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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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 - - - - ¶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