Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06MANAGUA2645, A/S SHANNON'S MEETING WITH THE MRS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06MANAGUA2645.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06MANAGUA2645 2006-12-05 21:55 2011-06-21 08:00 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Managua
VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #2645/01 3392155
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 052155Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8376
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0853
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 002645 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA A/S SHANNON, WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016 
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: A/S SHANNON'S MEETING WITH THE MRS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: During a November 27 meeting with Assistant 
Secretary Thomas Shannon, key Sandinista Renovation Movement 
(MRS) leaders expressed their views on the elections and the 
party's future.  MRS member Luis Carrion, National Assembly 
deputy Monica Baltodano and spokesperson Israel Lewites 
stated that the MRS will not "pact" with anyone in the 
National Assembly, but rather will seek alliances on an 
issue-by-issue basis.  The MRS will continue to "test" Ortega 
and push him on key concerns, Luis Carrion told A/S Shannon. 
He also suggested that the United States should engage 
Ortega, but insist on adherence to the rule of law, 
anticorruption efforts and judicial reform. 
 
THE PACT DETERMINED THE ELECTION RESULTS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
2.  (C) On November 27, A/S Shannon met with MRS members Luis 
Carrion (who came in place of MRS deputy Victor Hugo Tinoco, 
who could not attend due to a death in the family) Monica 
Baltodano and Israel Lewites to elicit their views on the 
November elections.  Claiming that the "pact" between the 
National Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) and the Liberal 
Constitutional Party (PLC) was responsible for the outcome, 
Carrion opined that the FSLN and PLC acted as if they "owned 
the process" on election day.  He stated that while Daniel 
Ortega did win the presidency, the MRS believes that the 
Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) manipulated some of the 
National Assembly deputy results.  According to Carrion, on 
election day, the FSLN was "ready for fraud," and if there 
had not been so many national and international observers, 
the fraud would have been much worse. 
 
3.  (C) Carrion also pointed to national/voter ID (cedula) 
issuance and distribution problems and their effect on 
election results.  He mentioned his party's difficulties with 
recruiting and training a sufficient number of party poll 
watchers (fiscales) and maintaining a presence in rural 
areas.  In Carazo, Carrion believes the MRS succeeded in 
fighting for its Assembly deputy seat because of its strong 
presence in the department.  In rural areas, however, the MRS 
may have lost deputy seats because of little or no presence. 
Carrion emphasized that the CSE also played a role in 
manipulating the results.  Though the CSE said that election 
"anomalies" cited by the parties did not affect the vote 
count, the MRS believes they add up and "probably stripped 
them of a deputy or two."  Carrion has sent several written 
complaints to the CSE, but they have not answered a single 
one.  He opined that the system "is not trustworthy," and 
that the electoral law needs to be reformed to make it more 
equitable. 
 
THE MRS:  A SMALL BUT CRITICAL VOICE 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
4.  (C) Carrion stated that the MRS was disappointed with the 
election results, having received less than they had wanted 
and expected -- especially in the deputy races.  But, he 
opined, the MRS is convinced that it exercises "more 
political weight than just a couple of deputies."  Carrion 
views the MRS as "a critical voice in the National Assembly" 
and insisted that the party will not cave to pressure from 
the FSLN.  The FSLN is already trying to pull away MRS 
members with offers of money and high-ranking positions, and 
are using the argument that "all Sandinistas are the same," 
according to Carrion.  He cited the example of Mario Valle, 
who was elected on the MRS slate of deputies but has since 
left the party for the FSLN.  Carrion told A/S Shannon that 
the MRS needs to push its programs and ideas and that there 
will be no rigid "pact" with any party; instead the MRS will 
seek alliances on individual  issues. 
 
5.  (C) Carrion observed that in a way, having few deputies 
gives the MRS more freedom to work on its central platform -- 
diminishing the inequity in Nicaragua.  The MRS will not only 
highlight justice and corruption issues, but also work 
towards concrete and practical change.  The MRS will expand 
party presence throughout the country and prepare for the 
2008 municipal elections, according to Israel Lewites.  In 
particular, the party will consolidate support in Carazo, 
Masaya, and Managua and seek more rural support, he stated. 
Monica Baltodano echoed the need for grassroots campaigning 
to organize MRS supporters in the rural areas. 
 
6.  (C) A/S Shannon queried Carrion about the future of the 
party and the possibility of membership in international 
party centrals, much as the Soviet International.  Carrion 
admitted that the MRS was often overshadowed by the FSLN in 
the international arena, but was looking to increase its 
profile in that arena.  A/S Shannon mentioned Spain as a 
possible ally and suggested that international solidarity 
would counter FSLN efforts to dismantle the party. 
 
WE WILL TEST ORTEGA'S DEMOCRATIC CREDENTIALS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
7.  (C) Throughout the meeting, the MRS leaders expressed 
their concern about an FSLN government to A/S Shannon. 
Carrion believes that the FSLN leadership is corrupt, which 
presents an "enormous chance" for rampant corruption within 
the new government.  The MRS members each mentioned Ortega's 
commitments to his supporters and that these promises will be 
difficult to keep.  Carrion considers it a "litmus" test -- 
how Ortega will balance the different factions within the 
FSLN.  Ortega's dealing with Arnoldo Aleman will be another 
"test," since the PLC and the FSLN enjoy a majority in the 
National Assembly, added Carrion.  Lewites foresees Ortega 
looking for opportunities to consolidate power and believes 
that he will "pay off" certain sectors to the detriment of 
the middle class. 
 
8.  (C) The MRS sees a clear role for the party to "test 
Ortega's democratic credentials every step of the way," 
opined Carrion.  The MRS will grant Ortega the benefit of the 
doubt -- but he must respect and expand the democratic 
process, elaborated Carrion.  They will view each political 
moment as "a test of his commitment to democracy."  Lewites 
added that the MRS "will be the pebble in Ortega's shoe, a 
constant irritant and reminder of his promises to the people." 
 
9.  (C)  Former FSLN militant Monica Baltodano claimed that 
Ortega is "not a leftist" despite his radical discourse.  She 
termed him a "mafioso" and stated that his government is not 
going to be good for the country -- Nicaragua needs change. 
Opining that everyone appears happy with Ortega's initial 
statements, she predicted that Ortega may be able to satisfy 
certain sectors so that no one will oppose him, even though 
fundamental problems in Nicaragua will not be addressed. 
Baltodano sees the role of emerging leftist organizations 
(and the MRS) to force Ortega to focus on issues of social 
justice and anticorruption. 
 
MRS ADVICE ON DEALING WITH ORTEGA 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
10.  (C) A/S Shannon explained to the MRS that he wants to 
maintain a dialogue with Ortega but that he also hopes to 
foster better dialogue with civil society and other political 
parties.  He emphasized that Nicaragua needs parties that are 
focused on change and asked what the MRS predicted for the 
future.  Carrion responded that the situation is complex -- 
"When you expect the worst, even something poor becomes OK." 
He believes this dynamic has created the image that 
"everything is OK." 
 
11.  (C) In response to a question from Ambassador Trivelli 
for advice on dealing with Ortega, Lewites cautioned that the 
United States should not believe everything Ortega says. 
Carrion opined that Ortega is driven by two "psychological 
needs" -- one, to be legitimately elected as the president of 
Nicaragua and two, to be recognized and accepted by the 
United States.  Because of this, Carrion believes that Ortega 
needs to maintain a relationship with the United States. 
Baltodano stated that the United States 
needs to insist on rule of law and justice.  Carrion echoed 
her statement and added that judicial appointments will be a 
key test of the new government. 
 
12.  (U) Participants: 
 
Nicaragua: 
Luis Carrion 
Monica Baltodano 
Israel Lewites 
 
U.S.: 
Assistant Secretary Tom Shannon 
Ambassador Paul Trivelli 
Polcouns Victoria Alvarado 
Poloff Nicole Chulick (notetaker) 
 
13.  (U) This cable was cleared by A/S Shannon. 
BRENNAN