that while
Honduras has been the main base of
ex-Somoza guardsmen, Costa Rica is also
playing a key role in the CIA-sponsored
conspiracy. The ex-intelligence agent told of
his many contacts. describing a meeting in
San Jose in early 1982 with a U.S.
businessman and two Costa Rican business-
men.
V/
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Reacting to the reports of heavy U.S. Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the National
OVERTHROW U.S. ROW THE BASTARDS involvement. the House debated on Dec. 8 Lawyers Guild, names as defendants 10 top
The Ucitizen, Nat
Fran as a key legislation which would cut off U.S. U.S. officials, includingReagan, Secretary of
Carolina, was named by France as key funding for paramilitary operations directed State George Shultz and Secretary of Defense
Washington contact for the anti-Sandinista Caspar Weinberger;
groups. Hemrick. interviewed by the against Nicaragua. Introduced by Rep. Tom Cuban inbergerer; 10 10 leadading g Nicaraguan
(D-la.), the amendment to the defense and including
Washs of Fr Post, which also published budget stipulated that no funds could be used Bermudez; and eight right-wing Nicaraguan
and is n Frances' Rory, admitted Helms by the Defense Department or the CIA to and Cuban terrorist organizations.
militarily liking" New Right Sen. Jesse Helms it group or individual, The- seven Nicaraguans are suing for
(R-N.C.), and also stated that he had a lumber
support any company with operations in Central America. personal damages which have resulted from
not part of a country's armed forces, for the P purpose of assisting that group or individual in
counterrevolluttion attacks over the Honduran border. Under the
Though he denied tie the Nicaraguan carrying out military activities in or against rarely used Alien Tort Claims Act, a foreigner
Nicaragua." I can sue in a U.S. court for acts (assault,
, he did note: " I sympathize
with them and I empathize with them and I The amendment wasnotvotedon,howeve torture, rape. murder, etc.) committed
hope they overthrow the bastards." as Edward Boland (D-Mass.), chair of the outside the U.S. if he or she has reason to
The figures businessmen were leading House Permanent Select Committee on In. believe that those responsible for the violent
right-winging figes associated with the "Free telligence, introduced a weaker alternate action are residing in the U.S. Thus the suit Rica Movement." The toic f
discussion, ccording to Frances, was how to amendment. The Boland amendment, which, charges a conspiracy among all the
set. up an incident to make assed411-0,callsfornoU.S.fundingtopara? defendants to organize and direct violence
and its residents le.
Sandinistas appear that the p
were involved in terrorist military forces "for the purpose of overthrow- against The two Florida Nicaragua
are suing to
activities in Costa Rica. Such incidents would ingthegovernmentof Nicaragua or provoking
provide a pretext for the Costa Rican a military exchange between Nicaragua and, remove Lhcounterre.olutio a train training camps
government to invite foreign troops to Honduras." This language does not conflict the basis "defend" it from the Sandinistas. with the Reagan adminut paot overthrow, the Neutralityt Act,it which the Florida ocamps f the
but
Just such an incident took place in late July stated aim to "harass"
1982. when Costa Rican authorities accused Sandinista government, and to interdict violate. as well as on the basis -c`-
sed arms shipments from Nicaragua to\ constitutional right as a member of Congress
officials of the Nicaraguan embassy in San supposed to participate in the decision to go to war.
Jose of responsibility in the bombing of the Salvadoran revh view ee'amendment as a' which he alleges has been violated.
k fn czmber one
e
b
Honduran airlines office. Since then relations
between Nicaragua and Costa Rica have
grown increasingly tense.
In the wake of several weeks of continuing
revelations concerning the U.S.-sponsored
paramilitary activity in Honduras. there has
been speculation as to whether U.S. policy is
shifting.
In late November the Honduran govern-
ment indicated that the Somocista training
camps along the Nicaraguan border were
being dismantled. A Dec. 3 Washington Post
story suggests that there have been
significant movements of the counterrevolu-
tionary forces. But while Honduran officials
have claimed that most of the counterrevolu-
tionaries have entered Nicaragua, it is
doubtful that they will cease operating out of
bases in Honduras. Without the collaboration
of the Honduran authorities any large-scale
push on the part of the "contras" into
Nicaraguan territory would ultimately prove
suicidal.
era
House lt
positive, albeit limited and loophole-ridden. During the first two wee so
step. Michael Barnes (D-Md.), chairman of of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs. Dr. Myrna
the subcommittee on inter-American affairs. Cunningham, was in the U.S.. where she
noted that "The House of Representatives visited several major East Coast cities. Dr.
, be ck-
made clear that the United States should not Cunningham,
and raped ba
wkof Miskito and
be in the business of overthrowing govern- SID ound. was
19 i by a band .of ex-National
ments or starting wars"
Yet while the Reagan administration has Guardsmen and Miskito counterrevolution-
publicly insisted that the S19 million is not aries operating out of Honduras.
meant to overthrow the Nicaraguan govern-
ment, Enrique Bermudez, widely believed to
be one of the chief beneficiarie House
refuted that view. The same day the
passed the Boland amendment. Bermudez,
the military head of the counterrevolutionary
Nicaraguan Democratic Fora, denied that his
group is working for the limited U. We aced
objective of intercepting arms. are
Nicaraguans," he said, "and our objective is
to overthrow the communists and install a
democratic government in our country."
The increasingly frequent border incur-
sions from Honduras by Nicaraguan "con-
tras" have meant kidnaping, rape, torture and
murder for the hundreds of Nicaraguan
border-area residents who have been victims
of these attacks.
On Nov. 30 a lawsuit was introduced in the
U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia
on behalf of seven Nicaraguan citizens who
have suffered directly from the attacks, and
three U.S. citizens, including two Florida
residents and one member of Congress. The
suit, which is being handled by the Center for
While there appear to be serious
contradictions within the Reagan administra-
tion on the question of how best to overthrow
the Nicaraguan government. there is no
indication that the administration is about to
cut off funding for the anti-Sandinista groups.
Certain sectors of the administration,
however, appear to be pushing for a more
long-range strategy combining economic and
diplomatic pressure with continuing military
incursions.
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