MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- The political coalition that backed President Violeta Chamorro in her election victory over the Sandinista Front two years ago is now accusing her government of provoking a 'new dictatorship.'
In a letter to Chamorro, leaders of 12 of the 14 parties that make up the National Opposition Union, or UNO, say that Sandinista influence in the government is growing and call on Chamorro to purge the army and police of Sandinista officers.
The letter, dated June 3, was made public Friday and comes at a time of growing controversy over Chamorro's relationship with the Sandinistas, who remain the country's strongest political party.
Last week, the U.S. Congress delayed the release of $100 million to Nicaragua due to unsubstantiated charges that U.S. funds have been funneled to Sandinista groups and to pressure Chamorro to reform the security forces.
The UNO letter complains about the close relationship between Antonio Lacayo, Chamorro's influential chief of staff, and Sandinista party chief and former President Daniel Ortega. It also calls on Chamorro to fire Ortega's brother, Gen. Humberto Ortega, who is head of the army.
The UNO has long accused the Ortega brothers of provoking social unrest and claims that Gen. Ortega is behind a recent wave of land invasions, protests and building occupations by former Sandinista soldiers, who are pressuring the government for economic assistance.
'These are clear indications that a new dictatorship is being forged in Nicaragua,' said the letter, which was dated June 3.
Despite the UNO letter, Chamorro recently gained the backing of 50 of the 92 National Assembly deputies -- including 11 UNO legislators -- who signed a declaration calling on the U.S. Congress to unfreeze the Nicaraguan aid.
Although Chamorro was a long-time critic of the Sandinistas, she cut a number of deals with the party on her election in an effort to forge a measure of social peace and make good on her promises to lead a government of national reconciliation.
Chamorro retained Gen. Ortega to maintain army stability as its troop strength was reduced from 80,000 to 20,000 within months of her election.
Furthermore, Lacayo -- who is also Chamorro's son-in-law -- is the most important strategist in the government and is more centrist than the conservative politicians of the UNO.
In the process, Chamorro has moved further and further away from her former UNO backers and has vetoed several bills proposed by UNO legislators. The UNO, in turn, has lost the cohesion and unity it had when its sole purpose was to defeat the Sandinistas at the polls.
