Slow, but Promising

The Central American peace process that took everyone by surprise, even its authors, continues to inch ahead with the announcement that the Sandinista regime of Nicaragua will allow the opposition newspaper La Prensa to reopen without censorship.

Its embattled publisher, Violeta Chamorro, can take credit for the courage and tenacity with which she fought for her paper and a free press in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s promise to La Prensa is one of several steps he and his fellow Sandinista junta members have taken toward restoring press freedom and other democratic liberties by Nov. 7, when the plan is to take effect. Discussions are to start on the reopening of the important Radio Catolica, the voice of the Roman Catholic Church.

The principal architect of the peace plan, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez, is in Washington today to press both President Reagan and Congress for their support. Congress’ seems assured as long as the plan looks promising.

The great question is the ultimate attitude of the Reagan Administration, which, surprised and dismayed at the Arias plan’s sudden emergence, has combined vocal support for it with dire warnings about its alleged inadequacy. The President told U.S. News & World Report that the plan is “fatally flawed” because it would permit Nicaragua to continue to receive aid from Cuba and the Soviet Union.

If the Administration becomes serious about the peace plan, it can surely work into it guarantees that would satisfy legitimate U.S. security interests. The Administration must become serious, or leave its successor a legacy of war.