MANAGUA — Hundreds of armed rebels began gathering in so-called "security zones" on January 27 and preparing to discuss with the government the terms of their surrender, the chief of the Matagalpa province police, Roberto González, reported.
He said the rebels were former members of the Nicaraguan Resistance, or "Contras", as well as a few former members of the Sandinista People's Army (EPS).
On the previous night the government had issued an ultimatum to the rebels, calling on them to surrender their weapons by January 31.
The military commanders near the rebel strongholds said, "Rearmed rebels who refuse to participate in a dialogue with the government will get no other chance".
Military sources said there were about 450 rebels altogether, mainly in the provinces of Jinotega, Nueva Segovia, Estelà and Matagalpa. Some local news media put the figure much higher.
The rebels are operating in groups of 10 to 15 men, and have stepped up their activities since the last days of December.
Casualties on both sides so far this year have been estimated by police at 50 killed and 40 wounded. Much of the rebel activity has involved attacks against small villages, seizure of public transport, destruction of government offices and the ambush of small army and police units.
The rebels are asking the government to provide them with lands they can cultivate, financial grants and suitable public services — such as schools, health centres and drinking water supply systems.
According to González, some groups of rebels are anxious to accept the government's offer of immunity if they demobilise, while others want to continue the fight.
EPS commander in chief General Humberto Ortega described them as bandits. He warned that if they "do not enter in the enclaves assigned by the army and begin to demobilise, they will be annihilated".
The Contras have periodically rearmed and threatened to resume the guerilla war they abandoned in 1990.
In December the smouldering Nicaraguan political crisis erupted when President Violeta Chamorro, in compliance with a Supreme Court order, instructed police to occupy the parliament buildings.
The court had advised parliament that decisions it had taken in connection with the election of an administrative committee were null and void because there had been no quorum at the time.
The parliamentary branch of the ruling UNO coalition had defied the court's order to hold new elections for an administrative committee. The judges then asked Chamorro to enforce the court order.
New administrative committee elections were held on January 9. Eight UNO parliamentarians loyal to Chamorro voted with the FSLN members, who had been in the opposition.
Jointly the two groups obtained 47 votes in the 92-seat parliament. A new administrative committee was thus elected, friendly to Chamorro and the FSLN.
The bulk of UNO's MPs — 45 — then walked out of parliament.
Among those opposing Chamorro are the government's vice-president, Virgilio Godoy, and the former president of the parliament, Alfredo Cesar. Both have expressed sympathy for the claims of the rearmed Contras.
[From Inter Press Service/Pegasus.]