EMISSARY OF LIBERAL MAYORS' GROUP CLAIMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001065

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM NU
SUBJECT: EMISSARY OF LIBERAL MAYORS' GROUP CLAIMS
INDEPENDENCE FROM ALEMAN

REF: MANAGUA 1036 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (C) Summary: Elvin Sandigo, Executive Director of the
Association of Patriotic Mayors (ASALPAT),claims that his
organization is no longer an organ of the Liberal
Constitutional Party (PLC). According to Sandigo, the 58
Liberal mayors that form ASALPAT's membership support Liberal
unification and are "open" to the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
(ALN). The mayors plan to request support from "friendly"
embassies to help resist inroads from the ruling Sandinista
National Liberation Front (FSLN). End Summary.


2. (C) ASALPAT Executive Director Elvin Sandigo, who assumed
his current post after the ouster of former director Novis
Rosales, met with poloff on April 24 to explain ASALPAT's
position on Liberal unity and the current political
situation. Sandigo claimed that ASALPAT's Executive Board
decided to fire Rosales in July 2006 for using the
organization to support personal and party interests. With
the support of the membership, Sandigo explained that he has
distanced the group from its affiliation from the PLC by
moving its headquarters out of the PLC national offices and
disassociating himself from PLC leader Arnoldo Aleman. He
has also reached out to the Conservative and Resistance
mayors elected in 2004.


3. (C) Sandigo commented that ASALPAT's membership supports
the goal of Liberal unity, but acknowledged that the mayors
disagree on whether or not to accept Aleman's leadership in
this process. He said, "the most important goal is to
maintain a unified position," but did not explain how he
could accomplish this without clarifying Aleman's role.
ASALPAT has invited both Aleman and ALN leader Eduardo
Montealegre to discuss opposition rapprochement.


4. (C) Liberal unity is critical, Sandigo explained, to
confront the increasing dominance of the FSLN. He accused
the Ortega administration of directing almost all official
funds for municipal assistance to FSLN mayors. Sandigo plans
to approach the U.S. and other embassies to request support
for municipal projects in health, education, and
infrastructure.


5. (C) Comment: Sandigo's professed distancing of ASALPAT
from Aleman and the PLC leadership is a positive move,
although we know several mayors owe their support to Aleman's
influence and will not easily abandon the caudillo. We are
planning a meeting with key members of ASALPAT's Executive
Board to discuss unity efforts. The Ambassador will use the
occasion to reiterate our position that any role for Aleman
would be counterproductive.
TRIVELLI