Indiscriminate Attacks on Civilians
Several sources have documented human rights violated by the Contras. They have been reportedly known to attack civilians without motive. In 1986, the New York Times published an article, by Stephen Kinzer, on these attacks. According to them on February 19th, 1986, a truck carrying seventeen civilians hit a land mine and then were suddenly attacked by Contras. Six of those civilians were killed. The motive for the attack was unknown; it just seemed to be a random attack. According to the same article, a woman named Maria Luis Gomez Medina reported that the Contras had come to her home to find weapons from her husband. When they found no weapons, they killed her husband, her brother-in-law, and her daughter. Many reports state all of the civilian casualties caused by land mines in Nicaragua, are the Contras responsibility. In late 1985, Nicaragua's Ministry of Health stated that nearly 3,600 civilians were killed by Contras in the attacks.
Several sources have documented human rights violated by the Contras. They have been reportedly known to attack civilians without motive. In 1986, the New York Times published an article, by Stephen Kinzer, on these attacks. According to them on February 19th, 1986, a truck carrying seventeen civilians hit a land mine and then were suddenly attacked by Contras. Six of those civilians were killed. The motive for the attack was unknown; it just seemed to be a random attack. According to the same article, a woman named Maria Luis Gomez Medina reported that the Contras had come to her home to find weapons from her husband. When they found no weapons, they killed her husband, her brother-in-law, and her daughter. Many reports state all of the civilian casualties caused by land mines in Nicaragua, are the Contras responsibility. In late 1985, Nicaragua's Ministry of Health stated that nearly 3,600 civilians were killed by Contras in the attacks.
Kidnapping
When civilians are involved, Contras either attack them without motive, or kidnap them with the motive of recruiting them or intimidating them. The article by Stephen Kinzer states a few of the reported kidnaps. A neighbor of Maria Luis Gomez Medina, named Emilio Hernandez, reported that the Contras had kidnapped his brother, and six other people including a fourteen year old girl. Hernandez claims that two of those kidnapped, were part of the Sandinista militia. Many reports also state that a large number of children are kidnapped by the Contras. In 1985, the United Press International published an article in the Chicago Tribune about the kidnapping of an American nun committed by the Contras. According to the article, Maryknoll Sister Nancy Donovan was one of ten people kidnapped by the Contras. She was later freed by the Contras unharmed. Supposedly she was freed because because she was American. The other nine people that were kidnapped were Nicaraguan, and remained captive to the Contra forces. The same time Nicaragua's Ministry of Health estimated the number of civilians killed by the Contras, they also estimated how many civilians were kidnapped, which was over 5,200 people, which includes adults and children.
When civilians are involved, Contras either attack them without motive, or kidnap them with the motive of recruiting them or intimidating them. The article by Stephen Kinzer states a few of the reported kidnaps. A neighbor of Maria Luis Gomez Medina, named Emilio Hernandez, reported that the Contras had kidnapped his brother, and six other people including a fourteen year old girl. Hernandez claims that two of those kidnapped, were part of the Sandinista militia. Many reports also state that a large number of children are kidnapped by the Contras. In 1985, the United Press International published an article in the Chicago Tribune about the kidnapping of an American nun committed by the Contras. According to the article, Maryknoll Sister Nancy Donovan was one of ten people kidnapped by the Contras. She was later freed by the Contras unharmed. Supposedly she was freed because because she was American. The other nine people that were kidnapped were Nicaraguan, and remained captive to the Contra forces. The same time Nicaragua's Ministry of Health estimated the number of civilians killed by the Contras, they also estimated how many civilians were kidnapped, which was over 5,200 people, which includes adults and children.
Prisoner Mistreatment
Contras have been known to kidnap people, but they also take them as prisoners and torture, rape, abuse, or otherwise mistreat them. In 1989, the New York Times News Service published an article in the Chicago Tribune on the Contras mistreatment of prisoners. The prisoners included Sandinista soldiers that were taken from combat, civilians accused of infiltrating the Contras camps, and members of the Contra force accused of being double agents for the FSLN. The prisoners claimed that they were being tortured and raped by the rebel officials during their detention. The Contras wanted them to confess to infiltration. However it is unclear if these acts of mistreatment reflect the true causes of the Contras. On March 17, 1989, the official contra leadership sent a letter to three congressmen. It said "We do not deny that there have been abuses of human rights by certain of our troops. The unauthorized actions of these individuals have shamed our cause, and we give you our solemn promise that we will find all guilty individuals and expel them from our movement." Richard Boudreaux of the Los Angeles Times published an article in 1987 on a peace move conducted by the Contras. The Contras had freed eighty prisoners of war in an effort to end the war with the FSLN. The prisoners included farmers accused of being Sandinista informers and more rebel members accused of being infiltrators. Surprisingly, several of the prisoners claimed to be unharmed by the Contras. It seems as though the Contras central cause did not have to involve human rights violations, but several rebel individuals within the group had violated these rights themselves along with their groups' movement.
Contras have been known to kidnap people, but they also take them as prisoners and torture, rape, abuse, or otherwise mistreat them. In 1989, the New York Times News Service published an article in the Chicago Tribune on the Contras mistreatment of prisoners. The prisoners included Sandinista soldiers that were taken from combat, civilians accused of infiltrating the Contras camps, and members of the Contra force accused of being double agents for the FSLN. The prisoners claimed that they were being tortured and raped by the rebel officials during their detention. The Contras wanted them to confess to infiltration. However it is unclear if these acts of mistreatment reflect the true causes of the Contras. On March 17, 1989, the official contra leadership sent a letter to three congressmen. It said "We do not deny that there have been abuses of human rights by certain of our troops. The unauthorized actions of these individuals have shamed our cause, and we give you our solemn promise that we will find all guilty individuals and expel them from our movement." Richard Boudreaux of the Los Angeles Times published an article in 1987 on a peace move conducted by the Contras. The Contras had freed eighty prisoners of war in an effort to end the war with the FSLN. The prisoners included farmers accused of being Sandinista informers and more rebel members accused of being infiltrators. Surprisingly, several of the prisoners claimed to be unharmed by the Contras. It seems as though the Contras central cause did not have to involve human rights violations, but several rebel individuals within the group had violated these rights themselves along with their groups' movement.
Sources
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-02-10/news/mn-2328_1_human-rights
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-19/news/mn-2222_1_political-prisoners
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-03-23/news/8903290231_1_contras-honduran-military-officials-abuse-charges
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-01-10/news/8501020901_1_american-nun-kidnaped-esteli
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-02-10/news/mn-2328_1_human-rights
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-02-10/news/mn-2328_1_human-rights
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-19/news/mn-2222_1_political-prisoners
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-03-23/news/8903290231_1_contras-honduran-military-officials-abuse-charges
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-01-10/news/8501020901_1_american-nun-kidnaped-esteli
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-02-10/news/mn-2328_1_human-rights