Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Oct. 31, 1986, edition 1 / Page 8
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Nicaragua Photo by Inanna LaFever wartime. Ironically, some of La Prensa's editors oppose U. S. aid to the contras as malevolent interven tion in Nicaraguan affairs. If America were facing the same opposition Nicaragua now faces, the propor tionate losses would be as severe as the deaths of the entire population of New York City. The contra armies were formed by Somoza shortly after his regime was overthrown. Under Reagan, the United States became the principal coordinator of contra efforts, in cluding direct participation like CIA bombing of oil facilities and mining of habors. A former contra leader resigned in protest of U. S. influence. "You never hear the U.S. press refer to the contras as terrorists," says LaFever, "but that's all they are." The contras concentrate their attacks on economic and human targets. The CIA published a manual instructing contras on terrorist tactics. LaFever laments that 'Americans hardly knew what was happening and were not very concerned so "el pobre" were being brutually terrorized with no protection and no hope." Then Americans began going to Nicaragua. They made corn tortillasT they hoed gardens and they buried the dead. They see the massacred. The live with the aftermath. Sudden ly, these Americans had no more apathy toward Nicaragua. They began to speak and campaign for el pobre." "The Sandinistan party isn't perfect,' says LaFever, "no political system is." But the quality of life has undeniably improved under the San- dinistas. Nicaraguan Reforms Give Hope "People in Nicaragua who had lost hope seem to have regained a sense of direction and self-confidence from this (Sandinistan) government, despite its obvious deficiencies and defects, said Sol M. Linowitz, former American ambassador to the Organization of American States. This new hope can be attributed to the widespread success of social reforms despite the destroyed coun try and $1.6 billion debt inherited from the Somoza regime. Since 1979, illiteracy has decreased from 50 percent to 12 percent. Its award- winning health program has vac cinated more than one million peo ple, eliminated polio, decreased -ases of malaria by 50 percent, decreased infant mortality by 33 per cent, and doubled health care centers. Through land reform, more than 40,000 families own land for the first time. Agricultural production for ex port and domestic consumption has increased. According to the Overseas Development Council, the "physical quality of life" index has risen 25 per cent, compared to an average rise of 9 percent in the other Central American countries. Contra terrorism, says LaFever, jeoparizes this progress. They attack teachers and community leaders, precisely the people who are most desperately needed to help "el pobre, she adds. She describes a typical scene. A community is slated for construction of a school. Hope abounds as construction begins on their first-ever school building. Prayer IS infused with spirit as people ex perience cooperation for mutual benefit. The contras come and ex plode the school, LaFever feels that a peace treaty, as proposed by Nicaragua, is the only solution to end the carnage. It pro hibits foreign military participation in Central America, including Soviet and Cuban advisors. The U. S. op poses the treaty on the grounds that it does not guarantee internal democratic reforms in Nicaragua, The treaty would also prohibit U, S, military aid to El Salvador which has kept the current centrist regime in power. You Can Help LaFever discusses her stay at St. Andrews, "While I was here, I was so pleased to find so many people who cared. In Chapel Hill, they would have the same number of peo| show up to hear my story, but th have thousands of students, I sp« so much of my time relating t story of Nicaragua, I had little time suggest ways in which people coi become involved," At a recent Pax in Terra meetir LaFever outlined some means of volvement. Some students are goi to participate in a "Tar Heels i Wheels" walk-a-thon to raise mon to renovate old cars to use as a bulances in Nicaragua. For more formation about Witness for Peac one can write Witness for Peac 1414 Woodland Drive, Durham, h 27701. However dramatic LaFever's vi to St. Andrews may have bee heres are not the only eyes to ha seen the innocent die horrit deaths; hers are not the only ears have heard the cries of people th mourn; hers is not the only vc that asks "Why?" here Is not the or dream that that the Nicaraguans m live in peace; and hers is not the or conviction that Americans have obligation to act on behalf of ' pobre." She says, "the Americans Nicaragua have become the pc people's voice and their hope. Thi stories can be told and their angui; can be heard." "El Pobre' i > .. A,, Photo by Inanna LaFever
St. Andrews University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 31, 1986, edition 1
8
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