Speech #1000055346

I strongly oppose this amendment because it basically abandons the democratic opposition in Nicaragua. It clearly tells the Contras to lay down their arms and surrender. It encourages them to leave their homeland and become refugees. As we know. the Barnes approach proposes $14 million in humanitarian assistance to the democratic forces in Nicaragua. but requires that the aid be distributed by international organizations outside that country. It also prohibits the sharing of intelligence with those democratic forces. In essence. it blinds those forces. While we are telling the Contras to lay down their arms and become refugees. dependent on congressional handouts. the Sandinistas are pursuing their own agenda. The Barnes amendment says nothing critical about the Sandinistas. and the reality of life in totalitarian Communist Nicaragua today. The Barnes amendment lets the Sandinistas get off scott free.