By Jill Clark-Gollub

(This article was first published by the Orinoco Tribune on July 11, 2024.)

[Rita Jill Clark-Gollub is active with the Maryland-based solidarity group Friends of Latin America and serves on the Coordinating Committee of the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition. She organizes study tours to Nicaragua and has published articles on Nicaraguan issues in independent news outlets.]

The Republican Party has been waging a blatantly racist campaign to criminalize migrants. Instead of pushing back on that narrative, the Democratic administration is exploiting this racist anger to discredit a country it has targeted for regime change—Nicaragua—apparently for not sufficiently suppressing the rights of migrants. As Congresswoman Maria Salazar (R-FL) told a Biden administration representative at a recent hearing, “We agree on the end goal.” This is part of a relentless campaign to punish countries that dare to resist Washington’s agenda of suffocating unilateral coercive measures (aka “sanctions”).

Congresswoman Salazar convened a June 27 hearing of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs about “The Curse of Socialism in Central America and the Caribbean,” an apt sequel to her 2023 Congressional resolution “Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism.” The purpose of the June 27 hearing seemed to be to denigrate and punish Nicaragua and Cuba, and to threaten Honduras (and any other country that follows their example).

The hearing included bizarre accusations regarding the crime of human trafficking. For at least five years now, Cuba detractors have been alleging that the world-renowned Henry Reeve Brigade, which sends Cuban physicians around the world bringing medical care to address humanitarian disasters, is a human trafficking ring. This sinister argument claims that no doctors would willingly accept the modest wages that Cuban doctors receive, nor could the doctors possibly be motivated by humanitarian interests or anything other than personal enrichment, so they must be victims of trafficking. Lodging such unfounded complaints about a serious human rights issue could undermine efforts to combat real instances of human trafficking. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines human trafficking as, “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.” No evidence has ever been put forth that the Cuban doctors are subject to force, fraud, or deception. On the contrary, the doctors have given numerous interviews regarding how proud and pleased they are to help people through the Henry Reeve Brigade. Yet these unfounded accusations persist.

Now Nicaragua is being accused of human trafficking, too, because it applies immigration policies that respect international law. Accusations that Nicaragua was “weaponizing migration” to exacerbate the crisis on the southern US border began in Nicaraguan opposition circles around 2022 when Cubans and Haitians began traveling through Nicaragua on their way to the United States. While the US violates well-established norms to protect refugees and asylum seekers, Nicaragua has become an escape valve for people fleeing the humanitarian crises in Cuba and Haiti that are largely caused by US policy. Thinly veiled racist accusations have since been taken up by US corporate media, with allegations that the Nicaraguan government is somehow profiting from the flow of migrants through its country and is in fact engaged in or encouraging human trafficking. Such charges come devoid of any evidence of how government authorities might profit from the situation. And while migrants are indeed vulnerable to predators, human trafficking rings go hand-in-hand with organized crime—including drug and weapons trafficking—scourges that are noticeably absent from Nicaragua. Even Manuel Orozco, one of loudest purveyors of this dishonest theory admits that, “It’s a complicated issue because everyone has the right [to] free movement.”

This narrative has been expanded as migrants from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, seeing the doors of Western Europe closed to them, have been seeking new paths to the United States. Flying into Central America is a way to avoid the dangerous Darien Gap in Panama, and Nicaragua’s inexpensive or free visas make it more economical than other options.

The accusations have taken a dangerous turn as Nicaragua is now blamed for the crimes of anyone who passes through its territory. Such is the case of eight migrants from Tajikistan alleged to have ties with ISIS, who are said to have passed through Nicaragua on their way to the US border. Never mind that they passed through several countries in addition to Nicaragua on their way to the US, or that they even fooled US immigration authorities about their criminal records, Nicaragua is now being called a “State Sponsor or Terrorism” because such individuals might have passed through its territory.

Congresswoman Salazar appears eager to pursue this charge and have Nicaragua join Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list. During the June hearing, she excoriated the State Department spokesman for any collaboration with the Cuban government to fight terrorism and admonished the Biden administration to refrain from any thought of removing Cuba from “the list.” Readers may be aware that the spurious placement of Cuba on the list in 2021 has greatly exacerbated the six-decade-old blockade of the island nation, making it even harder for the country to procure essential supplies and food, provoking a humanitarian and migration crisis. Congress is now trying to make Cuba’s spot on this list permanent.

The justification for Nicaragua’s placement on the list is equally flimsy and could bring tremendous suffering to the Central American country, too. When Rep. Salazar told the State Department witness, “Why don’t you put them on the terrorist list as well? … Put Nicaragua?” The response was, “I will take back your recommendation.”

Before closing the meeting, Rep. Salazar mentioned that she wanted to remove Nicaragua from the DR-CAFTA agreement, because “that is what will hurt them [the government],” even though she admitted that it will also hurt ordinary Nicaraguans.

As for Honduras, Salazar’s assessment is summed up with these words about the report on Honduran democracy that the State Department is preparing: “I would give Madame President [Xiomara Castro] an F!” and … “Are you sending Madame President the message that she should not be messing with Honduran democracy and she should not be moving to the left like Chavez, Maduro, Ortega, Fidel?”

The Monroe Doctrine and the Cold War appear to be alive and well in the US Congress and State Department. Although Venezuela was not mentioned at this hearing, readers may be aware that the United States reinstated coercive measures on that country in April based on allegations surrounding its preferred candidate in this month’s presidential election. We can expect more pain and suffering to be heaped on the Venezuelan people if they re-elect the man who is leading in the polls: President Maduro.

The combination of the June hearing and last year’s Congressional resolution against socialism makes clear that regime change is not the only goal of US coercive measures. They are also meant to make sure that countries providing universal healthcare, education, and social services—such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—whom many call “threats of a good example,” become examples of what kind of punishment the US government is willing to impose on those who break out from under its influence. This punishment is meant to serve as a dire warning to others, such as the people of Honduras, who are exploring new paths.

For this reason, we must defend other nations from our government’s economic aggression. One tool that we have to educate and mobilize people is the Americas Without Sanctions campaign, which, among other resources, includes a link to support Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez’ resolution to annul the Monroe Doctrine and establish better relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. We MUST end the blockade of Cuba and get it off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list! We must prevent any more countries from being placed on the list, and eliminate all unilateral coercive measures! They are illegal under international law, and immoral because they impose collective punishment and harm the most vulnerable citizens.

We must do everything we can to save the peoples of Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and other nations from these ongoing attacks on their self-determination.

* * * * *

Briefs
By Nan McCurdy

Central Bank Completes Payment of CABEI Loan
The Central Bank (BCN) reported that in July it “made the last installment payment on the credit line that the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) made available to Nicaragua to support liquidity management.” A press release from the BCN explained that between June 2018 and June 2019, it made use of the credit line in the amount of US$220 million, which Nicaragua has paid off over the last five years in the amount of US$248.7 million, including US$28.7 million in interest. The credit line was used “to solve liquidity contingencies to strengthen the financial safety net, safeguard financial stability and contribute to the credibility of the exchange rate regime, a fundamental pillar for Nicaragua’s macroeconomic stability,” adds the Bank’s press release. “With this cancellation, the BCN reaffirms its commitment to promptly comply with its international financial obligations and guarantee the stability of its monetary and financial system.” (La Primerisima, 24 July 2024)

Nicaragua One of the Highest in Gender Equity 
According to the annual World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap report published on 11 June, Nicaragua now ranks sixth in gender equality. The index benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions – economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment. The other countries in the top ten, according to the report, are Iceland, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, and Namibia. (Global Gender Gap, 11 June 2024)

Nicaragua Denounces Coup Attempt against Venezuela
On July 29 a Sandinista Government communiqué stated that Venezuela is facing a “new coup d’état attempt, promoted by the imperialists of the earth.” The communiqué signed by President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo made the accusation against imperialist governments that “today are conspiring again, to continue exercising all forms of hatred against this admirable Venezuela.” The communique said that Venezuela “has defeated the empires and their impudence, and is already facing a new coup d’état attempt which is based on arrogance and the permanent desire to dominate and plunder our peoples and our resources.” It went on to say, “The fascism that today pretends again to rage in Venezuelan lands, of course, will not happen.” Vice President Rosario Murillo, in the midday edition of Multinoticias of Channel 4 TV, described the July 28 election day as impeccable and recalled that Venezuela has organized 31 elections since President Hugo Chávez assumed power in 1999. (La Primerisima, 29 July 2024)

National Assembly Approves New Law to Improve Tourism Development
A new General Law on Tourism was approved on July 20 by the National Assembly. It will concentrate efforts to improve the development of the sector and strengthen organization and public management. The concept emphasizes the participation of the people, the family and the communities, public and private sectors.  In the explanatory memorandum of the bill sent to the Assembly by President Daniel Ortega, tourism is identified as one of the pillars of economic growth and job creation. The President of the National Assembly, Dr. Gustavo Porras, said, “The goal is clear, to have the legal framework of two laws that have sufficient strength, such as this General Law of Tourism and also the Law of Tourism Incentives.” (La Primerisima, 30 July 2024)

Important Advances and Achievements in the Health Sector 
On July 18, the Ministry of Health held its fifteenth scientific meeting on health, where the advances and important achievements in this sector were highlighted, such as the reduction of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality. Dr. Carlos Saenz, Secretary General of MINSA, explained that the objective was to share and exchange experiences related to research in the field of human, animal, and environmental health. He said that, during the meeting, ten papers were presented which will be evaluated by a jury to choose the three best works. Sáenz said that, at conferences during this second stage of the Revolution, 145 papers have been presented, of which 24 have been master classes from different countries of the Americas and Europe, including the United States, Panama, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Honduras. He said that the topics that are focused on include Chagas disease, leptospirosis, renal transplants, mosquito vector control, as well as other vectors that transmit diseases. The conference was supported by international organizations and universities. (La Primerisima, 25 July 2024)

Military Hospital Launches Modern Intensive Care Unit
The Alejandro Dávila Bolaños Military Hospital has inaugurated a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit, a national referral unit with high technology that allows the monitoring of pediatric patients in critical condition. Dr. María Johanna Barberena, pediatric internist and head of the Pediatric ICU of the hospital, said that the unit includes a multidisciplinary team with the presence of interns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. She said that the medical team is made up of four full-time interns, three general pediatricians,16 nurses, critical and pediatric specialists, 6 physicians in women’s and children’s care units and a nutritionist. She pointed out that the unit has clinical and surgical specialties such as: cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgical surgery, pediatric orthopedics, urological surgery, and general pediatric surgery. Dr. Barberena explained that the unit has 10 cubicles, each one is equipped with vital signs monitors, six of them are for intensive care, i.e. for pediatric patients who arrive with serious illnesses, and there are also four cubicles for intermediate care. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/hospital-militar-lanza-moderno-servicio-de-cuidados-intensivos-pediatricos-y-neonatales/ (La Primerisima, 24 July 2024)

Thousands of Carazo Residents Attend Neurosurgery Mega Fair
On July 27 the Ministry of Health held a neurosurgery medical day to attend patients from the eight municipalities of the department of Carazo. Men and women of all ages arrived at the Santiago Regional Hospital of Jinotepe for the first fair of this type in the area. The fair was part of the health policies implemented by the Sandinista Government. Eighteen specialists, including neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, internal medicine doctors and others, attended the patients with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, hydrocephalus, Parkinson’s, autism and cranial traumas. Special examinations were also performed. Children were also seen. The government, through MINSA, has been implementing a series of actions such as this one, which bring timely health care, disease prevention, treatment and follow-up. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/miles-de-caracenos-asisten-a-mega-feria-de-neurocirugia/ (La Primerisima, 27 July 2024)

Mobile Clinic Arrives in San Juan de Limay
The Sandinista Medical Brigade mobilized on July 27 to the municipality of San Juan de Limay, in the department of Estelí, to provide medical attention to its inhabitants. The brigade provided general medical, pediatric and pregnancy care. The inhabitants received free health services, demonstrating once again the commitment of the Sandinista Government with the welfare of its people. [During the Somoza years and the neoliberal years Limay was known as the tail-end of the world, very remote and difficult to enter or leave. It just had one small health post that barely functioned. Now it has a hospital, a high school, pre-school and more. In the last few years, the government has built four good paved roads so there is communication in every direction]. (La Primerisima, 28 July 2024)

More than 800,000 People Protected Against Leptospirosis
The Ministry of Health completed its second national rat extermination campaign between July 22 and 28. Twenty thousand kilograms of rodenticide were applied, protecting 830,764 people in all the municipalities of the country. Likewise, markets, health establishments, municipal slaughterhouses and warehouses were visited, with the participation of 4,157 people, including members of the community network, local authorities, Sandinista Youth, students and health workers, to help meet the established goal. (La Primerisima, 29 July 2024)

INATEC Authorities Inaugurate 65th Center 
The National Technology Institute (INATEC) inaugurated its 65th center for the teaching of English and Mandarin Chinese. The deputy director of that institution, Walter Saenz, explained that the center is a sub-site of the National Language Center and had an investment of US$ 460,000 to serve more than 2,000 students each year. The center has seven fully equipped spaces and will be open from Monday to Friday in the morning, afternoon, evenings and also for a period on weekends. Allan Reyes, director of the technology center explained that, “In this center we will be offering English and Mandarin Chinese courses and we have highly qualified teaching staff to offer this free, quality education to our students.” (La Primerisima, 24 July 2024)