Strongman rejects peace plan

Press, 22 January 1979, Page 9

Strongman rejects peace plan

NZPA-Reuter Managua President Anastasio Somoza has rejected international proposals aimed at settling Nicaragua’s political crisis, declaring that “those who want me to abandon the country will have to do it by force.” The long-time strongman was referring to a key proposal that he go into voluntary exile if he lost a referendum to determine whether he should remain in office or resign.

The general, dashing hopes of an early end to the violence rocking his Central American republic for a year, told a nress cc" f°rence: “I was born in Nicaragua, and 1 want to uve here and not die in exile.”

He rejected as interference in the country’s interna) affairs the proposal by a three-nation mediation team last month for the internationally supervised vote. The panel from the United States, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic had set Friday as the deadline for his and the Opposition’s decision on its suggestions

The proposals also outlined steps to be taken before ana after the iciercadum and were modified last week to meet some of the general’s objections. At the height of the violence last year, the general, on being told that the Americans wanted him to relinquish the Presidency by which his family has enriched itself over the last 40 years, is reported to have said: “If they want me out they will have to come and get me.”