U.S. Policies in Central America and Turmoil in Nicaragua

Xabier Gorostiaga’s column (“Neighborhood Watch on the Contras,” Op-Ed Page, Nov. 5) in support of the Sandinista regime was quite a change of tune. In this piece, Gorostiaga, who served the Sandinistas as director of national planning from 1979 to 1981, expressed great enthusiasm for the upcoming elections in Nicaragua. He waxed eloquent in describing his sincerity for a democratic and meaningful electoral process.

However, I could not help but notice that his views on this topic were somewhat newly acquired. Gorostiaga’s feelings about the electoral process have changed radically since 1984. At that time, on the eve of Nicaragua’s last encounter with elections, he stated that “My impression is that the internal dynamics of this country don’t require us to have elections. The elections are much more for external benefit. They are a symbolic gesture.”

Gorostiaga has either been recently converted to the cause of meaningful democratic elections, or is now speaking out of a different side of his mouth in order to mislead the American public as to the nature of his political views and those of the Sandinistas.

LAWRENCE PECK, Los Angeles