Contras Seek Guarantees on Demobilizing

Negotiators for the Nicaraguan Contras, in a move being hailed as an important advance toward peace, said Monday that they are willing to offer to demobilize in exchange for guarantees that will ensure their safety and economic stability once they return to Nicaragua.

While it was not clear whether this new position reflects the opinions of the entire Contra leadership, it does represent the strongest indication yet that the Contras are willing to negotiate seriously their demise as a fighting force--a major step toward ending an eight-year civil war that has claimed about 30,000 lives.

Talks aimed at laying the groundwork for disbanding the U.S.-backed insurgent army are scheduled to begin today when the four-member Contra negotiating team is to meet with a representative of Nicaraguan President-elect Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and two envoys from Nicaragua’s Roman Catholic Church.

Chamorro called for the Contras to lay down their weapons in the wake of her stunning electoral victory Feb. 25 over Sandinista President Daniel Ortega. The Sandinistas, for their part, have insisted that the Contras disband before Chamorro’s scheduled inauguration date of April 25. About 7,000 Contras are encamped along the Honduran border with Nicaragua, with others inside the country.

An official two-page statement issued by the Contras over the weekend said plans for demobilization are already under way.

The Contra organization is “aware that in a democratization process, its role must change from that of insurgent army to one of political and civic activities,” the statement said.

Most important, the document appeared to indicate that the rebels are ready to enter the talks with a softer and more flexible position than they have taken in the past.

For example, although the Contras still advocate removing Sandinista Party influence from the Nicaraguan army, this document does not cling to their former position that the army be disbanded.

At the same time, the statement is in marked contrast to the hard-line stance put forth by several Contra military commanders, indicating that there remain serious debates within the Contra leadership over how quickly--and under what conditions--the rebels are willing to demobilize.

The top Contra leader, Israel Galeano, who uses the nom de guerre Comandante Franklin, said in interviews Friday and Saturday that under no circumstances would the Contras lay down their arms while the Sandinistas still have any weapons. His statements seemed to leave little room for negotiation.

In fact, a deep sense of distrust seemed to permeate the Contra camps that dot the Yamales region of southeastern Honduras.

Such differences, which Contras in Tegucigalpa sought to play down Monday, suggest that negotiating the terms of demobilization will be difficult. It appeared unlikely there would be any breakthroughs in today’s talks.

Heading the Contra negotiating team is a respected field commander known as Comandante Ruben.

In an interview Monday, Comandante Ruben and Contra political adviser Pepe Matus said they are still calling for the “demilitarization” of Nicaragua, but they now see it as part of a “process” that also includes their own disarming.

Ruben said that if the talks with Chamorro’s advisers produce acceptable guarantees that will ensure the physical safety and economic well-being of returning rebel fighters, then the Contra army is ready to disband.

He would not say what guarantees would be considered satisfactory. But he did say that the Contras would accept the guarantees as part of a formal, written accord--if it is accompanied by “concrete steps” that show the Sandinistas have begun to turn in their guns and artillery.

“If we see concrete steps, we will offer concrete steps,” Ruben said.

For the first time, the Contras are also asking for economic concessions. Ruben and Matus outlined a need for jobs, housing and easy credit for Contra veterans who will be trying to re-establish themselves on farms and in cities in Nicaragua. They also will seek pensions for the widows and orphans of former Contra fighters.

U.S. officials praised the emerging Contra position for “moving away from some of the rhetoric” and looking at details.

The new statement came after Contra leaders met with special U.S. envoy Harry W. Shlaudeman, who flew to the Contra camps in Yamales on Friday. He also met separately with the leaders in Tegucigalpa.