Contras Offer Hasenfus-POW Swap

The rebels fighting the Nicaraguan government said Friday that they will offer to release government prisoners of war in exchange for the freedom of Eugene Hasenfus, the American on trial in Nicaragua for supplying guns to the rebels.

If such an arrangement is carried out, it would be the first formal exchange of prisoners in five years of war between the Marxist-led Sandinista government and the U.S.-backed rebels, known as contras.

Meanwhile, in Managua, Hasenfus was called to the witness stand Friday in the steamy courtroom of the Popular Anti-Somocista Tribunal, but he declined to testify until he is allowed to talk at length with his lawyer.

Hasenfus, 45, is accused of terrorism, of violating a law on public order and security, and of illicit association for criminal purposes. He was captured Oct. 6, a day after he was shot down in a C-123 cargo plane carrying arms and ammunition to the contras.

Want an Intermediary

Contra spokesmen in Miami, where the rebel movement has offices, said they want some third government to act as intermediary in arranging an exchange of 50 or 60 Sandinistas in contra custody for Hasenfus and several other prisoners held by the Sandinistas.

“We’re talking about a ratio of five to one, which ought to be pretty attractive to the Sandinistas,” contra leader Adolfo Calero said here.

Asked if he believes that the Sandinistas will accept an exchange offer, Calero said, “They should be interested in their men, in their soldiers.”

Nicaraguan spokesmen in Managua and Washington rejected the idea of a prisoner exchange.

Francisco Cambo, political counselor at the Nicaraguan Embassy in Washington, said the Sandinista government will not deal with the contras--on prisoners or on any other matter.

Won’t Talk to Contras

“Under no circumstances, directly or indirectly, will the government of Nicaragua negotiate with the contras,” Cambo said. “They are a mercenary force at the service of the U.S. government.”

He reiterated Nicaragua’s long-standing offer of peace negotiations with the United States, and he did not rule out the discussion of a prisoner exchange in any talks with Washington.

In Managua, a Sandinista spokesman who declined to be identified rebuffed the contra offer, saying, “Why speak to the hit men when you can speak to the godfather?” He said the government wanted to negotiate the end of the war, not “the luck of one prisoner,” and “for that, we have to talk to Washington.”

Contra leader Calero declined to say what country might serve as intermediary in the proposed prisoner exchange. But he emphasized that “the thing is moving along.”

Waiting for List

He asked an assistant if a list of prisoners to be offered for exchange had been telexed from rebel offices in Honduras, and the aide said the list had not yet arrived.

Calero is one of three directors of the United Nicaraguan Opposition, the contra umbrella organization. Luis Rivas, the UNO secretary for military affairs, said the main contra army has about 80 Sandinista military prisoners.

“There are officers, lieutenants, sublieutenants, soldiers,” Rivas said.

Asked if the prisoners were in Honduras, where the biggest contra group maintains its main military bases, Rivas said, “Presumably.”

But Calero said the prisoners were held in the mountains of Nicaragua. Contra officials often deny their military presence in Honduras, in an attempt to avoid embarrassing the Honduran government, which maintains diplomatic relations with Nicaragua and formally denies that the contras operate on its territory.

Sewing Classes for Prisoners

Rivas said the Sandinista prisoners are well fed and are given sewing and handicraft projects to keep them busy.

“They are not in cells,” he said. “There is a special area for them inside a military area.”

Another contra official played a videotape that showed some of the prisoners filing through the camp, lined up for a group pose and talking individually for the camera.

Rivas said most of the prisoners have been held by the contras for less than a year. He said that in the past, the contras have turned prisoners over to the International Red Cross for repatriation, “but not in an exchange.”

Others Involved

The contra officials said that in addition to Hasenfus, they hope to bring about the release of two Cuban exiles who were captured this year while collaborating with the rebels, three Nicaraguan crewmen from a contra supply plane shot down in 1983, and a few other captured contras.

The Cuban exiles were identified as Ubaldo Hernandez and Mario Eugenio Rojas, and the crewmen as Roberto Amador, Wilfredo Gutierrez and Jaime Lau.

Contra officials said Amador, who was the plane’s co-pilot, is in poor physical condition.

“His body is practically paralyzed,” Rivas said. “They have mistreated him.”

Calero said the pilot of the downed plane, Hugo Aguilar, died in Sandinista custody from lack of medical attention.

At the trial, Hasenfus’ attorney, Enrique Sotelo Borgen, said he does not want his client to testify before he presents the case for the defense on Monday. Sotelo said he will call Hasenfus on Tuesday.

Heated Court Session

Friday morning’s court session was marked by heated exchanges between Sotelo and the tribunal president, Reynaldo Monterrey, who said the defense attorney had no right to confer with Hasenfus during the court proceeding.

Hasenfus had been called to the tribunal by Monterrey in response to a petition from the prosecution. As he entered, Sotelo tried to pass him a note advising him not to testify, but Monterrey ordered security officials to take the note before Hasenfus could read it.

Sotelo then petitioned the court to use his own interpreter to translate for Hasenfus and have the interpreter tell Hasenfus not to testify. Monterrey then reprimanded the interpreter.

“I do not want to testify,” Hasenfus said.

“ Ahora, now,” Sotelo shouted, drawing another scolding from the tribunal president.

“This hasn’t been explained to me,” Hasenfus said. “I would appreciate more time.” He said he was afraid he would “make a mistake.”

Issue Postponed

The prosecutor, Justice Minister Rodrigo Reyes, then tried to get Hasenfus to verify his signature on a written confession admitting to trafficking in arms for the contras, but Sotelo objected and the issue was postponed.

Reyes accused Sotelo of using delaying tactics.

Reyes submitted as evidence a pistol and gun belt he said Hasenfus was carrying when he was shot down.

Reyes said he does not need Hasenfus’ testimony to win the case against him. “The proof is irrefutable,” Reyes said.

Wife in Court

Friday was the third day of an eight-day period for both sides to submit evidence and testimony in the case. Either side may request a four-day extension.

Hasenfus’ wife, Sally, and a brother, William, were present for the proceedings, as was a U.S. State Department observer. After the session, Hasenfus met for about two hours with his family and his attorney.

Later, at a press conference, Sally Hasenfus was asked about her husband’s state of mind, and she replied, “I think under the circumstances he’s holding up OK.”

She declined to comment on the trial, but when asked if she wanted to make a statement, she said, “Stay on our side, please.”

William R. Long reported from Miami and Marjorie Miller from Managua.