Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition News 4.12.2025: Veterans for Peace Delegation; Resumption of Court Case Against Israel; CELAC Declaration but No Consensus; Upcoming Events

Veterans For Peace Delegation Visits Nicaragua, Issues Statement: Call for Solidarity and Truth in the Face of Disinformation. In a powerful demonstration of international solidarity, seven members of Veterans For Peace (VFP) visited Nicaragua in mid-to-late March as an official VFP delegation. Veterans from five U.S. states flew to Nicaragua on March 19 for a week-long visit to community clinics, regional colleges, vocational schools, youth groups and mayors in several Nicaraguan cities, including the capital Managua, Matagalpa, Masaya and Ciudad Sandino. The veterans were most impressed to learn that Nicaragua, the third poorest country in the western hemisphere, is providing free, high quality healthcare and education for all its people.

Nicaragua Resumes Proceedings in The Hague, Supporting South Africa Court Case Against Israel of Genocide in Palestine:  The Government of Reconciliation and National Unity (GRUN) had earlier stated (April 1) it had decided to discontinue the proceedings before the International Court of Justice related to the grave violations of the rights of the Palestinian people and state.  This decision was due to the high financial cost of continuing these judicial processes under Nicaragua’s current economic restrictions. 

Now, however, it has announced it is resuming its support for the case, citing a resurgence of violations by Israel against the Palestinian people and international humanitarian services, leaving in full evidence the total complicity of some Western countries continuing their political, economic and military support of Israel. Nicaragua’s decision has also taken into account offers of assistance and collaboration received in order to continue with these proceedings before the International Court. The Government of Reconciliation and National Unity reaffirms its commitment to the rule of law at the international level and the peaceful settlement of disputes between States.  Sources: Radio La Primerísima and El19digital.com, 10 April 2025.

IX (9th) Summit Concludes of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) with a Declaration but No Consensus: Following three days of work in Honduras, which included meetings between national coordinators and foreign ministers, the IX Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC concluded with the signing of a “Tegucigalpa Declaration,” adopted by 30 member states of the organization. Along with the rightwing governments of Argentina and Paraguay, Nicaragua did not sign the declaration; it also objected to the claim of “sufficient consensus” of members to issue the declaration, because CELAC rules require the consensus of all members.  Among agreements reportedly reached in the declaration were ratification of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and rejection of unilateral coercive measures (“sanctions”) as contrary to international law, including those restricting international trade.

Nicaragua issued a statement explaining its position.  The statement expressed strong support for Honduran President Xiomara Castro in her role of CELAC’s President Pro Tempore for the past year (with this role now passing to Colombia), for building unity among member nations, and for the longstanding basic principles of CELAC including non-interference from abroad, condemnation of unilateral coercive measures, and recognition of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace and development.

Nicaragua objected, however, to “[t]he attitude of a few countries that act with the purpose of reducing and diluting the principles, heritage and rich history of our Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).” A minority group of countries, led by Argentina and Paraguay, had pushed for eliminating references to sensitive issues such as the blockade of Cuba, the sanctions against Venezuela, and genocide in Gaza.  Nicaragua had supported the much stronger Draft Declaration of 75 points originally proposed by President Castro, which included the above issues as well as calling for solidarity with migrants, reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, and unified action and measures against US tariff policies.  Notably, Mexican President Sheinbaum has also now added her own call for CELAC to work to end the blockade of Cuba and Venezuela.

Washington think tanks want to impoverish Latin Americans:  This article in Grayzone looks at well-known US-based think tanks, mostly financed by the US government or by the arms industry, who advocate for sanctions in Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela, despite the evidence both of the illegality of sanctions and of the immense damage they do to poorer communities.

Trump’s tariffs are welcomed by Nicaragua opposition and its media: While most commentators were alarmed by Trump's tariffs, the fact that he (initially) placed a higher tariff on goods from Nicaragua was welcome news to Nicaragua's Washington-based opposition. Opposition media such as Confidencial said little about the formula used by Trump and blamed the higher tariffs on Nicaragua's Sandinista government. What really happened and what the effects might be are described in this Counterpunch article.

Webinar Recording, “A Better World Is Possible:  Nicaragua Achieves Poverty Reduction Despite US Threats.”  This webinar, sponsored on March 31 by Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group (NSCAG) in the UK, featured three speakers.  John Perry lives in Masaya, Nicaragua and writes about politics and social issues for many publications.  Becca Renk works in sustainable community development with the Jubilee House Community and its project, the Centre for Development in Central America, directing its health clinic and coordinating the Casa Benjamin Linder solidarity project.  Nick Hoskyns is Managing Director of the ethical trading company ETICO and has lived and worked with rural Nicaraguan co-operatives since 1988. The webinar was chaired by Julie Lamin, Co-Chair, NSCAG Executive Committee.

More Fake News, Stay Informed.  John Perry reports that the US Southern Command has a new head, Admiral Holsey, who gave evidence to the Senate Armed Services Committee in February, about perceived threats to US hegemony in Latin America. One of the threats is from Russia, which Holsey alleged had built in Managua “a multimillion-dollar vaccination plant that produces no vaccines."  This is the Instituto Méchnikov, which was set up several years ago and does indeed produce various kinds of vaccines. It has just sent large quantities of polio and TB vaccines to Venezuela. So this is yet another US lie, presumably intended to give the impression that this laboratory is some kind of biological warfare site.

Interview with Harold Urbina: Please take time to read this interesting interview in which Harold shares his personal memories of historical events in Nicaragua.  Harold has recently become a new representative of the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition on the Regional Council of the Zone of Peace Campaign.

Events

February 28- May 13: Sarah Junkin Woodard national speaking tour: Building Sustainable Communities, Insights from Nicaragua  Join her when she’s in your area! (Click link for her itinerary and map.)  Sarah represents the Jubilee House Community – Center for Development in Central America (JHC-CDCA), a nonprofit which responds to local needs, to help the poor accomplish what they see as their priorities, particularly in the areas of sustainable economic development, organic agriculture, health care, and education. Sarah’s tour will both update supporters on the JHC-CDCA’s work in Nicaragua and educate those in the global north on (in her words) “the amazing realities developing within Sandinista Nicaragua where both the social and political will are focused on helping the majority of the population, the poorest of the poor.” Also see the next item below, featuring an online event with Sarah.

Sunday, April 13, 3 pm ET, Nicaragua Webinar with Sarah Junkin Woodard.  Register: bit.ly/NicaApril13.  See additional information in the previous event description.  Join Sarah for this 60-minute webinar, as she shares a slideshow and insights from Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua, followed by responses to your questions and comments.  

Monday, April 14: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly Zoom meeting, 2:30 PM ET.  Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com in advance to request Zoom access.  Meetings are typically held on the second Monday of each month.

Sunday, May 18, 3 pm ET Nicaragua Webinar: "Nicaraguan programs of maternal & child health: A cross-national comparison." Register: bit.ly/NicaMay18.  Join us to hear the featured speakers describe special programs that Nicaragua has put in place, such as the casas maternas for women about to give birth, to protect and enhance the health of mothers and their children. They will also compare health outcomes in Nicaragua and other nations, particularly the US.  Becca Renk, originally from Idaho, has lived and worked in Nicaragua for 25 years and directs a health clinic in Ciudad Sandino outside of Managua. Magda Lanuza, the program manager of Casa Arlen Siu, a casa materna in El Sauce, Department of Leon, will present research on programs across Nicaragua. Jameela Alexander, an active organizer in BAP & AAPRP from Baltimore, Maryland, visited Nicaragua for the first time in March as a member of the "Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua" delegation. She is a worker/doula who previously studied village midwifery in Ecuador.

Sunday, June 22, 3 pm ET Nicaragua Webinar: Report-back from the recent official Veterans for Peace Delegation to Nicaragua, with Gerry Condon with other veterans. Mark your calendars, more information and Zoom registration link are coming soon.

Casa Ben Linder Tours to Nicaragua:

Email casabenjaminlinder@jhc-cdca.org to apply

June 2025: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua

July 2025: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution

November 2025: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua

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