No information on whether current or ex-Sandinistas are being targeted by either the Sandinistas or the PRN for serving in the military under President Chamorro could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, according to a researcher at the North-South Institute in Ottawa, who has conducted research on internal affairs of the Nicaraguan army and the Sanidinistas at the beginning of the 1990s, particularly under the Chamorro government:

[...] there is no way current or ex-Sandinistas could be targetted for having served in the military under Chamorro.[...]

The military during the Chamorro regime remained controlled and staffed by people closely associated with the Sandinista party. Even today, most of the officers and certainly all the top ones, were once members of the Front. Many have kept very close relationships with current leaders of the Sandinista party.

There is no open confrontation between the army and the Sandinista party as such, although there have been tensions between the two regarding for instance the very detached attitude of the army during electoral contests. None of this has anything to do with the fact that all the current officers were also in the army under Chamorro.

This does not mean however that current or ex-Sandinistas who were in the army under Chamorro might not be "targetted" by the Sandinista party for other reasons (15 Jan. 2002).

Corroborating information could not be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

North-South Institute, Ottawa. 15 January 2002. Correspondence with a researcher.

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Latin American Regional Reports

LEXIS/NEXIS

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

BBC.com

Buenos Aires Herald

Clarin

CNN.com

The Miami Herald

La Nacion

Nicaragua Network Hotline

The Washington Post