Imperialist destruction of democracy in Nicaragua

by MC17

February 25 marked the ten year anniversary of the election that 
the Sandinista government of Nicaragua lost to the U.$. backed UNO 
coalition. The Sandinistas were not communists but they 
represented a government attempting to reform conditions for the 
poor in Nicaragua. During the Sandinistas eleven years in power 
they faced a constant battle against the Contras. The u.$.-backed 
Contras waged a war to destabilize the Sandinista government and 
replace it with imperialist-friendly leaders.

In 1990 the FSLN lost the presidential election to Violeta 
Chamorro of the UNO coalition. UNO promised an end to the Contra 
war and greater economic and political stability. The UNO 
coalition promises were feasible because it was the U.$. which had 
creased the instability and war. With U.$. backing, the UNO 
coalition could be certain the Contras would be disarmed and the 
attacks on the government would stop. This election was far from 
an expression of popular democracy. It was an expression of 
imperialist interests and imperialist abilities to use military 
and financial domination to implant good u.$. lackeys.

Bayardo Arce, a member of the FSLN Directorate and the Nicaraguan 
National Assembly reflected on the ten years of so-called 
democracy after the election in 1990. He suggested that the 
Sandinistas set a good precedent for Central America by accepting 
defeat in the election and not holding on to power through arms. 
MIM disagrees that this is a good precedent. No government 
representing the people should be willing to peacefully accept 
defeat. The imperialists waged an armed struggle against the FSLN 
for years. Their final victory in the elections was anything but 
peaceful and bloodless. The people have no others means to achieve 
liberation than through armed struggle against imperialism.

Arce pointed out that the vast majority of Nicaraguans have seen a 
huge decline in living standards since 1990. Prices on basic items 
have risen, peasant farmers have been forced to sell lands, and 
free comprehensive education, health care and programs for the 
poor have been virtually eliminated. The United Nations reports 
that 85% of Nicaraguans are currently living in poverty with 50% 
living in severe poverty and over sixty percent of the population 
is unemployed or under-employed.

After giving up power to the UNO coalition the FSLN integrated 
itself into the imperialist-backed government and has now divided 
into various factions fighting for power within the government. 
This provides a good example of the failure of popular movements 
fighting for the oppressed without the strength of a communist 
vanguard party. The imperialists will not give up their fight for 
power while they have guns and money to continue. The people can 
not afford to let the imperialists set the terms of the battle.

Note: Nicaragua News Service, February 21 - 26, 2000, Volume 8, 
Number 8.