Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 1990                   TAG: 9003162726
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NICARAGUA'S 1984 ELECTION ALSO WAS FREE

I went to Nicaragua to observe the second free and fair election since 1979. Those elections also were internationally observed and judged free and fair. The fact that the United States refused to recognize them as such for reasons of policy is sad, but does not undo the fact that these elections took place.

The Latin American Study Association issued a detailed analysis of these elections in 1984 and sent copies to every major newspaper in our country. Not one line was ever quoted from their report.

When I attempted to have this paper make a correction, I was told that it was not needed because our government did not recognize the 1984 elections. I am distressed that journalism subjects its opinions to the official line of the government instead of investigating matters for themselves, especially when there is such a discrepancy of perception between the United States and the international community.

It is incorrect to state, as in the article, that Nicaragua for the first time "has asserted its right as a sovereign nation to determine its own government." The change of government in 1984 also took place without bloodshed. What Nicaraguans were proud of (and I emphasized this repeatedly in the interview) was summed up by Daniel Ortega in his concession speech on Monday morning (not Tuesday): Nicaragua is proud to be bringing to Central America, Latin America and the Carribean, to the developing countries, in an unjust world divided between the powerful and the weak, some dignity, some democracy, some social justice.

Without the 1979 Sandinista revolution, Nicaragua still would not have the measure of free and democratic choice that was evidenced on Feb. 25, 1990.\ KAREN S. CARTER\ DALEVILLE