Word: somozaism
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...AMERICAN-DOMINATED international team of mediators tried to arrange a peaceful transition to a democratic, moderate government in the aftermath of this fall's bloodshed, but they failed in the face of Somoza's intransigence. The State Department claims that American mediation efforts are "suspended," not finished. The plebescite mediators had scheduled for February 18th never materialized, however, and Somoza appears as unlikely as ever to resign--the first condition for an end to violence by the opposition...
...great deal of controversy in Nicaragua in recent months over whether Washington's mediation efforts led by Ambassador William Bowdler, one-time ambassador to South Africa and former Chief of Intelligence and Research at the State Department, have been in good faith. America's long history of pro-Somoza interventions and aid has led the larger part of the opposition to conclude that the U.S. should not be trusted this time, either. Fearing the Americans seek an equally conservative but less controversial successor for General Somoza--"Somozaism without Somoza"--many opposition splinter groups have recently left the formerly comprehensive Broad...
...Sandinistas, however, have been the moving force in the drive to oust Somoza. Their daring raid of a diplomatic reception for the American ambassador on December 27, 1974, and subsequent kidnapping of 11 members of Somoza's inner circle--for which they received the release of 14 political prisoners, $1 million in ransom, a lengthy radio statement, and flight to Cuba--led Somoza to order martial law and censorship of the press on the same night. Crowds lined up on the roads leading to the airport, applauding the Sandinistas, but Somoza did not lift the sanctions until...
...violence now threatens to spread beyond Nicaragua's borders, into the hills of neighboring Costa Rica where Somoza's planes and artillery have been hitting alleged rebel bases. Costa Rica, which until this year relied primarily on a small civilian defense force, has reportedly begun purchasing weapons from abroad. The possibility exists that Venezuala (who cut off Nicaragua's oil shipments during the fighting in the fall) and the pro-Somoza governments of Guatemala and El Salvador could become involved in the conflict...
...Somoza, however, American support remains crucial to stave off the financial effects of turbulence. He is currently trying to arrange an eight year loan of $88 million from a consortium of U.S. banks which would, in the words of one American banker, "give the country a breather." The Nicaraguan government has promised banks that it would catch up on its current interest payments by March 31, from sales of coffee, cotton, meat, and sugar in the early part of the year that provides the majority of the country's revenue. Meanwhile, there has been talk of possible Sandanista intervention...