Readers are invited to address letters Readers are invited to address letters toto the Editor, NACLA, 475 Riverside the Editor, NACLA, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 454, New York, NY 10115. Drive, Suite 454, New York, NY 10115. Letters may he edited for length and Letters may be edited for length and clarity. clarity. Dominican Dope Dominican Dope Like Jan Knippers Black [“The Like Jan Knippers Black [“The Old Man is Back” Vol. XXII, No. 3], Old Man is Back” Vol. XXII, No. 3], I stronglyI strongly believe that the Dominican believe that the Dominican Republic has been paying a stiff price Republic has been paying a stiff price for democracy since the U.S. interven- for democracy since the U.S. intervention in 1965. That price is corruption, tion in 1965. That price is corruption, particularly drug-related corruption. particularly drug-related corruption. Black alleged that the D.R.’s Air Force Black alleged that the D.R.’s Air Force isis involved in the “narcotrafico pro- involved in the “narcotrifico protection franchise.” Although I have tection franchise.” Although I have yet to see any independent source of yet to see any independent source of news to confirm this, it is true to say at news to confirm this, it is true to say at least that the police are tied to the least that the police are tied to the growing drug traffic. In April, two growing drug traffic. In April, two Dominican police officers who at- Dominican police officers who attempted to smuggle cocaine into the tempted to smuggle cocaine into the country country werewere killed in a Haitian killed in a Haitian pueblo near the well-guarded Domini- pueblo near the well-guarded Domini-can border. Members of the Air Force can border. Members of the Air Force (as well as the police) took part in a (as well as the police) took part in a plot to discredit Juan Bosch’s progres- plot to discredit Juan Bosch’s progressive Dominican Liberation Party sive Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) last year by attempting to ex- (PLD) last year by attempting to explode bombs throughout the nation and plode bombs throughout the nation and pin it on Bosch and other leftist par- pin it on Bosch and other leftist parties. If Black or any other journalist ties. If Black or any other journalist can conclusively prove that the D.R.’s can conclusively prove that the D.R.’s armed forces are directly involved in armed forces are directly involved in drug trafficking (like neighboring drug trafficking (like neighboring Haiti) then it would demonstrate to Haiti) then it would demonstrate to other Latin nations that they too will other Latin nations that they too will havehave to pay a price for their armed to pay a price for their armed forces not to interfere in politics. forces not to interfere in politics. Vito Echevarria Vito Echevarria NewNew York, N.Y. York, N.Y. Rescuing Zelaya Rescuing Zelaya I’m writing toI’m writing to take issue with John take issue with John Weeks’Weeks’ assertions [“Panama: Re- assertions [“Panama: Re-agan’sagan’s Last Stand” Vol. XXII No. 4] Last Stand” Vol. XXII No. 4] regarding turn-of-the-century Nicara- regarding turn-of-the-century Nicara-guan President Jose Santos Zelaya. guan President Jos6 Santos Zelaya. WeeksWeeks attributes the U.S. decision to attributes the U.S. decision to negotiatenegotiate a canal treaty with Colombia a canal treaty with Colombia toto an alleged refusal on Zelaya’s part an alleged refusal on Zelaya’s part toto “concede unlimited sovereignty “concede unlimited sovereignty over a strip of Nicaragua.” The record over a strip of Nicaragua.” The record supports an entirely different conclu- supports an entirely different conclusion:sion: Relations between Zelaya and Relations between Zelaya and RooseveltRoosevelt were cordial and on Dec. 1, were cordial and on Dec. 1, 1901,1901, the two countries signed a proto- the two countries signed a protocol for a canal treaty. A final treaty col for a canal treaty. A final treaty awaited congressional authorization awaited congressional authorization for Roosevelt to proceed. When finally for Roosevelt to proceed. When finally passed, that authorization (the Hep- passed, that authorization (the Hep-burn Bill) included the Spooner burn Bill) included the Spooner Amendment, instructing Roosevelt to Amendment, instructing Roosevelt to proceed in Panama, not Nicaragua. At proceed in Panama, not Nicaragua. At that point, Roosevelt could not have that point, Roosevelt could not have pursued the Nicaragua issue further pursued the Nicaragua issue further eveneven if he wanted to the legislation if he wanted to-the legislation tied his hands. There is no record that tied his hands. There is no record that he made any attempt to pressure he made any attempt to pressure ZelayaZelaya into additional concessions, as into additional concessions, as WeeksWeeks claims. It’s true Zelaya was a claims. It’s true Zelaya was a nationalistnationalist but, like many other Cen- but, like many other Centraltral Americans, he had enormous faith Americans, he had enormous faith that an isthmian canal would bring that an isthmian canal would bring windfallwindfall benefits to Nicaragua. benefits to Nicaragua. PerhapsPerhaps even more objectionable, even more objectionable, becausebecause by now it’s fairly well dis- by now it’s fairly well discredited,credited, is Weeks’ characterization of is Weeks’ characterization of ZelayaZelaya as a “despot” and his curious as a “despot” and his curious statementstatement that “Noriega’s unsavory that “Noriega’s unsavory career combinedcareer combined with his stunning and with his stunning and successfulsuccessful triumph over the United triumph over the United StatesStates brings to mind Jose Santos brings to mind Jos6 Santos Zelaya.”Zelaya.” I can’t see what Zelaya and I can’t see what Zelaya and Noriega have in common. Zelaya came Noriega have in common. Zelaya came into officeinto office wealthy and well-educated, wealthy and well-educated, aa classical Liberal by class orientation classical Liberal by class orientation and personaland personal conviction. He left office conviction. He left office 1616 years later probably poorer than years later probably poorer than whenwhen he arrived. At the end of his rule he arrived. At the end of his rule NicaraguaNicaragua was much better off in was much better off in manymany ways than when he came to ways than when he came to power. It’spower. It’s true Zelaya didn’t institute true Zelaya didn’t institute anyone’sanyone’s ideal of political democracy ideal of political democracy but under his regime the lower strata but under his regime the lower strata foundfound opportunities for education and opportunities for education and advancementadvancement open to them for the first open to them for the first time.time. Certainly there was corruption Certainly there was corruption butbut it doesn’t seem to have been it doesn’t seem to have been greatergreater than what accompanied the rise than what accompanied the rise of capitalism elsewhere. of capitalism elsewhere. The falsification of Zelaya’s record The falsification of Zelaya’s record is a sort of linchpin in the case justify- is a sort of linchpin in the case justifyinging the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua in 1909-1910 and therefore the whole in 1909-1910 and therefore the whole sordidsordid history of U.S. interference history of U.S. interference leading up toleading up to the Sandinista revolution the Sandinista revolution inin 1979. It behooves us as Latin 1979. It behooves us as Latin Americanists to critically examine the Americanists to critically examine the record regarding anyone the State record regarding anyone the State Department singles out to anathema- Department singles out to anathematize. Certainly we expect this from tize. Certainly we expect this from NACLA. NACLA. Karl Bermann Karl Bermann Hampton, VA Hampton, VA [Karl[Karl Bermann is the author of Under Bermann is the author of Under the Big Stick: Nicaragua and the the Big Stick: Nicaragua and the United StatesUnited States Since 1848, South End Since 1848, South End Press, 1986.] Press, 1986.]
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