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ACTION SS-25
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 /026 W
--------------------- 082768
P 081455Z FEB 75
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6214
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 0568
EXDIS
FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROGERS FROM AMBASSADOR SHELTON
EO 11652: GDS
TAGS: SHUM, NU
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTING
REF STATE 028626
I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN OVER THE REPORTS OF "ARBITRARY
ARREST, MURDER AND EVEN ASSASSINATION" WHICH YOU HEARD IN
PANAMA. WERE THESE TRUE I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE WOULD
GRAVELY SHARE YOUR CONCERN AND WOULD REPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY.
ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF THIS EMBASSY ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE
PROBLEMS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE NECESSITY TO BE ALERT
TO THIS SITUATION AT ALL TIMES. I AM IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH EVERY
ELEMENT OF THE EMBASSY AND THE EMBASSY IS IN TOUCH WITH ALL
ELEMENTS OF NICARAGUAN SOCIETY, BOTH GOVERNMENTAL AND
OPPOSITION, AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF ANY RESORT
TO MURDER OR ASSASSINATION. AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, ONLY
A FEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR INVESTIGATION OF SUSPECTED
FSLN ACTIVITIES. EVEN THE NON-CASTROIST OPPOSITION,
INCLUDING THE COMMUNISTS, HAVE MADE NO CHARGES SUCH AS
THOSE YOU HEARD IN PANAMA. WE ARE KEENLY AWARE HERE THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN STATEMENTS IN THE PANAMANIAN PRESS AND ON
THE COSTA RICAN RADIO WHICH HAVE PICTURED NICARAGUA IN A
STATE OF "NEAR CIVIL WAR" WITH THE "BORDERS CLOSED" AND A
GENERAL PICTURE OF TURMOIL, REPRESSION AND CONFUSION. IT IS
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THESE ALLEGATIONS.
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IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT COSTA RICAN PRESIDENT ODUBER IN
HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH PRESIDENT SOMOZA ON FEBRUARY 6
EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN AND CHAGRIN OVER THESE IRRESPONSIBLE
STATEMENTS BEING MADE IN COSTA RICA AND PROMISED SOMOZA
THAT HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY COULD TO REDUCE THE
FLOW OF SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENTS. AS YOU KNOW, SINCE THE
DECEMBER 27 TERRORIST ATTACK, NICARAGUA HAS BEEN IN A "STATE
OF SEIGE." THE APPLICATION OF THIS STATE OF SIEGE HAS BEEN
LIMITED ALMOST ENTIRELY TO CENSORSHIP AND THE USE OF MILITARY
COURTS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. WE DO NOT KNOW OF ANYONE
WHO HAS BEEN DENIED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT SINCE THE DECEMBER 27
INCIDENT. IN GENERAL, WHILE THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY
SOME ABERRATIONS, THERE ARE NO MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS IN NICARAGUA. A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE DEGREE
OF OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS HERE WILL BE FORTHCOMING IN SEPTEL.
SHELTON
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