Nicaragua Reagan: pressure on governments. claims over 9,000 casualties on the contras in the same period. Although government figures show no let-up in the number of military engagements and attacks on civilian targets, the brigades of paid workers and volunteers who are now completing the coffee harvest (or corte) in the hills of the north - teachers, schoolchildren, students and internatonalists among them — are working in areas where there has been no picking for two years. This reflects the contra failure to seize permanent control. Conversely, there is increas ed contra activity in the southern departments of Zelaya Sur, Chontales, Boaco and Rio San Juan.
The Nicaraguans appear to be holding the contra threat in check. The disunity of the contra leadership despite US efforts to set up a unified command, contrasts with the continuing broad mobilisation in defence of the democratic revolution and hard-won Independence from US domination.
As well as the EPs (2 years" national service), reserve batallions (some, in the cities, of those who have done their two years) and the militia based on the local Sandinista Defence Committees or workplaces, all have light weapons to detend the gains made since the 1979 revolution. Local militias are instrumental in defending Socialist Viewpoint No. 11 March 1986 p6
villages against contra attacks.
Workplaces such as state. cotton farms, co-operatives and factories have their own militia detachments of workers. The Sandinista unions have representatives responsible for recruitment into the militia.
Another aspect of CIA/contra strategy to overthrow the Sandinista government (elected by a large majority in 1984) is the attempt to open an FDN "Internal front" of sabotage, bombing and assassinations in the cities.
In January, a group of five people, arrested in possession of explosives and arms, was presented at a press conference in Managua. Four admit ted involvement with such a plan: the fifth, a CTN union leader, denied involvement. (The small, divided CTN is affiliated to the anti-communist World Confederation of Labour). Economic sabotage on a grand scale is part of US government strategy.
The price paid by the Nicaraguans for their determined resistance of the YOU CAN HELP MA OR YOU CAN
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HONDURAS PACIFIC OCEAN COSTA RICA 45% of health centres, diture on defence education services. (E ROSITA AN ORPHAN, TURN THE PAGE. HE CONTRAS, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. HELP. YOU SEE, SINCE CONGRESS CUT CT MILITARY FUNDING WE'VE BEEN MONEY FROM PRIVATE SOURCES. FOR GUNS. AND GRENADES. AND MINES. /E ALREADY KILLED MANY PEOPLE. N VILLAGE MILITIAS, WHO SUPPORT A E DON'T LIKE. PEOPLE LIKE ROSITA'S • WOULDN'T IT BE A SHAME TO STOP NOW? ле HELP! I WANT THE WEAPONS C NATION PAYS FOR TO CREATE A: * DY ORPHAN • : IRL ORPHAN
NICARAGUA tesda Pres.n ATLANTIC OCEAN US aggression is very high. Over the budget now goes on defence, In addition to the contras' campaign of burning schools and the soaring expen- threatens the mainienance of improved health and "Survival" rather than any further improvement is the sy economy. policy they have been forced into. The contros' campaign of destruc- tion and terror links up with the US government's aggressive trade em However bargo (no spare parts for US-made vehicles, for example; veto of loans and other interference) to threaten a here, Tecucigalpa smaller scale in was the When George Schultz auguration USE MY DONATION WHERE ITS NEEDED LEAST
Sandinista militía member defends Jinofega border area. major dislocation of Nicaragua'a flim-
In this way Reagan hopes to create conditions for disaffection and a real "internal front" of duran opposition to the Sandinistas.;
Tin a January visit (restricted to the more heavily populated Pacific zones) I could see no signs of serious shortage of basic loods and clothing. Much more prominent again is the threat by the USA of a direct military intervention by American troops from the air, by sea and from land bases in Honduras.
Over 70,000 US troops have participated in manoeuvres in Honduras in the last tive years. There are 2,500 US troops permanently stationed
Tand the present "Terencio Sierra" manoeuvres in Honduras wil involve at least 10,000 US troops over Rica, the coming 4-5 months.
New bases, airstrips, army depots, camps and major road works to link the north coast ports with the capital
Tand areas bordering hour Nicaragua have turned Honduras into a US military stronghold in Central America and possible staging post tor an invasion of Nicaragua.
Several hundred more US troops are carrying out preparations on a
Costa Rica to the South. The de-neutralisation of what
"Switzerland of Central America" is well advanced.
US Secretary of State attended the inof the new Honduran President Azcona In January, all lanes to Tecucigalpa were closed to all but US military aircraft: and US Socialist Viewpoint No. 11 March 1986 p7
helicopters patrolled the capital. US armed forces chief Admiral Rowe earlier in the month visited the Hon-
military and the contra leaders.
Further symptoms of the US arrogance in the region came on January 8, when a US warship unprecedentediy shelled positions of FMLN liberation forces in El Salvador where the guerrillas were threatening troops of President Duarte. And in Panama, 1,500 US troops are embarked on a month's "Kinder Liberty" exercises.
With this response to the Contadora peace proposals of the Latin American governments, President Reagan clearly intends to pressurise the newly-elected Presidents of Costa
Honduras and Guatemala to take an even more hostile line to the Sandinista leaders in Nicaragua and step up the threat of direct US intervention hinted at during his four-
victory visit to recolonised Grenada.
But the government and people of Nicaragua are in a much stronger position both militarily and politically than was Grenada prior to the US invasion.
Neither does the USA have a local alternative leadership in Nicaragua with any credibility. The leading political role being played on an international level Archbishop Obando of Managua in support fo the contros merely serves to expose this gaping hole in Reagan's strategy to oust the Sandinistas.
To be continued next issue.
Health