Document #1026427
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The following information was provided in 3
June 1996 and 21 June 1996 telephone interviews with the executive
director of the South and Meso-America Indigenous Information
Centre (SAIIC), who is also an ethnic Miskito from the Atlantic
coast of Nicaragua and familiar with the political issues of the
region.
In 1985 the Atlantic coast gained autonomy
and from 1985 to 1990 underwent a process of renegotiation,
repatriation and general amnesty for the indigenous peoples of the
Región Autónoma Atlántica Norte (RAAN) and the
Región Autónoma Atlántica Sur (RAAS).
Misurasata was previously known as Misura and later became known as
the Fuerzas Armadas Unidas de la Costa Atlántica Nicaragua
(FAUCAN). A breakaway group under the direction of Steadman Fagoth
was known as Kisan. According to the source, the indigenous
political groups Misurasata and Kisan, which had armed factions,
were demobilized and transformed into an indigenous political party
called Yatama in 1992. Yatama means "descendants of the
motherland/mother earth" and is a political party consisting of
members from the Sumu, Miskitu [plural] and Rama indigenous
groups.
Yatama participated in the 1992 elections
and won 24 out of 45 seats in the regional congress of the RAAN and
19 seats in the RAAS. In the 1994 elections, Yatama won only 7
seats in the RAAN congress, with the remaining seats in congress
(38) equally divided between the Sandinistas (19) and the Partido
Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC, Constitutionalist Liberal Party)
(19). Neither party could form the RAAN government without the
support of Yatama votes to pass legislation. Because of the unusual
election results, Yatama formed a coalition government with the
Sandinistas, and was able to demand the concession of placing a
party member of Yatama as the governor of RAAN, while the regional
coordinator (coordinador regional) was a Sandinista.
In May 1996, the Sandinistas broke off
negotiations with Yatama, allied themselves with the PLC, and are
in the process of trying to remove the Yatama governor. These
actions have resulted in massive strikes by indigenous people in
the region.
When questioned about the treatment of
members of Yatama, source noted that there are three antagonistic
factions within Yatama — Yatama Brooklyn, Yatama
Independiente and Yatama Fagoth. There are internal political
problems in Yatama which have resulted in isolated violent
incidents, but in contrast to the situation with former members of
armed groups, there has not been evidence that members and
politicians of Yatama are being faced with threats.
Recent political developments include the
removal of Marcos Hoppington, former governor of RAAN, as leader of
Yatama. He was replaced with Steadman Fagoth after the party lost
the 1994 regional elections. At present, the Yatama Brooklyn
faction is trying to acquire more economic power for the region, in
addition to cultural powers which have been accorded to the present
autonomous government. Yatama Brooklyn has contact with some
non-governmental organizations in Winnipeg, Canada which have
helped them obtain funds from the World Bank and other regional
international development banks. With these funds, Yatama Brooklyn
is currently in the process of beginning a number of economic
development initiatives for indigenous people in the region. Yatama
Brooklyn has also invited Steadman Fagoth, the leader of a rival
faction, Yatama Fagoth, to participate in these economic projects.
An organization has been created to investigate economic
alternatives and is known as the Corporación Indigena de
Desarrollo S.A. (CIDESA). The PLC is against granting economic
power to the indigenous peoples of the region and has cut off all
discussions with Yatama.
However, the source noted that there is
presently a resurgence of armed groups in Nicaragua who are
operating in isolated areas of the country, including parts of the
RAAN and the RAAS, complicating the regional political situation.
These armed groups are comprised of factions of the traditional
political parties that have refused to participate in the political
process and have returned to operating as armed groups as a form of
protest.
The source was aware of three such groups
presently operating in Nicaragua; the re-contras, comprised of
former contra guerrillas; the re-compas, comprised of former
members of the Sandinista army; and one known as the rearmados or
revueltos, which is comprised of former contras and Sandinistas
disillusioned with the traditional political divisions. The source
noted that there are indigenous members in each of the three armed
groups.
These groups are presently operating along
the highway from RAAN to Managua, as well as to the Rio Rama near
Chontales in RAAS, and the mountain highway from Matagalpa to the
Rio Wawa . The armed groups are also known to be operating around
Minas Rositas and Puerto Cabezas. The armed groups live in
clandestine camps in the jungle and are known to be responsible for
attacks on passers-by, extorting money from local villagers and
robbing transport trucks. The source was aware of reports of
members wishing to leave these groups to participate in a normal
civilian life who would be threatened and harassed by other group
members.
Please consult the attachments for
additional information on the granting of regional autonomy to the
indigenous people of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua and indigenous
involvement in local elections and politics, as well as information
on violent incidents involving indigenous people in the region.
Please consult Responses to Information
Requests NIC11893 of 22 October 1992 and NIC12771 of 15 January
1993 for additional information on the resurgence of armed groups
in Nicaragua and Response to Information Request NIC20252.E of 28
March 1995 which provides information on the links of the PLC to
the recontras.
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.
References
South and Meso-America Indigenous
Information Centre (SAIIC). 21 June 1996. Telephone interview with
executive director.
_____. 3 June 1996. Telephone interview
with executive director.
Attachments
ACAN [Panama City, in Spanish]. 4 July
1994. "Indians Kidnap 4 U.S. Citizens on Atlantic Coast."
(FBIS-LAT-94-128 5 July 1994, pp. 37-38)
Agence France Press (AFP). 25 June 1996.
"Former Contras Snatch Five Hostages." (NEXIS)
_____. 5 July 1994. "Army Frees Three US
Nationals Kidnapped in Nicaragua." (NEXIS)
The American Spectator. January 1993.
Daniel Wattenberg. "Harvard's New Interior Minister." (NEXIS)
Barricada [Managua, in Spanish]. 13
March 1995. Carlos Garcia Castillo. "Indigenous Leaders Discuss
Unity Proposals." (FBIS-LAT-95-092 12 May 1995, pp. 24-25)
_____. 4 July 1994. Noel Irias.
"Americans Said Kidnapped in Port." (FBIS-LAT-94-128 5 July 1994,
p. 38)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20
February 1992. "Reports of Violence on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast."
(NEXIS)
Central America Report [Guatemala City].
21 March 1995. Vol. 23, No. 11. "Nicaragua: Debate on Violence,"
pp. 4-5.
The Circle. 1 May 1994. Juan A. Avila
Hernandez. "Nicaragua Claims Election Mandate For Takeover of
Indigenous Zone." (The Ethnic Newswatch/NEXIS)
El Nuevo Diario [Managua, in Spanish]. 4
July 1994. "Ransom Demanded." (FBIS-LAT-94-128 5 July 1994, pp.
38-39)
The Houston Chronicle. 5 July 1994. 3
Star Edition. "Kidnappers Hold 4 American Fishermen." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service. 10 November 1994.
"Nicaragua-Human Rights: 20 Indigenous People Slain." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 March 1994. "Nicaragua:
Opposing Groups to Share Regional Government." (NEXIS)
_____. 12 July 1993. Roberto Fonseca
Lopez. "Nicaragua: Sumu Indians Threaten to Take Law Into Own
Hands." (NEXIS)
Mesoamerica [San Pedro]. November 1995.
Vol. 14, No. 11. Francisco Campbell. "Frustrating Gaps in the
Autonomy Statute."
_____. October 1994. Vol. 13, No. 10.
Arnold Oliver. "The Autonomy Project on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast:
Part II."
_____. September 1994. Vol. 13, No. 9.
Tom Bartlett and Arnold Oliver. "Autonomy on Nicaragua's Atlantic
Coast."
_____. March 1994. Vol. 13, No. 3.
Amanda Cedar Brown-Stevens. "Elections in the Atlantic Zone."
Miami Herald. 25 April 1995. Glenn
Garvin. "Lawlessness is Order of Day in Remote Village." (Central
America NewsPak [Austin], 29 Apr.-12 May 1996. Vol. 11, No. 7, pp.
10-11)
Noseworthy, Kent with Tom Barry. 1990.
Nicaragua: A Country Guide. Albuquerque: The Inter-Hemispheric
Education Resource Center: 136-40.
Notisur— Latin America Political
Affairs [Albuquerque, New Mexico]. 4 March 1994. "Nicaragua:
Results From Elections for Atlantic Coast Autonomous Governments."
(NEXIS)
Radio Corporacion [Managua, in Spanish]
1 March 1994. Ernesto Ugarte Calderon. "Indian Leader, Resistance
Commanders on Elections." (FBIS-LAT-94-043 4 March 1994, p. 18)
Radio Sandino [Managua, in Spanish]. 4
July 1994. "Four US Citizens and One Nicaraguan Kidnapped by Indian
and Creole Organization." (BBC Summary 6 July 1994/NEXIS)
_____. 4 July 1994. "Military Reports
Kidnappings." (FBIS-LAT-94-128 5 July 1994, p. 38)
_____. 24 February 1994. Jose Gart.
"Leaders of Indian Organization Attack FSLN Activists."
(FBIS-LAT-94-039 28 Feb. 1994, p. 25)
Radio Ya [Managua, in Spanish]. 20
February 1992. "Government Representatives, Rivera View Conflict."
(FBIS-LAT-92-035 21 Feb. 1992, p. 16)
Reuters. 5 July 1994. BC Cycle. Dan
Trotta. "Nicaraguan Army Rescues Kidnapped Americans." (NEXIS)
_____. 28 February 1994. BC Cycle.
"Sandinistas, Liberals Lead in Nicaragua Vote." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 February 1992. AM Cycle.
"Policeman, Soldier Killed in Nicaragua Attack." (NEXIS)
United Press International (UPI). 4 July
1994. BC Cycle. "Nicaraguan Rebels Hold U.S. Fishermen."
(NEXIS)
_____. 27 February 1994. BC Cycle. John
Otis. "Nicaraguans Go to Polls in Local Elections." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 February 1992. BC Cycle. John
Otis. "Indian Rebel Group Takes Control of Two Nicaragua Towns."
(NEXIS)
_____. 11 January 1992. BC Cycle. John
Otis. "Autonomy Means Little For Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast."
(NEXIS)
The Washington Times. 10 March 1994.
Final Edition. Deroy Murdock. "In Nicaragua, a Vote for the
Future." (NEXIS)
_____. 25 April 1993. Final Edition.
William Ratfliff. "Living Up to the Prestige." (NEXIS)