BROOKLYN RIVERA SHOT - ALMOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000079 SIPDIS DEPT FOR KRAAIMOORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM NU SUBJECT: BROOKLYN RIVERA SHOT - ALMOST REF: A. 08 MANAGUA 1136 ¶B. 08 MANAGUA 1149 Classified By: Amb. Robert J. Callahan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 27 an angry Miskito Indian shot at Yatama party leader and North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) National Assembly Deputy Brooklyn Rivera during a campaign visit to Kuamwatla. While Rivera's life was spared, the incident reveals the evaporating support he has among Miskito Indians in the RAAN upset by the political games and bad management of Yatama mayors in Waspam, Puerto Cabezas and Prinzapolka. END SUMMARY - - - - - - - - - - - - CLOSE CALLS FOR RIVERA - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) During a campaign trip with Yatama Prinzapolka Mayor Candidate Lidia Coleman Bons to the Miskito Indian coastal community of Kuamwatla on December 27, a young Miskito attempted to shoot Yatama Leader Brooklyn Rivera. Rivera, a National Assembly Deputy from the RAAN and long-time Miskito leader, is the architect behind the unpopular alliance betwen Yatama and the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). Instead of shooting Rivera, the young man shot his own mother in the leg, who got between Rivera and the young man, desperately trying to prevent the incident. After the shooting, Rivera and Bons fled the area for their lives instead of holding the campaign event. Community members later berated the wounded mother for interfering. ¶3. (C) On January 8, Rivera traveled to the remote Miskito Indian community of Auya Pihni to hold an election meeting. His visit, coincidentally, came at the heels of a visit by EmbOff to the same community two hours earlier. Rivera was poorly received by the assembled community members. After being heckled by angry Miskito farmers, he was forced to end his meeting and flee the community. Our contacts tell us that later that same day FSLN mayor candidate Guillermo Espinoza came to the same community and brought two pounds of pork for each family in order to garner support for FSLN candidates. - - - - - - - WHAT IT MEANS - - - - - - - ¶4. (C) The Kuamwatla shooting incident and the failed Auya Pihni campaign meeting are the latest examples of the collapsing support Rivera has within the Yatama party. He is held personally responsible by the Miskito Indian community for failing to advance their interests above his own. Community members feel especially betrayed by his political alliance with the Sandinistas, who were arch enemies of the Miskito people during the civil war / Contra period. Moreover, the Yatama-elected mayors in Waspam, Puerto Cabezas and Prinzapolka failed to bring the needed relief to the rural communities after the devastating Hurricane Felix. Instead, these same leaders have reportedly enriched themselves by stealing from the international aid, such as allowing construction materials to be transported to Managua to be resold at market prices. Locals complain that they are ignored by Rivera until elections roll around. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Rivera, a former Contra leader, is in the midst of a serious personal political crisis. It seems that his bad behaviors and Machiavellian maneuvers to control the Yatama party are catching up to him and his political base is rebelling. There are parts of the RAAN where he is clearly not welcome, and even some where he is under threat of death if he shows up. The roadblocks in the RAAN (Septel) may be his last opportunity to salvage some kind of political support from the FSLN to survive the growing storm. END COMMENT CALLAHAN