The information that follows was provided by the president of the Baptist Convention of Nicaragua in Managua (2 Dec. 1994).

The Comité Nacional de Pastores Evangélicos de Nicaragua (CNPEN, called "cenepén") was a politicized grouping of pastors that was quite active in the 1980s. Because of the nature of their political activism, they were investigated by the state security agency at the time, and this investigation may have bordered on harassment or abuse of some rights at times. However, it was generally understood that this problem was a result of CNPEN's political work, not the religious affiliations or beliefs of its members. Some pastors of that group travelled abroad and presented themselves as religious leaders, but their message was mostly political.

Since the current government took office in 1990 and the "contra" war ended, the "frictions" between the CNPEN and state security have ended. The CNPEN has been losing importance as its political message has lost currency. But some of the CNPEN members continue to participate in politics and are presently forming the Partido de Justicia Nacional.

According to the executive director of the Consejo Evangélico Pro-Ayuda al Desarrollo (CEPAD) the CNPEN currently exists, although it does not have a facility of its own (2 Dec. 1994). According to a secretary at the Sociedad Bíblica of Managua, Julio Girón is the current president of CNPEN (2 Dec. 1994). Mr. Girón is a pastor with the Iglesia de Dios (Church of God) in Managua, although the Iglesia de Dios itself and the top hierarchy of the church are not necessarily affiliated with CNPEN (ibid.). Julio Girón, like some other pastors, works at his churches and at the radio station, Ondas de Luz (Beams of Light).

None of the sources consulted were aware of any mistreatment of CNPEN members by Sandinistas from 1990 to present.

For further information on the CNPEN and the evangelicals, please refer to the attached documents and to Response to Information Request NIC19108.E of 2 December 1994.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Baptist Convention of Nicaragua, Managua. 2 December 1994. Telephone interview with president.

Consejo Evangélico Pro-Ayuda al Desarrollo (CEPAD), Managua. 2 December 1994. Telephone interview with executive director.

Sociedad Bíblica, Managua. 2 December 1994. Telephone interview with secretary.

Norsworthy, Kent and Tom Barry. 1990. Nicaragua: A Country Guide. Albuquerque, N. Mex: The Inter-Hemispheric Education Resource Center, pp. 119-28.