Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07MANAGUA2295, NICARAGUA: CRIMINALIZATION OF THERAPEUTIC ABORTION

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07MANAGUA2295.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07MANAGUA2295 2007-10-10 22:23 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Managua
VZCZCXRO6186
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHMU #2295/01 2832223
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 102223Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1464
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0098
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAGUA 002295 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN TLERSTON, JFEELEY 
 VALVARADO NSC 
 PRECHKEMMER G/IWI 
 GMAGGIO DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM KWMN NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: CRIMINALIZATION OF THERAPEUTIC ABORTION 
A POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS LIGHTNING ROD 
 
REF: A. MANAGUA 06 02630 
 
     B. MANAGUA 06 02599 
     C. MANAGUA 07 00964 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d) 
 
1.  (U) Summary:  Women's rights organizations, human rights 
NGOS, and physicians have reacted sharply to the Nicaraguan 
National Assembly's vote to include in the country's new 
Penal Code the criminalization of therapeutic abortion. 
Opponents of the criminalization of all forms of abortion 
have vowed to take the issue to the international courts. 
Judging by the blowback over the past weeks, and especially 
the outrage among former Sandinista feminists, the 
polarization caused by this decision will likely have a long 
shelf life.  End Summary 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
The Vote, No Exceptions 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
2.  (U) On September 13, 66 out of 92 deputies ratified the 
criminalization of all forms of abortion in article 143 of 
the Penal Code.  The Sandinista National Liberation Front 
(FSLN) voted with the Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) and 
the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN).  The ban includes 
"therapeutic abortion," i.e. where the life of health of the 
mother is at risk.  All three deputies of the Sandinista 
Renovation Movement Alliance (MRS) voted against the 
decision.  Jose Pallais, PLC deputy and president of the 
Commission on Justice, and a few other deputies abstained. 
 
3.  (U) This was the second time in a year that the 
Nicaraguan legislature voted in favor of the criminalization 
of all forms of abortion (Ref A).  Efforts by human rights 
and women's organizations to appeal the special law against 
therapeutic abortion passed in 2006 under former President 
Bolanos similarly had failed.  According to the new Penal 
Code, all forms of abortion will carry criminal penalties 
including incarceration of between one and three years for 
those found guilty of undergoing or performing an abortion, 
along with the suspension of the medical license for any 
physician charged with performing the illegal procedure. 
 
4.  (SBU) The casting of a "yes" vote by a majority of FSLN 
deputies, effectively siding with most Liberals, struck a raw 
nerve among Sandinista dissidents and MRS members.  Women's 
rights leader Ana Maria Pizarro captured the indignation of 
disgruntled women's organizations and Sandinista sympathizers 
by asserting that the FSLN had betrayed "without a trace of 
shame" the memory of party founders Carlos Fonseca and Carlos 
Nunez Tellez who fought for a secular state and the rights of 
women.  Several female FSLN deputies, who are believed to 
hold personal views against the criminalization of abortion, 
excused themselves before the actual vote and did not voice 
any objections in the Assembly debate. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
Women's Groups Angered 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
5. (SBU) A majority of Nicaraguans oppose abortion.  However, 
the decision by the National Assembly to ban therapeutic 
abortion has galvanized civil society groups, turning the 
issue into a political hornet's nest.  Leading opponents of 
the criminalization of all forms of abortion, including the 
Nicaraguan Feminist Movement, the Women's Autonomous 
Movement, the Women's Network against Violence, the women's 
health NGO Si Mujer, and the Nicaraguan Center for Human 
Rights (CENIDH), among others, consider the law a form of 
violence against women, and worry that poor women who already 
have the most limited access to healthcare will be most 
affected by the ban.  In their view, the law represents a 
negation of the State's responsibility to protect the lives 
of 52 percent of the population.  Denis Darce of the 
Permanent Commission for Human Rights (CPDH) publicly agrees 
that the penalization of therapeutic abortion represents a 
human rights violation. 
 
 
6.  (SBU) Beyond seeing the matter strictly as a women's 
rights or health concern, women's organizations and a number 
of left-leaning NGOs regard the Ortega government's support 
to ban all forms of abortion as a direct attack against the 
women's movement in general.  They believe that the vote will 
strengthen the relationship between President Ortega and 
Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo and the Catholic Church. 
Fatima Millen of the Women's Network against Violence 
asserted to poloff that the FSLN vote was "payback" by the 
Ortega government against the women's organizations that 
sided with Zoilamerica Narvaez in her sexual abuse case 
against her adoptive step-father, Daniel Ortega (Ref. B).  In 
the run-up to the 2006 presidential election, some women's 
organizations openly criticized then candidate Daniel Ortega 
of being a sex offender who was rewarded with impunity (Ref. 
C).  Violeta Granera, director of the civil society 
organization Movement for Nicaragua, opined that this 
government is simply "anti-women." 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
The Role of the Church? 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
7. (U) Monsignor Leopaldo Brenes, President of the Episcopal 
Conference, denied media speculation that he had lobbied 
deputies by phone.  Father Rolando Alvarez, spokesman for the 
Episcopal Conference, meanwhile, confirmed that the bishops 
had sent a letter to the deputies on September 7 which 
clearly explained that the Church did not regard medical 
intervention in the instance of an ectopic pregnancy or a 
miscarriage already underway as therapeutic abortion.  The 
letter did maintain, however, that including any list of 
exceptions for therapeutic abortion was "too dangerous" 
because it could be "manipulated by abortionists."  A 
statement from the Episcopal Conference of Bishops praised 
the National Assembly for putting an end to the "chain of 
death" spreading throughout Latin America. 
 
8. (U) Using guidance that he reportedly received from the 
Catholic Church hierarchy, Pallais along with ALN deputy Luis 
Callejos, had introduced a motion that would have allowed a 
therapeutic abortion in extreme cases where the lives of both 
the mother and the fetus were deemed in grave danger, and the 
interruption of the pregnancy was the only means of saving 
the life of the mother.  Even though the Catholic Church 
apparently could have supported this formulation, a majority 
of the National Assembly voted on September 13 to strike this 
exception from the new Penal Code. 
 
9.  (U) Praising Pallais for his stance, Marta Maria Blandon 
of the Women's Feminist Movement, expressed regret that his 
motion to protect the mother was never considered because the 
issue had become politicized. For his part, Pallais 
maintained that the deputies had felt pressured by the 
Catholic Church, but that they failed to understand the full 
position of the bishops.  He opined that the reason a 
majority of colleagues voted against the provision to allow 
therapeutic abortion in extreme cases was the fear that it 
would leave the door open to interpretation and permit other 
types of abortion.  He lamented that while the Church was 
clear, the deputies were not. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
Homophobia in the Mix 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
10. (U) During the National Assembly debate, a few deputies, 
most notably Freddy Torres and Wilfredo Navarro of the PLC, 
sought to discredit the protesters by labeling them "lesbian 
assassins" and "people with abnormal hormones and no morals" 
who had no business taking a stance on the matter of 
abortion.  Speaking from the floor of the Assembly, Torres 
vowed, "Not one of these minority female assassins is going 
to impose their views here."  He further pontificated that 
"Neither lesbians nor gays have any authority to approve 
therapeutic abortion because they will never be mothers or 
fathers."  Torres lamented that the topic of abortion had 
divided the country in two, between those who believe in "a 
culture of death" and "those of us who believe in the culture 
of life."  Agreeing that the only women in favor of abortion 
were homosexual, deputy Navarro scornfully called the female 
protesters "lesbians, lesbians, lesbians" during his turn at 
the microphone.  Other PLC members, such as Enrique Quinonez, 
also skirmished with groups such as the Women's Network 
against Violence. 
 
11. (SBU) Representatives of the Nicaraguan gay community 
worried that Torres and Navarro were only "fomenting 
homophobia and inciting hate and violence" with their 
comments.  Norman Gutierrez of the Center for the Education 
and Prevention of AIDS, reminded the lawmakers that they were 
elected by a large number of homosexuals against whom they 
were now discriminating.  Gutierrez, who was a candidate for 
the Alternative for Change Party in 2006, called upon gay, 
lesbian, and transgender Nicaraguans to be very careful about 
who they vote for in the municipal elections next year, 
claiming their community represented twenty percent of 
registered voters. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Making an International Appeal 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
12.  (U) The consensus among civil society and women's rights 
organizations is that there is no point in fighting the case 
any further in the Nicaraguan justice system.  However, many 
of the organizations opposed to the ban on therapeutic 
abortion, with the backing of CENIDH, plan to take the case 
to the international courts, either the United Nations, the 
Interamerican Court of Justice, or the Inter-American 
Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) at the OAS. CENIDH 
director, Vilma Nunez, has argued that the best course of 
action would be to go to the IACHR to file a complaint 
against the Nicaraguan government for violating the 
Constitution and the human rights of women. 
 
- - - - 
Comment 
- - - - 
 
13. (SBU) The controversy surrounding the criminalization of 
therapeutic abortion has escalated beyond any legal and moral 
debate between the right-to-life and pro-choice camps and 
become a lightning rod for women's organizations, some civil 
society organizations, and human rights NGOs.  With the first 
meeting of the International and Regional Courts of Justice 
convening in Managua the week of October 1, we expect that 
the movement against the ban on therapeutic abortion will use 
every opportunity to bring international attention to the 
issue and continue to frame it in terms of human rights. 
 
14.  (C) In our discussions with women's organizations and 
NGOs, we have made it clear that U.S. foreign policy does not 
condone or recognize the right to abortion.  However, we will 
continue to closely monitor the domestic politics surrounding 
this issue, which appears to have taken on an interesting 
dynamic.  It is not clear what Ortega's motives are in this 
vote, but he has clearly decided that he can endure the wrath 
of many leftist organizations that oppose the ban.  Whether 
in the long run he can afford to alienate important elements 
of his political base remains an open question, and one that 
bears watching. 
 
 
 
TRIVELLI