We've come to Nicaragua as citizens of the United States to express our solidarity with you, the people of Nicaragua, and to demand the U.S. government respect your right to an electoral process free from interference.   We are continuing the work of a delegation that came to Nicaragua for the same purpose in June, sponsored by Nicaragua Network and Quixote Center. The June 2006 delegation reported that "the United States had gone beyond what was appropriate and correct in its involvement in the electoral process," and we wholeheartedly concur.

Our delegation met with representatives of political parties, nongovernmental organizations, human rights groups, women's groups and university students, as well as the Organization of American States and the Supreme Electoral Council. We are grateful to the above organizations who taught us a great deal about the Nicaraguan electoral process and Nicaragua's historical, political, social, and economic realities. We repeatedly heard Nicaraguans assert their rights as the only people qualified to maintain their sovereignty and resolve their own affairs.

We requested a meeting with U.S. embassy officials, but were denied.   

We are aware that there has been a long history of U.S. intervention in Central American and Nicaraguan affairs. U.S. government influence and pressure in Nicaragua is deeply embedded in the political landscape.

 We are deeply concerned about statements from Congressman Dan Burton that diplomatic and economic relations would likely suffer if a candidate unacceptable to the U.S. were elected.  We are equally offended by Ambassador Trivelli, who has referred to specific policies to which the new government must adhere if the U.S. is to accept the election results. We were told repeatedly that such statements create fear that retaliatory responses will ensue if the election results in a choice contrary to US preferences.  In today' s newspapers, there is a full page add signed by more than 1100 people who join us in expressing these concerns. 

 As U.S. citizens, we would be outraged if foreign ambassadors or government officials made statements such as those of Congressman Burton or Ambassador Trivelli on our own soil with regard to our elections. Such statements have been made to Nicaraguans, in their own country, with the purpose of intimidating and influencing voters. 

 The Organization of American States has certified that the electoral process is indeed proceeding legally. However, the OAS has criticized recent interventionist remarks of Ambassador Trivelli and has strongly rebuked the U.S. government. While recent U.S. embassy rhetoric appears to have improved, it is the hope of this delegation that the U.S. will continue to exercise appropriate restraint.  These elections belong to the Nicaraguan people.

 In the United States we will continue to educate the public about the U.S. government's intervention in the 2006 Nicaraguan elections and ask the people of the U.S. to demand that the US government end its interference in the political processes of  Nicaragua.