U.S. and Central America

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 12

U.S. and Central America

Sir,—To correct the biased simplifications of Central American politics contained , in the “Economist” article (“The Press,” December 11) I argue that any “success” the United States has had in the ’ region has been at the expense of thousands of innocent lives and to the benefit of only those who have for decades exploited the peoples of the region for economic gain. The repeated accusation that Nicaragua supplies arms to guerrillas iri neighbouring countries is false. C.I.A. operatives have admitted that this ceased four years ago. The 1984 Nicaraguan election was not a “half election.” International observers described it as “at least as fair” as that held previously, in El Salvador, which the United States promotes as a paradigm of democracy. I question the balance of an article which glosses over United States military and financial support for parties guilty of human rights abuses such as Guatemala and El Salvador and the Nicaraguan contra rebels. — Yours, etc., KEVIN STOKES, ■ University of Canterbury, Latin America Group. December 15, 1985.