Hernández, Paul Baker

Hernández, Paul Baker

Paul Baker Hernández

3 September 2004Comment

Writing from Nicaragua, Paul Baker Hernández reflects on the country's revolutionary ambitions and the need to stand firm in the face of anticipated raids on Latin America's "sweetest water".

January 1986. In the northern hills of Nicaragua, surrounded by Ronald Reagan's murderous Contras, a group of some 300 peace activists from all over the world find their path into Honduras blocked. The US and Honduran mililitaries are conducting joint exercises - no way through for anyone who believes in reconciliation and gentle peace.

Unnerved by the brooding hills and by their just-completed visit to a tiny cooperative where mothers showed pictures of their "Santos inocentes" (…