Vol. 430 No. 4
28 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Nicaraguan President, Chomorro, urging her Government not to obstruct the autonomy process and to work with the people of the Atlantic Coast region of Nicaragua.
30 Mr. McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Nicaraguan President, Chomorro, urging her Government not to obstruct the autonomy process and to work with the people of the Atlantic Coast region of Nicaragua.
54 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that the Nicaraguan Government does not culturally and economically exterminate the ethnic groups in their country.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 30 and 54 together.
The Atlantic Coast region of Nicaragua was granted autonomy in 1985 under the Sandinista regime. Under the Chomorro Government the area was divided into two autonomous regions with a Governor for each. The Miskito and Suomo indians are largely concentrated in this area; the Miskito spread over both autonomous regions and the Suomo mainly in the north.
The area has always been poor and suffers from the economic difficulties common to the rest of the country including a very high rate of unemployment. My understanding is that the current Government has been taking steps to build up the area and improve prosperity, particularly through efforts to develop agriculture. This has led to settlers moving into the area and there have been reports of difficulties between these groups and the indians of the region. However I am not aware of any deliberate programme of discrimination against ethnic groups or any deliberate undermining of the autonomy of the region by the Nicaraguan Government.
