Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1986. január-június (40. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1986-02-27 / 9. szám

12. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZÓ Thursday, Feb. 27. 1986. KATI GOLDMAN: A visit to Nicaragua IN MEMÓRIÁM WILLIAM JANOSSY As long as we live, we will cherish in our heart the memory of our beloved William, who as a member of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra helped transmit the magic of beauti­ful music to millions of his fellow Americans. William was born on Oct. 10. 1915 and died on March 5. 1970. The Janossy family California Reagan Grenadában A jelek arra mutatnak, hogy Reagan elnök azért látogatott el Grenadába, hogy alkalma legyen ismételten hangsúlyozni, miért kell a nicaraguai ellenforradalmáro­kat támogatni. Megtehette volna ezt anél­kül is, hogy Grenadába menjen és ezzel megtakaríthatott volna több millió dollárt. Reagan látogatása az amerikai adófi­zetőknek több millió dollárjába került. Már ez év januárjában lefoglaltak 186 szo­bát a szállodákban, melyeknek ára napon­ta 100 dollár. Január óta egy C-5 jelzésű teherszállító repülőgép ment ide-oda és szállított minden elképzelhető és elképzel­hetetlen szükségleti cikket Grenadába. E repülőgép üzemben tartása óránként $ 12.769-be kerül. Mit vittek a repülőgépek Grenadába? 1. / Két elnöki automobilt. (Egy tartalé­kot, mert ki tudja, mi történhet?) 2. / Három kutyát, amelyeknek feladata kiszaglászni a rejtett bombákat. 13./ Három ^ helikoptert, melyek biztosít­ják, hogy légitámadás ne történhessen. „ 4./ Egy egész sereg dzsipet a titkosrend- orök részére. 5. / Hallatlan mennyiségű hírszolgálati felszerelést. 6. / Ivóvizet az elnök részére. 7. / Vérkészletet. 8. / Hordozható árnyékszéket, valamint sok olyasmit, amiről nem beszélnek. ~ r i As you drive through Managua, there are billboards and posters everywhere ur­ging people to support various opposition parties. While the Sandinistas hold a clear majority in the National Assembly, six opposition parties have representatives in the government. These parties, as well as opposition newspapers, are listed in the telephone book, and you can call and speak to them freely, make appointments, etc. A number of people met with repre­sentatives of the Christian Democratic Party, who made it very clear that they hate the Sandinistas, are working hard to change the government, etc. But they also believe that the Nicaraguans should take care of their own business without outside interference. We were very impres­sed with how easy it is to speak with these opposition groups. The Sandinista govern­ment has said that there would be even more freedom of expression if the country were not under attack from the outside. Incidentally, we were free to go wherever we wished, talk to anyone we met, etc. The Nicaraguans seem to be developing a very direct form of government. People are organized by neighborhoods in the cities and by small towns and work areas in the rural districts. These local groups have a great deal to say about day to day life. In addition, top government leaders meet every two weeks with people in different towns and in various neighborhoods of the bigger cities. We went to one such town meeting, called "Cara al pueblo" - face the people. President Daniel Ortega, Minis­ter of Culture Ernesto Cardenal, Jaime Wheelock Agriculture Minister, Dora Maria Tellez, head of the Ministry of Health, along with many other government offi­cials met with the population of a small town, San Marcos. The meeting was held outdoors, in a big open area with wooden chairs, crowded with peasants from the surrounding agriculture area. People got up and complained directly to the govern­ment. They said not enough land had been distributed to landless peasants, and that too many of the large landlords still had big landholdings. People asked for the price of beans to be raised as costs of production are high. A woman whose husband had been killed fighting the Contras asked for a higher pension as she couldn't support her children. People in a particular area wanted to know when electricity would be available to them. These and many other issues were discussed back and forth, in a very formal way. It was hard to keep remembering that these were the top go­vernment officials, answering to their people. (Incidentally, these town meetings are televised and shown nationwide.) At the end of the meeting, Ortega an­nounced a change in agriculture policy that would permit additional land distribution. Right then and there they handed land titles to individual peasant families and also to some cooperatives. With each land title they gave a gun, to defend the land. It was startling and made it very clear that the Sandinista government is not afraid, of its people. They arm the people because they are confident that the vast majority of Nicaraguans support the revolution and will fight to keep their country from returning to the old regime. But, the day to day life is very hard. The U.S. embargo prevents needed materials from reaching Nicaragua. U.S. control of international money has cut loans to the government. Buses break down and parts are not available, so people wait hours for transportation. The equipment at the Children's Hospital can't be repaired, which lowers the quality of medical care they can provide. Contra attacks on peasants have caused food shortages. Government funds which they would like to spend for human needs have to be directed to defense, for guns and uniforms. Thousands of young men are in the army and are therefore not able to participate in productive work. So, while people are very supportive of their revolution and their government, many aspects of daily life are difficult, and some people become disgruntled and angry. The pressure on the government and on the people is severe. We travelled up to the North for two days, and saw and heard about the more direct effects of the U.S. war against Nicara­gua. We met with families who had been attacked and forced to leave their homes and farms. The Sandinista government gave them land and help in building new housing, etc., but they really wanted to go back home. We met women whose husbands and/or children had been killed. Most of the deaths had occured since 1983, when U.S. aid to the Contras increased. Some died in the army, but most in attacks on civilians - day care centers, schools, clinics. They were very clear that more of them will die, and that this war could not go on with­out U.S. government support. We met young people, who want to go back to school or to continue their lives and careers, but who have joined the militia because they are committed to defending their count­ry­The human cost of this war is clearly in the many deaths - 12,000 in the past three years - the many wounded and maimed, the lives interrupted, and the daily suffe­ring - all unnecessary. Despite all this, you feel positive about 'Nicaragua. in the few short years since 1979, they have thought hundreds of thou­sands of persons to read and write - litera­cy and continuing education are major campaigns. The United Nations recently announced that Nicaragua's infant morta­lity rate has dropped by 33%, quite achieve­ment in a country with severe water purifica­tion problems. Medical care is free and clinics are being built in many areas, as are day care centers and schools. The message is very clear. Leave Nica­ragua alone to solve its own problems and to be able to build what will probably be one of the most democratic and interes­ting societies ever developed. Our role here in the U.S. is also very clear. The Reagan Administration wants $100 million in aid to the Contras. Those of us who believe that nation's have a right to determine their own destinies must act to stop those funds. I would urge you to immediately write or call your Senators and Congressional representatives and let them know that you wanl them to vote "NO" to aid to the Contras. And I would urge you to visit Nicaragua, and see for yourself this wonderful count­ry on the threshold of a new society.

Next

/
  • Layout
  • Zoom
  • Rotation
Thumbnails
Contents