Bell Suggests That Sandinistas Trade Hasenfus for Nicaraguans Held in U.S.

Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Griffin Bell on Monday handed Sandinista officials a list of 19 Nicaraguans in U.S. federal prisons, suggesting an exchange for captured American Eugene Hasenfus.

But Bell told reporters that he has no authority from the U.S. government to negotiate any such exchange and admitted that he thinks there is “hardly any chance” the Nicaraguans will pursue the idea.

Meanwhile, the Nicaraguan lawyer representing Hasenfus asked the Popular Anti-Somocista Tribunal trying his client to open the eight-day period for submitting evidence in his case.

“We are anxious to move the case along to the point of sentencing,” said Bell, who arrived here last Thursday to advise Hasenfus’ attorney, Enrique Sotelo Borgen. However, Bell has not been allowed to see Hasenfus or the prosecuting attorney, Justice Minister Rodrigo Reyes.

Hasenfus, 45, was captured by soldiers of the Sandinista government on Oct. 6, a day after he was shot down in a C-123 cargo plane carrying arms and ammunition to the contras --the rebels fighting the Sandinistas. He has been charged with terrorism, with violating the law on public order and security and with illicit association for criminal purposes. He is being held at a maximum security prison on the outskirts of Managua.

Confusion on Charges

Bell has argued that Hasenfus needs an American attorney to explain the Nicaraguan charges to him.

“It took me two hours to have the charges explained to me when I brought an American lawyer who speaks Spanish,” Bell said, referring to lawyer W. Taylor Beane Jr.

Sotelo has entered a plea of not guilty on Hasenfus’ behalf, although Bell said in an interview that he understands that Sandinista officials are pressuring Hasenfus to plead guilty. Hasenfus has said he believes that U.S. officials want him to plead not guilty.

On Monday, Bell had his first meeting with a Sandinista official since his arrival. He met with Saul Arana, chief of the North America section of the Foreign Ministry, and formally requested meetings with Hasenfus and with President Daniel Ortega.

He said Arana was courteous and offered to pass his requests along, but promised nothing.

“I need to talk to someone with authority to act,” Bell said.

Ortega said in a speech to Coca-Cola Co. workers over the weekend that he believes Bell is working for the U.S. government.

“We do not know who sent him . . . who is paying him,” Ortega said. “If he would admit clearly that he was sent by (President) Reagan, we might talk to him. He came a bit clandestinely. Was he sent by Casey? Abrams?” He referred to CIA Director William J. Casey and to the assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs, Elliott Abrams.

Comments Anger Bell

Bell, visibly irked, said he would not work for two clients at once where there might be a conflict of interest, and he countered that Ortega’s charge questioned his integrity.

Bell said he obtained the list of 19 Nicaraguans in U.S. prisons from the director of the federal prison system, who worked under him when he was attorney general. He said that all but one of the prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges and that he had no idea if they are Sandinistas or if they would be of interest to the Sandinista government.

“I’ve given the government the list,” he said. “If they’re interested in it, they’ll tell me. I’m trying to think of something we could do to cause the release of the defendant.”

Nicaraguan officials could not be reached for comment.

Bell said that if the Sandinistas express interest, he will have to negotiate the question with the U.S. government as well, becoming a “messenger” between the two governments.

On Saturday, Ortega left open the possibility that Hasenfus might be released after he is sentenced.

“Justice will be applied by the tribunal,” Ortega said. “On the other hand, the Sandinista revolution has characterized itself as generous and flexible. Many pardons have been given, even to former Somocista National Guardsmen.”

This was a reference to men who served under President Anastasio Somoza, whose government was brought down by the Sandinista revolution in 1979.

Prosecutor Reyes has said that he will push for the maximum sentence of 30 years if Hasenfus is convicted and that he will oppose a pardon or special treatment. He said it would be politically difficult for the government to free an American who has aided the contras while many Nicaraguans are in jail for the same offense, and while Nicaraguans are being killed in the war.