| The Sandinistas censored La Prensa worse than Somoza ever did, up to and including eliminating articles about problems with bus service in Managua. Additionally, they created block organizations with party members holding power through determining rations, and keeping tabs on all who grumbled, as well as punishing the overtly rebellious. Finally, it was widely acknowledged that the first elections were defective in several ways, including restraining the ability of the opposition to gain media exposure or even engage in ordinary electioneering. There were also widespread reports of intimidation at the polls. Finally, the United States forced relatively clean elections, and Violetta Chamorro won. The Sandinistas were, in fact, placated by inclusion in the government, and with the fall of the Soviet Union, the cash flow from the Moscow to Havana to Managua dried up. Thus, the Sandinistas stayed straight...... |
