161. Memorandum From Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)1
SUBJECT
- Nicaragua Update
The FAO has publicly presented its response to the NG’s proposal on the plebiscite.2 As anticipated, the FAO said it would agree to negotiate the details of holding a plebiscite only if three conditions were met: (a) the lifting of the state of siege with full restoration of civil liberties, (b) granting amnesty to all those charged with political crimes, permitting free entry into Nicaragua by all exiles, and (c) removal of all restrictions on free access to the media. It added that if Somoza wins the plebiscite, the FAO would refuse to become part of the government of national unity. (C)
In a long conversation with Bowdler, who had flown to San Jose to brief the GOCR on the mediation effort, President Carazo expressed his anxiety over the activities of the armed FSLN groups [Page 423] in Costa Rica.3 He admitted that he had little effective influence over their actions and said Venezuelan President Perez “remains in charge of the Sandinistas in Costa Rica.” Carazo claimed that Torrijos had become disillusioned with the “theatrical Sandinistas” and had not been giving them support for at least a month. Carazo said that he had originally thought Eden Pastora was a real leader, but now found him to be “courageous” but vacillating and inconstant. (S)
The IAHRC report4 on Nicaragua received full press coverage in Managua, with the opposition viewing it as proof of Somoza’s disregard for human rights and the GON calling it one-sided. Continued reports of disappearances and arrests are appearing in the Nicaraguan press, as are articles on deaths attributed to the National Guard and to FSLN-performed executions. (C)
An important coffee processing plant was destroyed by fire December 5 when a group claiming to be representatives of the FSLN-Proletarian Tendency poured gasoline on the machinery and warned workers not to call for help. Given the dependence of Nicaragua’s precarious economy on this year’s agricultural harvest, the FSLN may now be resorting to efforts to sabotage the harvest in order to bring additional pressure to bear on Somoza. (C)
John Murphy and Charlie Wilson have begun their campaign to turn the USG around and get some support for Somoza. Wilson has been working on Henry Owen, and has threatened to kill next year’s AID bill—which is a credible threat, according to Beckel—unless we turn our policy around.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 35, Nicaragua, 10/78–12/78. Secret.↩
- See Document 147.↩
- In telegram 6342 from Managua, December 6, Bowdler reported to Christopher and Vaky about his discussion with Carazo. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P780187–2343)↩
- See Document 144.↩