Veterans For Peace Witness Nicaragua’s Remarkable Social Progress Amidst US Sanctions
A delegation of seven members from Veterans For Peace (VFP), a US-based anti-war organization, embarked on a week-long fact-finding mission to Nicaragua in March 2024. The veterans, hailing from five different states, sought to understand the reality of life in Nicaragua, a nation often portrayed negatively in Western media. Their itinerary included visits to community clinics, schools, youth groups, and meetings with local officials in cities like Managua, Matagalpa, Masaya, and Ciudad Sandino. The delegation was deeply impressed by Nicaragua’s commitment to providing free, high-quality healthcare and education to all its citizens, despite being the third poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. This achievement, they noted, stood in stark contrast to the United States, where access to essential services is increasingly limited and often tied to economic status.
The VFP delegation, which included national and chapter leaders, engaged in meaningful dialogues with various segments of Nicaraguan society. A particularly impactful exchange occurred with the Juventud Sandinista, a youth group dedicated to upholding the principles of the Sandinista revolution. The veterans learned about the group’s commitment to social justice and their active role in community development initiatives. The delegation also visited a Casa Materna, a maternity and birthing center in Matagalpa, and learned about Nicaragua’s remarkable success in reducing maternal mortality rates by 80% since 2007. This achievement highlighted the government’s prioritization of healthcare for the most vulnerable, a stark contrast to the escalating healthcare crisis in the US.
Nicaragua’s progress, the veterans observed, is even more remarkable considering the crippling economic sanctions imposed by the United States. These sanctions, intended to destabilize the Sandinista government, have had a significant impact on the Nicaraguan economy. However, the country has demonstrated resilience through its focus on food sovereignty, with 90% of the food consumed being produced domestically. Furthermore, Nicaragua’s commitment to sustainable energy is evident in its reliance on renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power, which meet over 70% of the nation’s energy needs. This commitment to sustainable development further impressed the delegation.
The historical context of US intervention in Nicaragua formed a significant backdrop to the VFP delegation’s visit. The veterans visited the home of Augusto Cesar Sandino, the national hero who led the resistance against US Marine occupation in the 1920s. Sandino’s legacy continues to inspire the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), the ruling political party. The delegation also traveled to Masaya, a city that witnessed significant violence during the 2018 attempted coup, which the US government is widely believed to have supported. Contrary to Western media narratives that portrayed the unrest as a government crackdown on peaceful protests, the VFP delegation heard firsthand accounts from Masaya residents describing violent mobs engaged in what they viewed as a form of hybrid warfare orchestrated and funded by US intelligence agencies.
The VFP delegation was particularly struck by Nicaragua’s commitment to gender equality. The Nicaraguan constitution mandates equal representation of women in political office, with a 50% quota for all party candidates. This principle extends to all levels of government, ensuring that women hold positions of power alongside their male counterparts. The country’s co-presidency, shared by a man and a woman, exemplifies this commitment. Nicaragua’s ranking as sixth in the world for gender equality underscores its progress in this area, a stark contrast to the ongoing struggles for women’s rights in many other nations, including the US.
The VFP delegation’s visit to Nicaragua served as a powerful reminder of the importance of international solidarity and the need to challenge dominant narratives propagated by powerful interests. The veterans returned to the US with a renewed sense of hope and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of global struggles. They plan to share their experiences and findings in a webinar co-sponsored with the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition, aiming to raise awareness about the reality of life in Nicaragua and the impact of US foreign policy. Their message emphasizes the importance of learning from Nicaragua’s commitment to social justice and its resilience in the face of adversity, particularly at a time when the US faces its own challenges related to authoritarianism, social inequality, and access to essential services. The veterans believe that sharing Nicaragua’s story can offer valuable lessons and inspiration for those working towards a more just and equitable world.