PRIVATE GROUP AIRLIFTS SUPPLIES TO CONTRA REFUGEES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000100590007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 15, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP90-00
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
15 March 1985
PRIVATE GROUP AIRLIFTS SUPPLIES TO CONTRA REFUGEES
BY JOHN E. NEWHAGEN
MIAMI
A private relief organization will fly 80,000 pounds
806R000100590007-9
weekend to anti-Sandinista refugees in Honduras who have fled ''the repressive
regime inside Nicaragua," the group's head said Friday.
Americares, a private humanitarian relief organization, the Christian
Broadcast Network (CBN), and the Catholic Knights of Malta have organized two
flights to ship food, clothing and medicine to Nicaraguan refugees, the group's
head, Robert Macauley, said.
The two flights, set to depart from Miami Saturday and Sunday, will coincide
with a visit to Honduras by Vice President George Bush.
One anti-Sandinista rebel commander in Nicaragua recently told UPI the
group's shipments were being used by Contra guerrilla fighters.
''We are not cognizant of resistance fighters being recipients,'' said
Macauley in a telephone interview. ''We do note that the families of many of
those struggling for their freedom have family members fighting in Nicaragua.
''That some of the supplies reach their husbands, sons and fathers should be
a surprise to no one," he added.
Congress recently cut off covert CIA aid to the rebels, who had received
about $70 million in funds over the last three years. Reports from Honduras and
Nicaragua indicate the some 12,000 fighters are critically short on supplies and
munitions.
Macauley stressed there is no official government involvement in the airlift.
He said the supplies were donated by private businesses, the aircraft are being
paid for by CBN, and the Knights of Malta will distribute the suppilies once
inside Honduras.
''The refugee problem which besets Honduras is a direct result of the
repressive regime inside Nicaragua,'' he said.
Prominent members of the Catholic Order of the Knights of Malta include J.
Peter Grace, head of the W.R. Grace conglomerate and former Treasury Secretary
William Simon.
Others among the Knights' 1,750 U.S. members are CIA Director William
Casey, former Secretary of State Al Haig Jr., and former Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare Joseph. Califano.
The Roman Catholic organization has 1,100 members in 42 nations.
Macauley has said that about $680,000 in aid has been sent to Miskito Indian
refugees in Honduras.
Contm0
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100590007-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100590007-9
Several thousand Miskito refugees live among the Misura Indian rebel force
fighting in coordination with the 14,000-man Nicaraguan Democratic force to
overthrow the Sandinista regime using havens inside Honduras.
Americares officials have said they have channeled $14 million in
humanitarian aid to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala through the Knights of
Malta over the past two years.
The group has also shipped aid to Poland, Afghanistan and the Sudan.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100590007-9