MRS CELEBRATES A DAY OF ANTI-DANIELISMO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 001784 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV NU PREL EAID PINS SUBJECT: MRS CELEBRATES A DAY OF ANTI-DANIELISMO Classified By: Ambassador P. Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Summary: While the FSLN celebrated its high holy day on July 19, 2007, the Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (The Sandinista Renovation Movement, or MRS),a Sandinista break-off party, turned their modest celebrations into a day of protest against the growing authoritarianism of President Daniel Ortega. The MRS's many accusations against the President do not represent a new position, but former MRS presidential candidate Edmundo Jarquin did make an unprecedented call for multiparty political unity against the FSLN. This alteration in rhetoric may herald an alliance with liberal opposition parties in the upcoming municipal elections. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (The Sandinista Renovation Movement, or MRS),a Sandinista break-off group, turned the 28th anniversary of the Somoza defeat into a day of protest against the growing authoritarianism of President Ortega. The moderately attended event (Embassy unofficial estimate of approximately one thousand) was held outside the capital for the second year, in the nearby city of Masaya, to avoid competition with the much larger FSLN rally taking place the same day in Managua. The MRS celebration was half cultural event, half political rally, but its message was clear: Down with Daniel. Flyers were distributed reading &Daniel: To Every Dictator His July 178, referring to the day in 1979 when Somoza fled Nicaragua. Over the center of the stage flew a banner quoting Herty Lewites, &I was born under one dictatorship; I don,t want to die under another one.8 On stage, organizers led the spectators in chants of &Authoritarianism: No! Democracy: Yes!8 ¶3. (SBU) The culmination of the event was the speech by the former MRS presidential candidate Edmundo Jarquin, who roused the crowd with his eloquent criticism of the President. No specific transgression was highlighted, but the many offenses he attributed to Ortega included: causing an increase in unemployment and inflation rates and a decrease in investment; holding pointless meetings with the President of Iran instead of a potentially beneficial one with the President of Costa Rica; refusing to include Petronic revenues in the national budget; criminalizing therapeutic abortion; and trying to consolidate personal and party power through the Consejos de Poder Cuidadano (Citizen,s Councils). After listing each one of the misdeeds, Jarquin asked the crowd, &Is this governing for the poor?8 Jarquin also condemned the President,s method of managing foreign assistance, saying, &Daniel Ortega is the only idiot in the region who believes that accepting Chavez,s aid means refusing the aid of other countries.8 ¶4. (SBU) After denouncing Ortega, Jarquin continued onto a more positive note, reminding the audience that the first July 19 would not have been possible without the spirit of unity that inspired groups from all ends of the political spectrum to join together against Somoza. Similarly, he said, &open minds8 and a willingness to work with diverse political parties are required to counter the &polarization8 that benefits Ortega. Jarquin specified the upcoming municipal elections as the opportunity to put aside &ideological suspicion8 and unite, because &what is at risk is our democracy.8 ¶5. (C) Comment: Jarquin,s emphasis on unity against Ortega above all else is striking, perhaps signaling that MRS is prepared to ally with one of the liberal opposition parties in the municipal elections. If so, such cooperation would be a significant departure from their previous determination to represent the unsullied, independent left. Jarquin may also be trying to attract to the party the small but growing number of Sandinistas who do not agree with the actions of President Ortega, his wife, and their coterie, or who feel left out of the current Sandinista power structure. While the MRS has a relatively small following, the July 19 rally showed that they may play an increasingly productive role in Nicaraguan politics in the future. End Comment. TRIVELLI