'We will not disarm' resounds at Managua May Day rally

Scan page 7

Special section: Report back from Nicaragua MANAGUA-More than 100,000 people marched to this city's Plaza de la Revolución on May 1, demonstrating their support for the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and repudiating Reagan's policy of support for the contra mercenaries. Under a blistering mid-day sun they heard President Daniel Ortega say that Nicaragua will not disarm itself or negotiate with the U.S.-backed counterrevolution.

Ortega's declarations came amidst a rapidly changing diplomatic climate, in which Nicaragua has become increasingly isolated. The Sandinistas have, in the past few weeks, come under strong pressure to sign the most recent peace treaty proposed by the Contadora nations-Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Mexico.

Under this Contadora proposal, all Central American nations would be required to observe "a moratorium on the acquisition of new weapons." The proposal does not, however, make any demands on the United States, which could continue to fund the counterrevolution even if the Contadora treaty were signed.

Central American nations, which themselves are under strong U.S. pressure, are pushing for the signing of the treaty on June 8. Recently-elected President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica called this a "sacred date."

Nicaragua was the only country willing to sign a much different version of the Contadora treaty in September 1984. The Reagan administration dismissed the Sandinista offer at that time as a "propaganda ploy."

In his May Day speech, Ortega said that Nicaragua wants peace and is willing to discuss the remaining points of the Contadora peace treaty. But it "cannot sign or execute this act as long as the direct and indirect aggression, or aggression in any form, by the United States against Nicaragua does not cease."

"The United States spends billions of dollars on weapons that endanger the lives of the men who work the land," Ortega said, "but raises a scandal when Nicaragua resorts to international solidarity so that the people can have the arms necessary to defend themselves against Yankee aggression."

Ortega concluded that the FSLN and the government of Nicaragua will "continue to defend the right of the Nicaraguan people to arm themselves."

Celebration and defiance

The mood in the Plaza was one of celebration and defiance. The festivities had begun the night before in Managua's working-class neighborhoods with bonfires and "socio-dramas," popular street theater with political themes.

Marchers began to leave for the Plaza in the early morning, arriving in contingents representing trade unions, schools, and neighborhood committees. In the Plaza itself people danced and formed human pyramids to raise the red and black flag of the FSLN above the heads of the crowd.

Ortega's speech was interrupted several times as the crowd raised fists in the air and chanted "no pasarán" ("they shall not pass") and "un solo ejército" ("one unified army"). The strongest reaction was to Ortega's reaffirmation of the FSLN's commitment never to negotiate with the U.S.-backed contra mercenaries.

A student and part-time employee of the Ministry of the Interior who attended the celebrations agreed with Ortega. "Reagan has already said he is a contra. So we won't talk to the contras, but to Reagan, the jefe' [chief] of the contras."

The contra war continues to wreak havoc on Nicaraguan society. More than 14,000 Nicaraguans have died since 1980 as a result of the war. The war claimed 1811 victims in the first four months of this year alone.

On May 9, four teachers and three merchants were assassinated by contra mercenaries in two ambushes near 100,000 rally in Managua to celebrate May Day.

Chontales in Northern Nicaragua. Attacks against trained personnel and technicians are common.

Political parties, unions divided Despite the widespread repudiation of U.S. aggression, strong divisions exist among Nicaragua's various political parties and trade unions. This prevented the working class from joining together in a united front on May Day, as the pro-Sandinista unions had proposed.

Talks for a unified May Day celebration began in January with the participation of the Sandinista Workers Federation (CST) and several non-Sandinista labor federations, including the Council on Trade Union Uni -fication (CUS), the Federation of Trade Union Unity and Action (CAUS), the Nicaraguan Workers Federation (CTN), and the General Workers Federation-Independent (CGT-I).

The CUS is a right-wing confederation known to have close ties to the CIA-financed American Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD). The CTN is affiliated with the conservative People's Social Christian Party. The CAUS is led by the Nicaraguan Communist Party (PCdeN). Each of these groups has approximately 1000 to 3000 members.

The CGT-I, affiliated with the Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), is the largest non-Sandinista labor confederation, with 17,000 members. The CST and other Sandinista unions have approximately 202,000 members.

The non-Sandinista unions withdrew from the talks almost immediately, protesting the presence of other Sandinista trade unions in the committee. The CUS, CAUS, CTN and CGT-I then formed the Unitary Committee for the Celebration of May Day-Martyrs of Chicago. The unions led by the PCdeN and PSN, two pro-Moscow Stalinist parties, thus found themselves allied with the the right-wing, pro-capitalist trade unions.

This alliance between the far-right and "ultraleft" is not octallst Actlon/Carl Finamore uncommon. In a recent issue of Avance, the official organ of the PCdeN, party leader Eli Altamirano "saluted" the right-wing parties, the PSN, and the Catholic hierarchy for having a favorable attitude toward a dialogue with the contras, whom he euphemistically called the "Nicaraguans in arms." Altamirano added that "the thesis of national dialogue is the most patriotic thesis that can be defended in our country today."

Eventually, though, talks between the "ultraleft" and right-wing trade unions opposed to the Sandinistas also broke down. As a result, at least three demonstrations were held on May Day.

Apart from the official Sandinista demonstration, the CTN held a Catholic mass, led by Cardinal Miguel Obando. The CAUS and the CGT-I joined in a rally at the Plaza Ana Maria. Both opposition rallies drew approximately 1500 people.

Debate in National Assembly These same political parties are represented in the National Assembly, which has recently concluded the first step in the elaboration of a new constitution. The Sandinistas see the constitution as a formalization of. the revolutionary power conquered by the people in July 1979. The final version of the constitution is scheduled to be voted on later this year.

The drafting of the constitution has been strongly opposed by the U.S. government. In fact, the Reagan administration has stated that direct talks between the United States and Nicaragua can only resume if the National Assembly is dissolved and new elections are held, this time including the contras.

The Independent Liberal Party (PLI), a capitalist party with two deputies in the assembly, has already withdrawn from the constitutional process, and other parties are under heavy pressure from the U.S. Embassy to follow suit.

The capitalist has argued that the social and (continued on page 10)

SOCIALIST ACTION JUNE 1986 7