March 10, 2005

"Heroine" of Sandinista Revolution Branded Terrorist by US State Department

by Sandy Hager

The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca

Dora Maria Tellez, considered by many to be a heroine for her role in the Sandinista overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua in 1979, has been refused entry to the US on the grounds that her role in the revolution constituted terrorism.

Tellez, who had intended to immigrate to the US to take a teaching post at Harvard University, told the Guardian that she is confused by the decision as she has visited the US on several occasions without any trouble.

This announcement comes off the heels of US President Bush's appointment of John Negroponte as his administration's director of intelligence.

According to one organization, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, Negroponte, who was US ambassador to Honduras from 1981-85, "was a key player in organizing training for the Contras and procuring weapons for the armies that the United States was building in order to topple the socialist Nicaraguan government."

Many in the academic community are outraged by the decision. In an interview with the Guardian, Toronto-based Nicaraguan sociologist Andres Perez Baltodano questioned the US State Department's definition of terrorism, arguing that "Dora Maria is as much a terrorist as George Washington."

Guardian: US bars Nicaragua 'heroine' as terrorist

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR): Media Omissions on Negroponte's Record

Harvard Crimson: Would-Be Prof Denied Entry Visa