Speech #980201251

Demonstrations. some turning violent. broke out along the east coast as Indians and blacks protested the presence of Cuban security force advisors and teachers in 1980. Beginning in 1981. thousands of Indians were evacuated from communities in an attempt to move the entire Indian population to areas under close governmental control. The reason given for this was the danger of attacks by antiSandinista forces. However. the evacuations began before Contra activity along the border with Honduras began in earnest. "Briefly stated. the Sandinistas have implemented a policy of Indian ethnocide. Onefourth of the coasts 165.000 Indians are either in relocation camps or refugee camps. Onehalf of Miskito and Sumo villages have been destroyed. Onethousand Indian civilians are in prison. missing or dead.