ALN EMBARKS ON REORGANIZATION, RAPPROCHEMENT WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 000328 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM NU PREL SUBJECT: ALN EMBARKS ON REORGANIZATION, RAPPROCHEMENT WITH PLC Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) Summary: Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) planning coordinator Kitty Monterrey recently shared her party's reorganization plans and provided a copy of ALN president Eduardo Montealegre's letter to his Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) counterpart. In that letter, Montealegre proposes a legislative alliance to focus on constitutional and judicial reforms. He also calls for the formation of an inter-party commission that would present to the commission's respective national boards (CEN) by-laws for a new, united Liberal party and a road map delineating the Liberal unification process. Monterrey believes that Nicaragua's 2008 municipal elections may offer the last window of opportunity to keep the country within a democratic framework and noted the importance of U.S. training and other support to strengthen the party and improve the effectiveness of its lawmakers. End Summary ¶2. (C) On February 1, PolCouns met with ALN planning coordinator Kitty Monterrey, who shared her party's reorganization plans and provided a copy of the letter ALN president Eduardo Montealegre sent to PLC counterpart, Jorge Castillo Quant. Monterrey remarked that now that the electoral period has passed, the ALN will re-organize as a political entity and then strengthen its alliance with its political partners who ran on the ALN ticket during last year's national elections. She recounted that approximately 200 ALN leaders throughout the country will convene on February 2 to launch the process. ¶3. (C) Monterrey next shared her party's new organization chart, pointing out the new national board (CEN): Eduardo Montealegre, president; Eliseo Nunez (Sr.),first vice-president; Alfonso Callejas, second vice president; Carlos Garcia, first secretary; Chester Noguera, second secretary; Adolfo Arguello, treasurer; and, Luis Fonseca, SIPDIS fiscal. Fourteen associate members and their alternates participate on the board and 12 advisory units support its operations: municipal relations, training, finance, youth and student affairs, organization, planning, professional and technical outreach, labor affairs, communications, women's affairs, international relations, and political affairs. ¶4. (C) Another aspect of the ALN's re-organization is its division of Nicaragua into six regions, continued Monterrey. These include Managua; Masaya, Carazo, Granada, Rivas; Matagalpa, Jinotega, Nuevo Segovia, Madriz; Leon Chinandega, Esteli; Boaco, Chontales, Rio San Juan; and, the North and South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zones. This new regional structure will hopefully make better use of the ALN's human and material resources and help the party and its allies prepare for the November 2008 municipal elections, she said. ¶5. (C) PolCouns remarked that the municipal elections offer a window of opportunity to Nicaragua's opposition parties to check the Sandinista National Liberation Front's (FSLN) growing political hegemony and leader/President Ortega's apparent efforts to consolidate power and remain in office for years to come. Monterrey agreed, adding that the municipal elections could be the "last chance" to preserve Nicaragua's endangered democracy. PolCouns inquired about the status of ALN's rapprochement with the PLC as part of an effort to unify Nicaragua's opposition. Monterrey shared a copy of Montealegre's letter to his PLC counterpart, Jorge Castillo Quant. ¶6. (C) Dated 30 January, Montealegre's letter proposes a legislative alliance between the two estranged parties that would focus on constitutional and judicial reforms. The constitutional reforms would lead to a clear separation and limitation of the powers of state in response to the interests of the nation and its citizens as a means to guarantee freedom and avoid the problems of the past. Proposed judicial reforms include reforms of the Judicial Career and Judicial Power Laws; civil society participation in the selection of Supreme Court justices; reduction in the numbers of government officials in the powers of state; and, a detailed delineation of the president's constitutional mandate over Nicaragua's Army and National Police. In his letter, Montealegre also calls for the formation of an inter-party commission that, within six months, would present to the ALN's and PLC's respective CENs a set of by-laws for a new, united Liberal party and a road map of the steps MANAGUA 00000328 002 OF 002 required to achieve Liberal unity. (Note: The letter has not yet been made public; however, PLC leaders have referred to its content and seem generally favorable towards the initiative.) ¶7. (C) Monterrey next raised her party's urgent need for training in party strategy, organization, leadership, communications, fund raising, and campaigning. She related that many Nicaraguans residing in the United States wish to contribute to the ALN and she is currently exploring the most suitable mechanism to attract and channel these donations -- including how to wire these funds from accounts in the United States to banks in Nicaragua without violating any banking or electoral laws. (Note: Nicaraguan law does not restrict foreign donations to political parties outside of campaign periods.) ¶8. (SBU) Continuing on the subject of ALN training needs, Monterrey remarked that National Assembly lawmakers could benefit greatly from leadership and communications training as well as instruction on how to craft a legislative agenda and successfully lobby desired legislation. She cited USAID/IRI's recent basic two-day course for Assembly lawmakers as a good start. (Note: The course covered office management, balance of powers, legislative techniques, communication strategies, the use of internet, and civic participation.) ¶9. (C) Monterrey mentioned that the ALN had "learned from the FSLN" the vital role of civil society in supporting a political agenda. For example, the volunteer "Citizen Crusade" that helped the ALN during the campaign period is registered as an NGO and will expand its scope. Monterrey added that she and others associated with the ALN are establishing the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, which will serve, among other things, as a watchdog to monitor the Ortega government's use of the national budget. (Note: Prior to joining the ALN, Monterrey worked for Nicaragua's Integrated Financial, Administrative and Auditing System -- SIGFA. Comment - - - - ¶10. (C) The ALN's reorganization efforts and its interest in uniting Nicaragua's opposition forces are encouraging developments. Our timely training and moral support for these efforts are crucial. TRIVELLI