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VVAW Meets with Disabled Nicaraguan Vets

By Louie DeBenedette

Louie DeBenedette
Clarence Fitch Chapter, NJ/NY

I returned to Nicaragua by land on March 14, 1993. I planned to visit the wheel chair Sandinista veterans whom our chapter had sponsored in this country in 1990 and who had joined VVAW at the anniversary of the Kent State massacre. I was accompanied by a former Sandinista soldier who had family in Nicaragua.

The situation among the disabled veterans has changed radically since the new UNO government had taken power. It is now very difficult for a disabled veteran to obtain medicine. A normal pension for a paraplegic is only twenty dollars a month. Unemployment in the county is over fifty percent. The chances for employment by a person in a wheelchair are very small. Often the family has to help out with their meager funds. It is obvious that the policy of the United States is to finish off the Sandinista little by little and as in our country, hit the veteran hard. The new government and the U.S. work hand in hand to prevent any Sandinista victory in 97.

I spent many days with Fernando Lopez, the ex-president of ORD (Organization of Disabled Revolutionaries), who visited us at Kent State. Fernando is paralyzed but drives a mean Susuko stick shift pick up. Russian made. Daniel Ortega, who is still the leader of the Sandinista, is up on charges now for having donated so much government property to the people before he left office. A lot of Susukos made their way into the hands of the people. I still think that Daniel Ortego is the most compassionate and intelligent President many of us have seen in a long time. Fernando has had to drive his truck up to the market and look for work hauling goods. Fernando is an honest man and loves his country. He is married and they hope some day to have children through a special procedure at the hospital in Manage. But the expense is great.

I had to put over $500 into the truck to keep it running. We visited a town called Boaco to make another donation to Antonio Oporta, wheel chair vet who needed more leather to make and sell saddles. The ship has been in existence for three years and employs a couple of veterans. I spent

Good Friday and Easter up there in the mostly UNO cite of former Contra. There were many processions and religious services but Antonio and I sat these out watching X-rated movies taking turns watching for the parade to pass by and to look holy. Both Antonio and I are not irreligious, Jesus struggled for Justice for the poor. These religious services did not project the Christ I believe in. However, Nicaragua is full of faith but most of it is celebrated in the base communities, not in big churches. Cm. Thomas Borge, who is not Christin, said that the Christians were the Revolution. Chamorro's reign has brought back conservative religion which seeks power, not LOVE. Domino's Pizza donated four million dollars to Cardinal abandon y Bravo to construct the cathedral in Manage. Ten thousand children beg for food in the streets of Manage. It was much better under the Sandinista.

I was saddened by the changes that had occurred. I can imagine what the U.S. has been up to in Vietnam by refusing to open up trade. In all the countries, Panama, El Salvado, Nicaragua and Vietnam there ought to be restitution for what had been done there by our war making. The struggle is terribly long and yet the Sandinista I met continue to want justice. We are all in this tougher and our common struggle is to disarm the U.S. and to create a civilization of LOVE. Our veteran friends in Nicaragua greet us and urge us to continue the struggle together. Dave Cline urged this fraternal sentiment in a letter I presented to the vets on behalf of VVAW.