From: "Joe Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 22:27:46 +0000 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Peoples War] Pending Triumph of the Sandinistas NICARAGUA Like Somoza, apprentice Arnoldo Alem�n�s days are numbered BY PASTOR VALLE-GARAY (Special for Granma International) JUST like Somoza during the final days of his disastrous government, Arnoldo Alem�n recently exclaimed, "I�m not leaving and they�re not taking me." A classical boast from the neighborhood troublemaker, who like an ostrich sticks his head in the sand of his beach resort home in Pochomil, making reality disappear while pretending to still be president of Nicaragua. Despite what they say, ostriches are more intelligent. According to experts, they don�t bury their heads in the sand. Alem�n�s idea of hiding out at the beach as a way of avoiding criticism exposes his stupidity. His true departure, in the eyes of the people and the international community, began when he started insulting Nicaraguan democracy by misappropriating the nation�s assets; underestimating Nicaraguans� intelligence; escaping on million-dollar trips around the world; and amassing a fortune that not even the exorbitant salary he earns as president can justify. Just like Somoza, his mentor. Alem�n left when he disregarded the problems related to coffee production, public transportation and increasing unemployment, in addition to his useless attempts to blackmail El Nuevo Diario � the country�s most important newspaper � by threatening to withhold government advertisements if criticisms of the government continue. All this reflects Alem�n�s level of desperation, considering that he does not know how to govern effectively and has lost any legitimacy which presidential power may have conferred upon him. Alem�n left when he appointed relatives and lackeys to government posts, despite their lack of the essential credentials, even for the honorable position of shoeshine boy. Just like Somoza. Alem�n left with Hurricane Mitch and the millions in foreign donations destined for the victims, that disappeared under his administration. Just like Somoza did when the 1972 earthquake occurred. Alem�n left when he lashed out at non-governmental organizations for not surrendering themselves to his whims. Just like Somoza. Alem�n left when he attempted to deny civil, human and even citizens� rights to Ana Quiroz, Dorotea Granados, Jos� Antonio Alvarado, Vilma N��ez de Escorcia and many others who now make up the infinite list of honor of those who overthrew him. Just like Somoza. Alem�n left when Herty Lewites of the Sandinista Front was overwhelmingly elected mayor of Managua a few months ago, clearly demonstrating that the people�s voice was Alem�n�s downfall. Just like Somoza when he was faced with the Sandinista Revolution. Alem�n left when he converted the Supreme Electoral Council and the National Assembly into personal tools to prolong Nicaragua�s suffering, with the only useless goal of holding onto power that was never his. Just like Somoza. Alem�n left when it became nationally and internationally known that the corruption of the government he headed has plunged Nicaragua into abject poverty. Just like Somoza. Alem�n left in helicopters and elegant country homes, toys with which he intends to escape the reality of his failure. Just like Somoza, who built himself a landing strip next to his mansion in the Montelimar beach resort, which � not by coincidence � is located a few steps away from the mansion built by Alem�n in Pochomil. Alem�n left precisely when his puppeteers in the White House, in the Catholic hierarchy and in his own party � among them his own vice president, Enrique Bola�os � realized the political disadvantage of supporting a deadweight and began to distance themselves from that repulsive caricature of a president. The silence of his former "faithful" supporters must terrorize the man who is already the former president. Alem�n�s alienation reminds us of the poet�s wise words: "My God, the dead are so lonely!" The boat is sinking and the rats are fleeing in order to save themselves. Just like Somoza. Alem�n left when he discovered that he never had the people behind him. Just like Somoza. No one is afraid of the big bad wolf. That statement � "I�m not leaving and they�re not taking me" � is the last kick of a drowning man who can�t admit that he lost the game. He has plunged the nation into misery and gotten rich off of the people�s poverty, and if we add up his achievements he is left wanting, since there was no achievement worth mentioning during his administration. Just like Somoza. Sandinista Commander Dora Mar�a T�llez has said, "Alem�n is not preparing to leave power." That�s probably true. However, there is a political parallel which should be taken into account, given the similarity of the behavior of those obsessed with power: just like Somoza in his final days, Alem�n�s behavior is irrational. The people threw out the dictator with weapons. The people will throw out his apprentice with their vote. Alem�n knows this and what should worry him most is the specter of being deprived of his privileges and later being called to render accounts before a court of justice, as he deserves. Just like Somoza. That is the source of his paranoia about surrendering power. Alem�n�s corruption deserves the repudiation of his puppeteers in the White House and, just like Somoza, whether the U.S. president likes it or not, the will of the Nicaraguan people will impose itself. The National Assembly, party politics aside, will be obliged to respect the Constitution and Alem�n will begin to pack his bags. Surely he will head for Miami to be with his chums from the Cuban-American mafia. The sooner the better. Alem�n is history. The history of a black night. But no there�s no doubt, nationally or internationally, that this embarrassment will soon be over. Whether he likes it or not. The only thing left is the fast push of the official ceremony, after the November elections and the triumph of the Sandinistas. PASTOR VALLE-GARAY is a professor at York University. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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