CALL FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE BY NICARAGUAN RESISTANCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M00539R001802760032-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2009
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: March 6, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
ROUTING SLIP
STAT
13 March 1985
Date
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United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
March 6, 1985
MEMORANDUM TO DISTRIBUTION LIST A
FROM: S/LPD - Otto J. Reich
SUBJECT: Call for National Dialogue by Nicaraguan Resistance
On March 2, key anti-Sandinista political leaders joined
armed opposition leaders in a statement calling for a "national
dialogue" with the Sandinista leadership. This comprehensive
statement symbolizes the anti-Sandinistas' sincere desire for
peace and their commitment to democracy. As the initiative
said, "We aspire to the democratization of Nicaragua, conscious
that democracy is the only means to carry out an authentic
revolution and rescue our national identity and sovereignty."
The document was signed by, among others, former
presidential candidate Arturo Cruz and former La Prensa editor
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro from the political opposition, and
Nicaraguan Democratic Force leader Adolfo Calero, Alfonso
Robelo and Fernando Chamorro from the armed opposition.
These opposition leaders are calling for a dialogue to
begin by March 20, and they state that if the dialogue is not
begun or has not "progressed in clear and substantial form" by
April 20, "it will be definitely suspended by the Nicaraguan
Resistance, thereby terminating the possibilities for a
peaceful resolution of the national crisis."
Enclosed is an unofficial translation of the document. I
am also including an article from the March 3 Washington Post,
which assesses the significance of the initiative.
Enclosures:
As stated.
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UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF THE "DOCMFNT ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE OF THE NICARAGUAN
RESISTANCE" AS SIGNED BY THE VARIOUS RESISTANCE LEADERS AND READ TO MEMBERS OF
THE NICARAGUAN EXILE CCMNUNITY IN SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, 11:30 A.M., COSTA
RICA TIME, MARCH i 1985.
We, democratic citizens, representatives of all sectors of the Nicaraguan
Resistance, announce to the Nicaraguan people, to the governments and peoples
of the Americas and of the world, the following manifesto:
THE PRESENT SITUATION OF NICARAGUA
In recent years, the Sandinista Front has submerged our people in a crisis without
precedent in.our national history.
At this time, the impact of this crisis is evident in the economic, political,
social and moral spheres of the nation.
This situation is rooted both in the abandonment of the Original Program of
Government and the Fundamental Statute as well as in the interference of the
Soviet Bloc in our internal affairs.
Both factors, the sole responsibility of the Sandinista Front, have brought about
a sharp conflict whose protagonists are the governing party on the one hand and
the Nicaraguan people on the other.
The Nicaraguan people reject, of course, the imposition of a regime which in
essence contradicts the values and aspirations which gave birth to the
revolutionary process. They are founded on the recovery of freedom, democracy
and social justice so often postponed because of the Somoza regime.
In conclusion, the national crisis we face did not grow out of a confrontation
between imperialism and the revolution, as the Sandinista Front pretends, but
out of the contradictions which emerge from the clash between democratic
expectations of the Nicaraguan people and the imposition of a totalitarian
system such-as that which is being implanted in our country by the Sandinista Front.
This conflict, which has produced -a civil war, today threatens to destroy the
Nicaraguan nation. And as stated in the recent document of the Nicaraguan
Democratic- Coordinator, it cannot be resolved through negotiations between the
governments of other nations and the Sandinista Front nor through sectarian dialogues.
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From that perspective, it is clear that the elections of November 4, 1984,
by virtue of having been a farce, contributed nothing toward the resolution of
the national crisis. This view has been supported'by the Inter-American
Commission of Hunan Rights in its report for the period 1983-84, as well as by
the political groups which decided to participate in the "elections", as they
stated in the document entitled "Proposals of Minimum Concurrence for the
Renewal of the National Dialogue," issued in January of this year.
The solution to the national crisis can only be found through a genuine
understanding among all Nicaraguans that might end the civil war and lead to
the reconciliation of the Nicaraguan family.
We wish to emphasize that this initiative is not taken merely to search for
a quota of power, but rather it seeks only to establish in Nicaragua the rule
of law which will permit the people to live in peace and to go about resolving
our problems within a new constitutional order.
CG+ ON ASPIRATIONS
We aspire to the democratization of Nicaragua, conscious that democracy is the,
only means to carry out an authentic revolution and rescue our national
identity and sovereignty.
We aspire to reconstructing Nicaragua, to promoting its devolopment in accordance
with a model which gives priority to the dispossessed sectors.
We aspire to the establishment'of a political system which guarantees a real
separation of powers, authentic pluralism, and a Just, efficient mixed economy.
In order to carry out the foregoing, the following is required:
a) To recognize the primacy of civilian society with respect to the State and
to assure through it the dissolution of the totalitarian state-party-army
trilogy.
b) Full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of expression,
assembly, religion and education.
c) De-militarization of society and the absolute subjection of police functions
to civilian authority.
d) A foreign policy which has as ojbectives the preservation of national
sovereignty, peace and harmony with neighboring countries in particular,
and effective reactivation of the historical aspirations of.Central
American Unity.
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el An economic system wnlcn provides for the development of the private
sector which includes cooperative enterprises, as well as the clear
definition of the participation of the State as a subsidiary economic
agent and promoter of social development.
f) Institutionalization of a multi-piarty electoral system which guarantees
free elections, alternation in power and respect for the minority.
g) Freedom to organize unions.
h) A modern, productive process of integral agrarian reform.
i) Administrative decentralization and effective autonomy for municipal
goverment.
j) Full recovery of the Atlantic' Coast, integrating it completely in the
national life, guaranteeing respect for the culture and traditions of the
various ethnic groups of the region and of the rest of the country within
a framework of effective municipal autonomy, exercised in the context of
the insolubility of the Nicaraguan nationality.
k) General amnesty and pardon for political crimes and related crimes.
1) Expulsion from the country of all foreign internationalists, militar-
advisors and troops, including those who may be found using the identity
of deceased Nicaraguan citizens and those who have been improperly
naturalized.
'ME UST %,ND DEFINITIVE SUfAIONS
After having carried out multiple peace initiatives in the last three years
directed toward establishing a constructive dialogue with the Sandinista Front
that would end the civil war and lead to the reconciliation of the Nicaraguan
family, we recognize that those efforts have been fruitless because of the
intransigence of the Sandinista regime and because of the designs of the
Soviet bloc.
The Sandinista Front, by ignoring and failing to comply with the agreements made
in the past, has lost the necessary credibility to reach a good faith
understanding. Such is the case of the agreements reached with the XVII
Consultative Meeting of the OAS Council of N1 i n i st ers , the rhr i g i nal Program of
Government, the Fundamental Statute, the Eighteen Points of Concurrence of the
Fonui for Discussion of National Problems, and the promises to carry out a free
and honest election, among others.
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Therefore, in view of the gravity of the moment, and conscious of our civic
".?
responsibilities and of the urgent need to save our people from greater
suffering, we accept the call to convene issued by the Nicaraguan Democratic
Coordinator and we call upon the Sandinista Front, for the last time, and
in definitive absolute fashion, to participate in a national dialogue which
will end the national crisis. This dialogue should follow these modalities:
Convocation
The Nicaraguan Bishops Conference is the entity with the necessary moral
authority to organize and coordinate the National Dialogue. In this regard,
we reiterate the petition made to it by the Democratic Coordinator. to convene
the National Dialgoue.
Participants
In order that the dialogue be efficient and produce the desired results, it is
necessary to structure it in accordance with Nicaraguan reality. There are two
political tendencies in Nicaragua: the totalitarian one which for the moment has
accepted the Sandinista Front as its vanguard, and the democratic one which is'.
divided into armed organizations and civilian organizations; therefore, the
Dialogue should be between these two political tendencies so that both can name
their respective delegates, as many as the Bishops Conference feels is appropriate.
Observers and Guarantors
We suggest to the Bishops Conference that it request the participation of the
Central American Governments in the Dialogue as guarantors of the agreements
which may be reached, given the fact that the sister peoples of Central America
are, in the final analysis, are those which have been most directly affected by
the Nicaraguan crisis.
The presence of these governments as guarantors in no way hinders the presence
as observers or even as guarantors of other governments and democratic entities
of the American continent.
Minimum Requirements
We support fully the minimum requirements demanded by the Democratic Coordinator
in order to initiate the National Dialogue. They are: Suspension of armed
activities, with a cease-fire in situ; lifting of the state of emergency;
absolute freedom of expression and assembly; general amnesty and pardon for
political crimes and related crimes; entry into effect of the right of asylum
and habeus corpus, adding the granting of full protection of the physical and
moral integrity of those members of the Resistance who participate in the
Dialogue, in the event that it should take place in Nicaragua.
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The application of these measures should be carried out under the supervision of
the guarantor gaverrments.
Temporary Permanence of the Executive.
ff this dialogue is carried out, we commit ourselves to accept that Mr. Daniel
Ortega continue acting as head of the Executive Branch until such time as the
people pronounce themselves in a plebiscite. During this period, W. Ortega
should govern in fulfillment of the promises of the Nicaraguan Revolutionary
Government Junta contained in the document of July 12, 1979 and directed to the
Secretary General of the Organization of American States, an in fulfillment of
the Original Program of Government, the Fundamental Statute and the American
Human Rights Convention and the Pact of San Jose.
Initial Points of the Agenda
Although it will be up to the Bishops Conference to establish a definitive
agenda, by agreement of the parties, we urge it to include as of now the
following points:
1) That the legal procedure and actions of the government conform immediately
to the American Convention of Human Rights, or the Pact of San Jose, which
was ratified by the Nicaraguan Governement of National Reconstruction on
September 25, 1979, declaring it the law of the land and committing the
national honor to its enforcement.
2) The dismantlement and immediate dissolution of all the party repressive
organisms such as the CDS (Sandinista Defense Committees) and the other
para-military organs.
3) eduction of military strength, the apolitical nature of the army, an end
to the arms race, and the withdrawal of all foreign military troops and
advisors and internationalists.
4) Immediate dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly.
5) A new provisional electoral law.
6) A new provisional law for political parties.
7) Re-structuring of the electoral system in accordance with the above
provisional laws.
8) Calling of elections for a National Constituent Assembly.
9) Calling of municipal elections.
10) Calling of a plebiscite on the conduct of new presidential elections.
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Initiation of the National Dialogue, Instrumentation and Deadlines
In order to carry out the National Dialogue proposed by the Democratic
Coordinator, on the basis of the statements contained in this document, and
conscious of the leninist tactic of stalling in order to consolidate the
totalitarian program of the Frente Sandinista, said Dialogue oust begin by
March 20, 1985. This date cannot be postponed. If by April 20, 1985 the
National Dialogue has not begun or has not progressed in clear and substantial
form, it will be definitely suspended by the Nicaraguan Resistance, thereby
terminating the possibilities for a peaceful resolution of the national crisis.
If the Nicaraguan Bishops Conference considers it useful to hold conversations
with this group for purposes of preparations leading to the speedy realization
of the Dialogue, we announce our immediate e-availability to participate in such
conversations. To that end we appoint as our representatives MSSTS. Arturo J.
Cruz, Alfonso Robelo and Adolfo Calero.
May love for our fatherland overcome selfishness and foreign involvement,
so that the National Directorate of the Sandinista Front will respond positively
to this our last effort to grant to our country a civilized solution.
God Save Nicaragua'
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Tn AARMIG o POST
SUNDAY, NAM 3. MS AN
Rebel Leadeits Demand
With Sandinist~s
P o r ft i m t , Military Agww .Ion in - A*eal
By Fdw.rd Cody
W - -- AM romp swum
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, March
2-Key anti-Saner political
leaders joined the armed Ni-
caraguan-rebel movement today in
a new demand for dialogue with the
Sandinista Leadership on ways to
bring peace to Nicaragua.
The declaration, indirectly broad-
ening political support among exiles
for the guerrilla war there, coin-
cided with a vigorous campaign by
the Reagan administration to per-
suade Congress to renew CIA fund-
ing for the rebels. In that context, it
seemed partly designed to
strengthen administration argu-
ments that the guerrillas represent
the spearhead of broad-based po1
litical opposition to the Sandinista
government.
The declaration unveiled here
after weeks of negotiations, entitled
"Document of the Nicaraguan Re-
sistance an National Dialogue," was
intended as the expression of a po-
litical accord among exile leaders
both within and outside the guer-
rilla war that has been raging in
Nicaragua for three years, its draft-
ers said.
For the first time, it brought for-
mer presidential candidate Arturo
Cruz into a grouping with the main
guerrilla organization fighting in
Nicaragua. - the Nicaraguan Dem-
ocratic Force. Cruz, a former San-
dinista official, previously had
avoided open association with the
force and misted today that his sig-
nature on the document did not
make ban part of any political front
designed to facilitate renewed U.S.
funding for the guerrillas.
"We are not lobbying," he said.
Mis has Congress.- to do with the aid
from Two Leaders of rebel forces not
allied to the Nicaraguan Democratic
Force, Eden Pastore and Brooklyn
Rivera, declined to sign the docu-
ment
Leaders of the Nicaraguan Dem-
ocratic Force appeared pleased that
Cruz had joined them in the decla-
ration of political goals and what
they called a "last chance" challenge
to the Sandinistas to open a national
dialogue on finding peaceful ways to
settle the conflict. Cruz, who has
lived many years in Washington, is
regarded by guerrlla leaders as a
forceful ally in dealing with U.S.
congressional leaders.
Adolfo Calero, the force's chief
political figure, pointed out that
Cruz's association with the political
document marked a departure and
added: "If the Sandinistas do not
reply, I would interpret this to
mean Mr. Cruz agrees with [the
Nicaraguan Democratic Force] in
reinforcing our quest for military
opposition."
Another leader of the force, In-
dalecao Rodriguez, said that even
though the document is only polit-
ical, it could form the basis for an
umbrella group that could receive
U.S. funds if Congress refs to
give money directly to the guerrilla
forces.
The docmnerht, which repeated
political god Long held by Crus and
the other signers, gage the Sandi
am. AMarch 30 to
agree to the idea of a Io~d
der the aegis of the Dam Catbal c
Church's bishops' oooferenoe.
"If an Aprl 20. IM the national
dialogue has sot begun as has go
advanced is a.subagen l and aiaffije
way, it will be definitively inn.
pesded by the National taoce.
and with that the peseab~ties of a
peaceful settlement to the national
crisis will be considered ended,' it
added.
This seemed to be a threat to the
Sandinistas that if they continue to
refuse the demand for dialogue,
Cruz and the other political leaders
who have avoided joining the guer-
rilla movement wilt lend their full
political weight to the war.
The Sandinistas previously have
rejected similar demands for nation-
al dialogue on opposition political
goals such as dissolving the link be-
tween the Army and state and the
ruling Sandinista National Libera-
tion Front. Other goals include plu-
ralist elections. a mixed economy
and expulsion of foreign military
advisers.
At the same time, rebel leaders
pointed out that President Daniel
Ortega recently has made a series
of gestures designed to renew the
Contadora peace negotiations, in-
dicating that the Sandinistas. are
seeking some opening. The way to
settle the conflict, the document
said, is not negotiations between
the Sandinistas and other govern.
ments, but between the Sandinistas
and their - Nicaraguan opponents.
armed as well as unarmed.
Signing the document, along with
Cruz and Calero, were rebel leaders
Alfonso Robelo and Fernando Cha-
mwrro and Pedro Joaquin Cha-
morro. former-editor of the eppo.
sition newspaper La Prema, who
left Nicaragua for essle late be
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