The Apanás Project

12 Julio 2003

The War en Apanás

By Lidian Mejía Palacios and Dina Mejía Palacios

During the war in Nicaragua Apanás was the central base for the wounded and the dead since there was a military hospital here, a morgue where they brought the dead and the wounded. There was also a landing strip where the airplanes were based – this landing strip has always existed. Apanás was a place blessed by Our Father since there was never combat here because the enemy could not enter. Being beside the lake was our salvation.

Here in Apanás there were Cuban doctors and Spanish. These were the ones who checked the wounded who were brought down from the mountains. There was also a military base located behind where we live. Here they trained 2,000 young men from 17 to 25 years old and then took them to the war zones.

Then there were elections in the year 1990 which is when Arnoldo Alemán won. Here I made a mistake – it was Seńora Violeta de Chamorro who won in that year. This woman was the one that removed the hospital that was a great assistance to our Apanás and came to put a military base here that was of no use to us.

Look, Daniel, it is true that there was war but there was also work, food, money, education for the poor, health – and now in place of that there is peace but there is also poverty, jobs can’t be found, because the governments that we have hide the good salaries and do not remember the poor who only earn 20 sols [ x sols = $1 US] a day which doesn’t buy anything. Poverty is so bad that we cannot give our children education, health, or work because the governments that we have are very bad since they do not remember the poor.

Look, when we had the hurricane Apanás was affected and assistance never arrived. All the aid was grabbed by the government and because of that we live in poverty. Look, the governments we have had never concern themselves with our valley of Apanas, even though it is the region that provides the major part of the energy that supplies the country. For this we ask that you or some organization help us to continue ahead with our valley, Apanás, since no government has bothered with us who live here.

Daniel, I have sent you all the work I have done. I don’t know if this is right but I did what I could and also I send many poems. Perhaps you will like them. Also I want to say that you should write to me certified mail so the mail will come directly to me.

Greetings to everyone. Kisses and hugs.