ACTION ALERT - Call Congress to oppose 11^th hour sanction threats!

Yesterday, Bush administration officials threatened Nicaraguan voters with economic sanctions on the eve of the presidential campaign cut-off, assuring that they would have the last word in the media before Nicaraguans go to the polls this Sunday.

In Managua, U.S. Embassy spokesperson Kristin Stewart, threatened economic sanctions in the event of an Ortega victory. She was joined by four Republican congressmen threatening Nicaraguan voters with a cut off of remittances from the United States. Rep. Tancredo, (R-CO) issued his threat in a letter to Nicaragua's Ambassador to the U.S. while Rep. Rohrabacher, (R-CA) wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asking him "to prepare in accordance with U.S. law, contingency plans to block any further money remittances from being sent to Nicaragua in the event that the FSLN enters government." Rep. Royce, (R-CA) and Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) wrote a similar letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Yesterday's volley of threats are the strongest yet by the US government warning Nicaraguan people of dire consequences if the FSLN wins. The people of Nicaragua who endured the U.S. sponsored war and economic embargo during the 1980s understand all too well the devastating impacts of U.S. economic sanctions.

We can't let these scare tactics go unchallenged! We need to hold our government accountable for the abuses against democracy that we are seeing unfold in these last hours. We have allies in congress who are leading the way:

In a strongly worded response, Rep. José Serrano, NY stated, "I am particularly troubled by the statements of Embassy spokesperson Kristin Stewart. She publicly linked Ortega with terrorist groups and said that the U.S. would revise its policy toward the Nicaraguan government should he win. I believe her words were unfortunate and wrong, and merit a withdrawal... I pledge that I will do everything in my power to make sure that the government of the Unites States will respect the wishes of the Nicaraguan people regardless of who wins their presidential elections."

Rep. Barbara Lee, CA stated, "Our nation's commitment to democracy means that our government has a solemn obligation to remain neutral in matters regarding the sovereignty and elections of other countries, especially in the western hemisphere, given our history in the region. No individual lawmaker has the right or the authority to suggest that our government will interfere with the elections of one of our neighbors."

WE MUST BUILD MOMENTUM BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT! WE URGE YOU TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY:

FIRST: CALL your Congressional Representatives and demand they:

1. Join Representatives Serrano, D-NY and Lee D-CA by issuing a strong statement demanding that U.S. officials remain neutral regarding the elections in Nicaragua and,
2. Pledge to respect the outcome of the Nicaraguan elections, whatever they might be!

GET THE PHONE NUMBER FOR YOUR CONGRESSPERSON

NEXT, CALL Representatives Tancredo, R-CO, Rohrabacher, R-CA, Royce, R-CA Hoekstra (R-MI) to denounce their bullying of the Nicaraguan people and demand that they withdraw their threats of economic sanctions. Even if you don't live in their districts, they need to hear from you. Their district office numbers are below:

YOUR ACTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We will make clear to Congress that abusive behavior will not be tolerated, and demand that they must stop undermining democracy in Nicaragua. If you don't know your congressperson's number you can use this tool to find it.

Numerous articles - by the Washington Post , Common Dreams and the Washington Office on Latin America - have noted the interference by the Bush administration officials throughout this election season. Our website also provides a report from our election delegation that interviewed actors across the Nicaraguan political spectrum to document the unrelenting interference by US officials.

How dare they speak for us as Americans? Please call your congresspeople and demand they silence their peers' threats against democracy. The Nicaraguan people are counting on alert US citizens to hold their government to account and create space for the unintimidated wishes of the Nicaraguan people to be realized.

Thank you for all you have done.

In Solidarity,

The Quest for Peace Team,

Bill, Dolly, Tom, Carol, Jenny