VZCZCXRO7034
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHMU #0798 0862252
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 272252Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9629
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1033
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000798
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017
TAGS: KDEM NU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: FSLN CENSUS AN ATTEMPT TO MAP OPPOSITION LEADERS,
DRAW THEM WITH FALSE PROMISES, CLAIMS MISKITO LEADER
(C-AL7-00063)
REF: MANAGUA 0385 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).
1. (C) Miskito leader Osorno Coleman, who lost his bid for a
National Assembly seat on the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
(ALN) ticket in November 2006, is convinced that
pro-Sandinista (FSLN) Miskito leaders Brooklyn Rivera and
Stedman Fagoth are directing an FSLN "census" of
ex-combatants on the Atlantic Coast. The pair are using the
pretext that respondents will soon receive generous
indemnification for their suffering and sacrifice during
Nicaragua's 1980s civil war. Coleman, a former Contra
commander also known as "Comandante Blas," reported to
PolCouns on March 23 that Rivera and Fagoth are assuring
Miskitos the U.S. government will abide by the International
Court of Justice's 1980s ruling in favor of Nicaragua's suit
against the United States.
2. (C) According to Coleman, FSLN leaders are claiming that
part of the compensation from The Hague decision will be
given to the Miskitos for their suffering. Moreover, they
are attempting to convince the Miskito population that the
U.S. is to blame for Nicaragua's 1980s civil war. Coleman
added that Rivera and Fagoth are also spreading the rumor
that the U.S. will contribute $300 million to the Nicaraguan
government's Peace and Reconciliation Commission led by
Ortega loyalist Cardinal Obando y Bravo. (Note: President
Ortega has publicly called on the United States to contribute
$300 million towards the Peace and Reconciliation Commission
to compensate the Contras who fought for the United States.)
3. (C) Coleman explained that he wanted to confirm his
suspicions that the Sandinistas' assurances of compensation
are mere rumors that they are exploiting to "map" the
experience and current whereabouts of ex-combatants as a
means to control them. He clarified that although a
$300-million fund to help the Contras would be very helpful,
placing the funds in the hands of the Sandinistas would be a
disaster, as it would serve only to bolster their popularity.
PolCouns, who confirmed that these are indeed
Sandinista-generated rumors, clarified that soon after
Violeta Chamorro assumed the presidency, the Nicaraguan
government withdrew its case and that it is a non-issue that
the FSLN has revived -- possibly in an effort find the monies
it needs to deliver on its campaign promises and possibly to
stir nationalistic sentiments.
4. (C) Coleman promised to disseminate the facts to the
Miskitos. He also mentioned his plans to write a book on the
true story of the Miskito struggle against the 1980s
Sandinista regime and solicited our ideas for funding the
project. (Note: Coleman forwarded an outline of his book on
March 25. He is seeking $2,000 to defray some of the
expenses associated with his book.)
TRIVELLI