Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAGUA2433
2006-11-01 23:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Managua
Cable title:
ADDITIONAL ALN PROPOSALS ON ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHMU #2433/01 3052344 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 012344Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8097 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS MANAGUA 002433
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KDEM SOCI NU
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL ALN PROPOSALS ON ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL
JUSTICE, AND SECURITY
REF: MANAGUA 2329
UNCLAS MANAGUA 002433
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KDEM SOCI NU
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL ALN PROPOSALS ON ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL
JUSTICE, AND SECURITY
REF: MANAGUA 2329
1. (SBU) Summary: The ALN's final policy proposals concerning
the environment, social justice, and security build on the
earlier plans regarding employment and energy efficiency
(reftel). ALN presidential candidate Eduardo Montealegre
presented his complete plan of government during an October
27 press conference. Montealegre publicly invited FSLN
candidate Daniel Ortega to a policy debate at the same time,
but Ortega did not respond. The proposals are primarily
directed towards middle and working class households, women,
and youth -- groups Montealegre must win over to succeed on
November 5. End Summary.
Environmental Protection
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. (U) On the subject of environmental protection, the ALN
promises to increase the land area in the national parks and
reserves system and promote reforestation. The ALN would
also continue to clean and protect Lake Managua and Lake
Nicaragua, as well as explore ways to reduce environmental
pollution from industry and transportation. The party would
encourage and assist people living in protected areas to
convert from farming and ranching to ecotourism as a source
of income.
Social Justice and Development of Opportunities
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (U) The ALN lumped several proposals under its "social
justice" initiative in the areas of education, culture,
health, water and sanitation, and housing. To improve
education, the ALN would promote better qualifications for
teachers, provide periodic training, and pay higher salaries.
The party also promises to reorient education around
"practical" and technical training and support sports camps.
To help poor children, the ALN pledges to provide free
lunches and subsidized transportation. The party would also
support adult literacy programs.
4. (U) To promote cultural advancement, the ALN promises to
support artistic projects and exhibitions, as well as
preserve historical works and cultural traditions.
5. (U) To improve Nicaragua's medical infrastructure, the ALN
would remodel major hospitals and construct additional health
clinics in under-served communities, while guaranteeing a
basic level of health care for everyone. The party promises
to promote prevention programs to reduce the need for
emergency medical services and improve overall health.
6. (U) The ALN promises to rehabilitate water distribution
infrastructure and expand access to potable water.
7. (U) To relieve Nicaragua's housing shortage, the ALN would
explore ways to house all families in the country by, in
part, expanding access to financing for individuals and
businesses seeking to construct residential housing for
middle and lower class residents.
Citizen Security
- - - - - - - - -
8. (U) The ALN proposal to improve citizen security focuses
on the need to establish an emergency call line and integrate
all emergency responders into a national network. The ALN
would modernize the police and fire services by providing
better training and equipment and higher salaries. The party
promises to improve border security, especially regarding
drug trafficking on the coasts. The ALN would also promote
after school activities to prevent young people from joining
gangs and establish a program to reintegrate gang members
into society.
Comment
- - - -
9. (SBU) The additional proposals build on a plan of government already strongly oriented to middle and working class citizens, which also incorporates the business community into social programs, usually by offering tax and financial incentives. The ALN's new plans also reach out to important constituencies that Montealegre has previously pledged to support, such as teachers and police. The ALN plan of government is coherent, though the party frequently does not explain in detail how a Montealegre administration would pay for and execute many of the proposals. Further, the ALN did not release the final plan until October 27, little more than a week prior to the elections.
TRIVELLI
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KDEM SOCI NU
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL ALN PROPOSALS ON ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL
JUSTICE, AND SECURITY
REF: MANAGUA 2329
1. (SBU) Summary: The ALN's final policy proposals concerning
the environment, social justice, and security build on the
earlier plans regarding employment and energy efficiency
(reftel). ALN presidential candidate Eduardo Montealegre
presented his complete plan of government during an October
27 press conference. Montealegre publicly invited FSLN
candidate Daniel Ortega to a policy debate at the same time,
but Ortega did not respond. The proposals are primarily
directed towards middle and working class households, women,
and youth -- groups Montealegre must win over to succeed on
November 5. End Summary.
Environmental Protection
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. (U) On the subject of environmental protection, the ALN
promises to increase the land area in the national parks and
reserves system and promote reforestation. The ALN would
also continue to clean and protect Lake Managua and Lake
Nicaragua, as well as explore ways to reduce environmental
pollution from industry and transportation. The party would
encourage and assist people living in protected areas to
convert from farming and ranching to ecotourism as a source
of income.
Social Justice and Development of Opportunities
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (U) The ALN lumped several proposals under its "social
justice" initiative in the areas of education, culture,
health, water and sanitation, and housing. To improve
education, the ALN would promote better qualifications for
teachers, provide periodic training, and pay higher salaries.
The party also promises to reorient education around
"practical" and technical training and support sports camps.
To help poor children, the ALN pledges to provide free
lunches and subsidized transportation. The party would also
support adult literacy programs.
4. (U) To promote cultural advancement, the ALN promises to
support artistic projects and exhibitions, as well as
preserve historical works and cultural traditions.
5. (U) To improve Nicaragua's medical infrastructure, the ALN
would remodel major hospitals and construct additional health
clinics in under-served communities, while guaranteeing a
basic level of health care for everyone. The party promises
to promote prevention programs to reduce the need for
emergency medical services and improve overall health.
6. (U) The ALN promises to rehabilitate water distribution
infrastructure and expand access to potable water.
7. (U) To relieve Nicaragua's housing shortage, the ALN would
explore ways to house all families in the country by, in
part, expanding access to financing for individuals and
businesses seeking to construct residential housing for
middle and lower class residents.
Citizen Security
- - - - - - - - -
8. (U) The ALN proposal to improve citizen security focuses
on the need to establish an emergency call line and integrate
all emergency responders into a national network. The ALN
would modernize the police and fire services by providing
better training and equipment and higher salaries. The party
promises to improve border security, especially regarding
drug trafficking on the coasts. The ALN would also promote
after school activities to prevent young people from joining
gangs and establish a program to reintegrate gang members
into society.
Comment
- - - -
9. (SBU) The additional proposals build on a plan of government already strongly oriented to middle and working class citizens, which also incorporates the business community into social programs, usually by offering tax and financial incentives. The ALN's new plans also reach out to important constituencies that Montealegre has previously pledged to support, such as teachers and police. The ALN plan of government is coherent, though the party frequently does not explain in detail how a Montealegre administration would pay for and execute many of the proposals. Further, the ALN did not release the final plan until October 27, little more than a week prior to the elections.
TRIVELLI