NICARAGUAN POLITICAL PARTIES PLEDGE TO SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 002161

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS MARR NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUAN POLITICAL PARTIES PLEDGE TO SUPPORT
DEFENSE WHITE PAPER

Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (SBU) Summary: Representatives of four political parties
contesting Nicaragua's November 5 national elections pledged
to support (more or less) the Nicaraguan Defense White Paper
should their party come to power. Enthusiasm for White Paper
policy goals varied, however, between officials of the
Sandinista Front (FSLN),Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN),
Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS),and the Liberal
Constitutional Party (PLC). The FSLN representative
equivocated on the role of civilian authority over the armed
forces, while the MRS spokesman stated that White Paper
policies could be addressed only after the PLC-FSLN pact is
destroyed and the rule of law instituted and respected. The
ALN and PLC representatives were more fully supportive of the
White Paper, including promoting civilian control over the
military and increased budget transparency. End Summary.


2. (U) On September 27, spokesmen of four political parties
contesting the Nicaraguan national elections attended a
conference on the responsibilities of political leaders in
the management of Nicaraguan security policy organized by
poloffs and the Institute for Strategic Studies and Public
Policy (IEEPP). The parties were represented by National
Assembly deputy Jose Figueroa (FSLN),National Assembly
deputy Fernando Avellan (PLC),MRS National Coordinator
Irving Davila, and Oscar Sovalbarro (ALN). National Assembly
deputy for the Alternative for Change (AC) party Orlando
Tardencilla attended the opening of the conference, but left
before he could give his presentation. Vice Minister of
Government Deyanira Arguello attended the conference along
with several senior members of the Nicaraguan National Police
(NNP). A mid-ranking official from the Ministry of Defense
was present, but army officials were conspicuously absent.
IEEPP Director Javier Melendez opened the conference, and
regional defense and security expert Dr. Margaret Daly Hayes
gave a presentation emphasizing the need for defense and
security policy to be an integrated effort taking into
account all related actors in a society to better deal with
non-traditional internal and transnational threats such as
terrorism, narcotrafficking, illegal migration, and organized
crime.


3. (C) Background: Post agencies invested considerable energy
and funds helping the GON to develop a Defense White Paper in
2004 and 2005 to help define defense and security policy and
the evolving role of the Nicaraguan Army and its relationship
with civilian authorities. The final report, a product of
protracted negotiations between the army, Ministry of
Defense, and civil society groups, was released in early
2005, shortly before the resignation of then-Minister of
Defense Jose Adan Guerra. Guerra was a strong promoter of
White Paper goals, which include professionalization of the
army, integration with, and civilian control via the Ministry
of Defense, and increased budget transparency.


4. (C) Background continued: Many in the Nicaraguan army,
jealous of their autonomy, resisted the process from
beginning to end and continue to work against any efforts
that threaten their privileges. The current Minister of
Defense, Avil Ramirez, has essentially pigeonholed the White
Paper, and contacts agree that implementation is unlikely to
happen before a new President and National Assembly are
inaugurated in January. Poloffs and IEEPP organized the
conference to keep the issue on the media's radar screen and
urge the parties to declare a position on the White Paper.
End Background.

PLC WILL SUPPORT WHITE PAPER RECOMMENDATIONS
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5. (SBU) PLC deputy and former head of the National
Assembly's Defense Commission Fernando Avellan was the first
to present. Avellan declared that a PLC government would use
the White Paper as a guideline to develop defense and
security policy. He acknowledged the legislature has an
important role in terms of implementing the legal aspects of
defense policy and providing an oversight role, but noted
that the constant rotation of the members and leadership of
the Assembly's Defense Commission impedes continuity. (Note:
In a nod to current Defense Commission president and ALN
deputy Delia Arellano, who attended the conference, Avellan
remarked that the current Commission has "managed the changes
well." End Note.)


6. (U) Avellan claimed that the depolitization of the army
was successful, and now the army is viewed as a responsible

and independent institution. However, the Ministry of
Defense and Ministry of Government need "better trained"
officials, he opined. Avellan declined to answer directly a
question from the audience on whether the PLC would replace
Ministry officials in a new administration, thus creating
significant problems with continuity and institutional
knowledge.

MRS: RULE OF LAW MUST COME FIRST
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7. (U) MRS representative Irving Davila, a retired lieutenant
colonel, gave a well-organized power point presentation on
MRS defense and security policy. The MRS government plan
incorporates all of the major elements of the White Paper,
including inserting the Minister of Defense into the military
chain of command and making the Ministry responsible for
policy formulation, focusing the army's activities on
humanitarian and disaster relief missions, and promoting
regulations for increased budget transparency.


8. (U) Davila placed an asterisk after these positive
reforms, however, by passionately declaring that the new
government must first abolish the control of the PLC-FSLN
pact over state institutions, including the Supreme Court and
Supreme Electoral Council, and instituting the rule of law.
He blamed the pact and outside forces on non-traditional
security threats such as terrorism and narcotrafficking.
Davila praised the army as "the most credible institution in
Nicaragua."

ALN READY TO IMPLEMENT WHITE PAPER
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9. (U) ALN official and former contra commander Oscar
Solbavarro read a statement prepared by ALN leaders for the
conference. Solbavarro stated that the ALN will implement
the White Paper policy recommendations and, based on Dr. Daly
Hayes' recommendations, invited civil society to participate
in defense policy formulation. Answering an audience
question on how the parties plan to obtain resources for the
army and the NNP, Solbavarro stated that the ALN has the
"best relationship" with donor countries and, therefore, the
best possibility to obtain international funds for security
issues.

FSLN: "THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS"
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10. (U) Representing the FSLN, Assembly deputy Jose Figueroa
gave a power point presentation on the history of the army
and the NNP and FSLN defense and security policy. Figueroa
stated that the FSLN will "promote positive relations will
all countries" and will not provoke renewed civil war or
institute military conscription. He promised that the FSLN
would support the following items if elected: a law of
national security; an integrated system of national defense;
better salaries/resources for the army and NNP; support for
regional integration and balance of forces agreement; finish
the demining of Nicaragua; and support peacekeeping
deployments. Briefly addressing White Paper recommendations
in his presentation, Figueroa pointed out that the law states
that the chief of the armed forces may report to the
President or the Minister of Defense.


11. (U) After Figueroa's presentation, Dr. Daly Hayes
commented that the "devil is in the details," referring
specifically to Figueroa's inference that the FSLN would
support the quid pro quo in terms of civilian oversight of
the armed forces. Another audience member challenged
Figueroa on where the FSLN would find the finances to
increase police and military salaries and asked if the FSLN
supports budget transparency. The FSLN representative
responded that the party would "consider the White Paper
recommendations" when developing defense policy and commented
that "internal audits" are conducted by the military and
reported to the GON. He also criticized the "politization"
of the Defense Ministers, implying that Ministry control
could threaten the army's "independence."

COMMENT
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12. (C) All of the representatives praised the army as a
professional, independent institution, reflecting the
prevailing public perception. While the army has come a long
way since 1990, senior officers still expect direct access to

the President and near absolute autonomy in terms of
promotions and budget control. The army also derives
off-budget income from several private businesses. No matter
which party wins the elections, the army will likely continue
to resist substantive challenges to internal control and
privileges.
TRIVELLI