Jolt allows co-operation

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 11

Jolt allows co-operation

NZPA-Reuter San Salvador The earthquake that hit San Salvador 10 days ago has presented a rare opportunity for El Salvador and Nicaragua to put aside, at least briefly, their long-standing antagonism in favour of cooperation. El Salvador’s United States-backed Government sees Left-wing Nicaragua as a dangerous example to the region, and accuses its Sandinist leaders of supplying'arms to Leftist guerrillas fighting against it. Nicaragua says supplies for United States-funded anti-Sandinist rebels, the

“contras,” are being flown from military bases in El Salvador. A United States citizen, Eugene Hasenfus, went on’ trial in Managua this week after being captured when he parachuted from a rebel supply plane shot down by Nicaraguan soldiers. Mr Hasenfus said the flight originated at a Salvadorean air base. The Salvadorean Government has put aside the differences in the aftermath of the earthquake, which killed at least 1500 people and left a fifth of the capital’s population of one million homeless. When a team of 10 doctors and four nurses first arrived from Managua the day after the

quake, they were escorted the 25 miles to the capital by Salvadorean soldiers. Now they drive around freely, helping wherever they are needed. The first reaction from Salvadoreans to their presence was surprise, said a Nicaraguan Red Cross worker, Efrain Fajardo, aged 37. “Surprise because they have a mistaken concept about what is going on in our country. Then came acceptance,” he said. Mr Fajardo, whose Red Cross team was sent on orders from the Nicaraguan Government, said their presence had provided a positive image of Nicaragua.