ACTION ALERT - Call Congress to oppose 11th hour
sanction threats!
Yesterday, Bush administration officials threatened
Nicaraguan voters with economic sanctions on the eve of the presidential campaign
cut-off, assuring that they would have the last word in the media before
Nicaraguans go to the polls this Sunday.
In Managua, U.S. Embassy spokesperson Kristin Stewart,
threatened economic sanctions in the event of an Ortega victory. She was joined by four Republican congressmen
threatening Nicaraguan voters with a cut off of remittances from the United
States. Rep. Tancredo, (R-CO) issued
his threat in a letter to Nicaragua's Ambassador to the U.S. while Rep.
Rohrabacher, (R-CA) wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff
asking him "to prepare in
accordance with U.S. law, contingency plans to block any further money
remittances from being sent to Nicaragua in the event that the FSLN enters
government." Rep. Royce, (R-CA)
and Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) wrote a similar letter to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice.
Yesterday's volley of threats are the strongest yet by the
US government warning Nicaraguan people of dire consequences if the FSLN wins.
The people of Nicaragua who endured the U.S. sponsored war and economic embargo
during the 1980s understand all too well the devastating impacts of U.S.
economic sanctions.
We can't let these scare tactics go unchallenged! We need to hold our government accountable
for the abuses against democracy that we are seeing unfold in these last hours. We have allies in congress who are leading
the way:
In a strongly worded response, Rep. José Serrano, NY stated,
"I am particularly troubled by the statements of Embassy spokesperson
Kristin Stewart. She publicly linked
Ortega with terrorist groups and said that the U.S. would revise its policy
toward the Nicaraguan government should he win.
I believe her words were unfortunate and wrong, and merit a withdrawal...
I pledge that I will do everything in my power to make sure that the government
of the Unites States will respect the wishes of the Nicaraguan people
regardless of who wins their presidential elections."
Rep. Barbara Lee, CA stated, "Our nation's commitment to democracy means that our
government has a solemn obligation to remain neutral in matters regarding the
sovereignty and elections of other countries, especially in the western
hemisphere, given our history in the region. No individual lawmaker has the right or
the authority to suggest that our government will interfere with the elections
of one of our neighbors."
WE MUST BUILD MOMENTUM BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT! WE URGE YOU TO TAKE THE
FOLLOWING ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY:
FIRST: CALL your Congressional Representatives and demand they:
- Join Representatives Serrano, D-NY and Lee D-CA by
issuing a strong statement demanding that U.S. officials remain neutral regarding the
elections in Nicaragua and, - Pledge to respect the outcome of the Nicaraguan elections,
whatever they might be!
GET
THE PHONE NUMBER FOR YOUR CONGRESSPERSON
NEXT, CALL Representatives
Tancredo, R-CO, Rohrabacher, R-CA, Royce, R-CA Hoekstra (R-MI) to denounce
their bullying of the Nicaraguan people and demand that they withdraw their
threats of economic sanctions. Even if
you don't live in their districts, they need to hear from you. Their district office numbers are below:
Tancredo
720-283-9772
303-688-3430
720-283-7575
Royce
714-922-8081
562-220-2411
fax: 714-992-1668
Rohrabacher
714-960-6483
310-377-9493
Hoekstra
616-395-0271
231-722-8386
231-775-0298
YOUR ACTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We will make clear to Congress that
abusive behavior will not be tolerated, and demand that they must stop
undermining democracy in Nicaragua. If
you don't know your congressperson's number you can use this tool to find it.
Numerous articles - by the Washington Post , Common Dreams and the Washington Office on Latin America - have noted the interference by the Bush
administration officials throughout this election season. Our
website also provides a report from our
election delegation that interviewed actors across the Nicaraguan
political spectrum to document the unrelenting interference by US
officials.
How dare they speak for us as Americans? Please call your congresspeople and demand they silence their peers' threats against democracy. The Nicaraguan people are counting on alert US citizens to hold their government to account and create space for the unintimidated wishes of the Nicaraguan people to be realized.
Thank you for all you have done.
In Solidarity,
The Quest for Peace Team,
Bill, Dolly, Tom, Carol, Jenny
