Nicaragua
Country in Central America, between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean
Sea, bounded N by Honduras and S by Costa Rica.
Government
The constitution dates from 1987. The 92-member National Constituent
Assembly is elected by universal suffrage through a system of proportional
representation for a six- year term, and a president, similarly elected,
serves a non-renewable five- year term, with the assistance of a vice
president and an appointed cabinet.
History
The first European to reach Nicaragua was Gil Gonzalez de Avila 1522,
who brought it under Spanish rule. It remained Spanish until 1821 and
was then briefly united with Mexico. Nicaragua achieved full independence
1838.
After two decades of turmoil and invasions from other Central American
states, Nicaragua experienced 30 years of relative tranquillity 1863-93
under Conservative rule. This long period of peace led to increasing
foreign investment, especially in coffee plantations and railway construction.
The Liberal dictator Santos Zelaya, in power 1803-1909, promoted state
education, the separation of church and state, and civil marriage and
divorce. He also led the movement for a brief union 1896-98 with El
Salvador and Honduras.
In 1912, at the Nicaraguan government's request, the USA established
military bases in the country. Their presence was opposed by a guerrilla
group led by Augusto César Sandino. The USA withdrew its forces 1933,
but not before it had set up and trained a national guard, commanded
by a trusted nominee, General Anastasio Somoza. Sandino was assassinated
1934, but some of his followers continued their guerrilla activity.
The Somoza family began a near-dictatorial rule that was to last for
over 40 years. During this time they amassed a huge personal fortune.
General Anastasio Somoza was elected president 1936 and stayed in office
until his assassination 1956, when he was succeeded by his son Luis.
The left-wing Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), named after
the former guerrilla leader, was formed 1962 with the object of overthrowing
the Somozas by revolution. Luis Somoza was followed by his brother Anastasio,
who headed an even more notorious regime. In 1979, after considerable
violence and loss of life, Somoza was ousted.
The FSLN established a provisional junta of national reconstruction
led by Daniel Ortega Saavedra, published a guarantee of civil rights,
and appointed a council of state, prior to an elected national assembly
and a new constitution; assembly elections held 1984 endorsed the FSLN.
Nicaragua's relations with the USA deteriorated rapidly with the election
of President Reagan. He froze the package of economic assistance arranged
by his predecessor, Jimmy Carter, alleging that the Sandinista government
was supporting attempts to overthrow the administration in El Salvador.
In March 1982 the Nicaraguan government declared a state of emergency
in the wake of attacks on bridges and petroleum installations. The Reagan
administration embarked on a policy of destabilizing Nicaragua's government
and economy by actively supporting the counter-revolutionary forces
(the Contras) - known to have executed prisoners, killed civilians,
and engaged in forced conscription - and by covert Central Intelligence
Agency operations, including the mining of Nicaraguan harbours 1984.
In Feb 1985 Reagan denounced Ortega's regime, saying that his objective
was to `remove it in the sense of its present structure´.
The World Court ruled 1986 that the USA was in breach of international
law and ordered it to pay $17 billion in reparations. In June 1986 the
US Congress approved $100 million in overt military aid to the Contras;
total US aid to the Contras was $300 million.
In 1988 a hurricane left 18,000 homeless.
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