Nicaragua emergency after ‘C.I.A. attack’

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 8

Nicaragua emergency after ‘C.I.A. attack’

NZPA-Reuter Managua Nicargaua’s revolutionary Government yesterday declared a 30-day state of emergency, suspending constitutional rights and guarantees throughout the Central American country. ?' Contender Daniel Ortega, co-ordinator of the ruling junta, said in a nationwide broadcast that the measure was taken after two important bridges were blown up in the north of the country. A Nicaraguan communique issued early yesterday said that counter-revolutionary elements acting under the orders of the American Central Intelligence Agency were responsible for the sabotage. “We establish this emergency law to protect, to save the revolution,” Commander Ortega told a militiamen’s mass, rally in front of Government House.

The militiamen yesterday resumed training throughout the country to achieve “combat ’ preparedness.” Yesterday’s communique

said that a C.LA. plan was aimed against the Sandinista revolutionary Government in Nicaragua, the plan, it said, was outlined last week by American newspapers ' and called for a commando force to sabotage targets inside Nicaragua. - The Nicaraguan Government also sent an open letter to the United States Congress yesterday asking "wellmeaning Americans. to denounce these plans entailing clandestine operations.” .It said the reported scheme, . which would authorise SUSI 9 million to back a C.1.A.-sponsored commando force of 500 men, included a plan to destroy and block communication routes.

The Reagan Administration has not confirmed or denied the reports which appeared in American newspapers last week. An American congressional leader said in Washington yesterday that a C.I.A. briefing had indicated the United States was carrying out operations to disrupt

what the Reagan Administration calls Nicaraguan arms supplies to Leftist insurgents trying to overthrow the American-backed Government in neighbouring El Salvador. The United States has accused Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Soviet Union of arming the Salvadorean guerrillas. But Jim Wright, Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, denied that Washington planned violent covert activity to destabilise the Government of Nicaragua.

Commander Ortega said in his nationwide broadcast yesterday that counter-revolu-tionary plans included “the training of an international mercenary force to carry out, from Honduras, military attacks, sabotage and terrorist acts in Nicaragua.” Commander Ortega said the junta’s state-of-emer-gency decree, under which “rights and guarantees are suspended throughout the national territory,” was effective immediately for 30 davs. and could be renewed.