VZCZCXRO1389
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHMU #1784/01 2052147
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 242147Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0874
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1132
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 2060
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 3783
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0078
RUEHMU/USDAO MANAGUA NU
RUEHMU/USMILGP MANAGUA NU
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 001784
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV NU PREL EAID PINS
SUBJECT: MRS CELEBRATES A DAY OF ANTI-DANIELISMO
Classified By: Ambassador P. Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Summary: While the FSLN celebrated its high holy day
on July 19, 2007, the Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (The
Sandinista Renovation Movement, or MRS), a Sandinista
break-off party, turned their modest celebrations into a day
of protest against the growing authoritarianism of President
Daniel Ortega. The MRS's many accusations against the
President do not represent a new position, but former MRS
presidential candidate Edmundo Jarquin did make an
unprecedented call for multiparty political unity against the
FSLN. This alteration in rhetoric may herald an alliance with
liberal opposition parties in the upcoming municipal
elections. End Summary.
2. (SBU) The Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (The Sandinista
Renovation Movement, or MRS), a Sandinista break-off group,
turned the 28th anniversary of the Somoza defeat into a day
of protest against the growing authoritarianism of President
Ortega. The moderately attended event (Embassy unofficial
estimate of approximately one thousand) was held outside the
capital for the second year, in the nearby city of Masaya, to
avoid competition with the much larger FSLN rally taking
place the same day in Managua. The MRS celebration was half
cultural event, half political rally, but its message was
clear: Down with Daniel. Flyers were distributed reading
: To Every Dictator His July 178, referring to the
day in 1979 when Somoza fled Nicaragua. Over the center of
the stage flew a banner quoting Herty Lewites, was born
under one dictatorship; I don,t want to die under another
one.8 On stage, organizers led the spectators in chants of
: No! Democracy: Yes!8
3. (SBU) The culmination of the event was the speech by the
former MRS presidential candidate Edmundo Jarquin, who roused
the crowd with his eloquent criticism of the President. No
specific transgression was highlighted, but the many offenses
he attributed to Ortega included: causing an increase in
unemployment and inflation rates and a decrease in
investment; holding pointless meetings with the President of
Iran instead of a potentially beneficial one with the
President of Costa Rica; refusing to include Petronic
revenues in the national budget; criminalizing therapeutic
abortion; and trying to consolidate personal and party power
through the Consejos de Poder Cuidadano (Citizen,s
Councils). After listing each one of the misdeeds, Jarquin
asked the crowd, this governing for the poor?8 Jarquin
also condemned the President,s method of managing foreign
assistance, saying, Ortega is the only idiot in the
region who believes that accepting Chavez,s aid means
refusing the aid of other countries.8
4. (SBU) After denouncing Ortega, Jarquin continued onto a
more positive note, reminding the audience that the first
July 19 would not have been possible without the spirit of
unity that inspired groups from all ends of the political
spectrum to join together against Somoza. Similarly, he
said, minds8 and a willingness to work with diverse
political parties are required to counter the
that benefits Ortega. Jarquin specified the
upcoming municipal elections as the opportunity to put aside
suspicion8 and unite, because is at
risk is our democracy.8
5. (C) Comment: Jarquin,s emphasis on unity against Ortega
above all else is striking, perhaps signaling that MRS is
prepared to ally with one of the liberal opposition parties
in the municipal elections. If so, such cooperation would be
a significant departure from their previous determination to
represent the unsullied, independent left. Jarquin may also
be trying to attract to the party the small but growing
number of Sandinistas who do not agree with the actions of
President Ortega, his wife, and their coterie, or who feel
left out of the current Sandinista power structure. While
the MRS has a relatively small following, the July 19 rally
showed that they may play an increasingly productive role in
Nicaraguan politics in the future. End Comment.
TRIVELLI