U R A C C A N U P D A T E <*><*><*><*><*> June 11, 1998 <*><*><*><*><*> URACCAN >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Managua Support Center and Liason Office>>> del Puente del Eden 1 cuadra arriba, 2 cuadras al sur Casa D-10 Barrio Ducuali Managua, Nicaragua Voice Phone: 248 4658 Fax: 248 4685 Email: uraccan@ibw.com.ni [Managua Support Center] autonomy@ibw.com.ni [Bluefields-RAAS Campus] *~><~* "God created the world, paused, then smiled on the Caribbean. This tranquil place must be heaven. Our wonderful homeland..." Eric Roach, Caribbean Poet ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* *> In This Issue *> O J O D E U R A C C A N *> URACCAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET *> MESOAMERICAN ENCOUNTER ON LOCAL POWER AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS *> 1997 AUTONOMY SYMPOSIUM - MEMORIA NOW AVAILABLE FROM FADCANIC *> AUTONOMIA -- "The Newspaper of the Autonomous Regions of Nicaragua" *> SUMUS OR MAYANGNAS? *> HUMOR - RE-HEATED GROUNDS FOR SUSPICION *> "QUOTE, UNQUOTE" <* ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* URACCAN UPDATE is published as a courtesy to URACCAN by the editor, Felipe Stuart Courneyeur. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect those of URACCAN or the editor. Those, when articulated, will be found in editorials or in formal statements issued by URACCAN. ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* *> O J O D E U R A C C A N "OJO DE URACCAN" is the editor's column. Usually you will find here a few tips on what's coming up in the UPDATE and/ or comments about some inspiring point or some vexing concern. And occasionally a guest article. Felipe Stuart Courneyeur -- Editor *~><~* First, greetings to all our readers about to pack bags and head for the June 13 Chicago meetings of URACCAN Support Groups and also the US Nicaragua Solidarity Network. Best wishes for an enjoyable and productive event. We hope the information in this and previous issues will be useful in your deliberations. <~> This UPDATE is mainly devoted to reporting the results of the III Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of URACCAN which took place in Managua May 12 and 13. As noted in the official record of the meeting, this event focused on the need to reach a consensus within the URACCAN management team of its "leadership vision" and how that vision stems from and feeds back on the essential mission of the University. <~> Jose Saballos is URACCAN's new Project and International Relations' Officer. He took up his work in April following two years working as the Financial Administrator of our Bluefields campus. Saballos graduated from Iowa State University in Economics (with a Minor in Business Administration), taking advantage of a Fulbright Scholarship. In addition to his administrative work in Bluefields he has also taught URACCAN courses on Principles of Economics and Basic Marketing. Jose is 27 and was born on Corn Island. He completed high school in Bluefields and is fluent in three languages - Creole, Spanish, and English. He has been chosen by URACCAN to participate in the York University Masters' Degree Program and will join this group at its Session in Bilwi next month. He aspires to obtain a Masters' Degree in economic development studies, with a focus on the needs of his home region. Jose's language capacities and his experience studying in the United States will greatly help URACCAN in deepening its international ties and collaboration with friends in other countries. Anyone wishing to contact URACCAN from abroad should address their letters or email messages to Jose Saballos, Project and International Relations Officer. He receives his email at uraccan@ibw.com.ni <~> URACCAN's President and Rector, Dr. Myrna Cunningham Kain, is currently completing a European tour, attending meetings and appointments in the UK. Dr. Cunningham will return to Nicaragua on June 15. <~> A note about abbreviations used in this issue of URACCAN UPDATE:- CIDCA -- Research Center for the Development of the Atlantic Coast CIES -- Center for Health Research and Studies CNU -- National Council of Universities ESEDIR -- Escuela Superior de Educacion Integral Rural de Guatemala - Post-Secondary School for Integral Rural Educacion of Guatemala GTZ -- Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (German Cooperation Agency) IEPA -- Institute for the Study and Promotion of Autonomy IMTDC -- Traditional Medicine and Community Development Institute IPILC -- Institute for Linguistic and Cultural Research IREMADES -- Natural Resources, Environment, and Sustainable Development Institute KEPA -- Finnish Cooperation Agency ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* *> URACCAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET by Fernando Saavedra Cortez The III Regular Meeting of URACCAN's Board of Directors took place in Managua May 12 and 13, 1998. Although a "regular" meeting, the nature of its discussions and decisions invest it with special importance to the University. The agenda was designed to allow for extensive discussion and debate of the university management's leadership vision and a new consensus was reached. Leadership perspectives and goals must be shaped by the University's essential mission and by a clear, shared concept of what educational model best equips URACCAN to serve the development of Nicaragua's autonomous regions. What approach best enables the university to promote and shield our Autonomy from corrosive and debilitating trends? Attending the meeting were: Dr. Myrna Cunningham K, Rector/President Amanda Puhiera, Academic Secretary Guillermo McLean, Director of IPILC (*) Zarifeth Bolanos, Director of IREMADES Cesar Paez, Director of IEPA Alta Hooker, Director of IMTDC Thelma Sanchez, Vice-Rector, Siuna Campus Albert St. Clair, Vice-Rector, Bilwi Campus Miguel Gonzalez, Vice-Rector, Bluefields Campus Uriel Tellez, Administrator Jose Luis Tellez, Director of International Relations and Special Projects ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ (*) See note on abbreviations in the "OJO de URACCAN" column above. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ Also in attendance for particular sessions were Dora Maria Tellez (who heads up a special URACCAN Bibliographical Research Project), Dr. Ligia Siezar (URACCAN's staff legal consultant), and members of administrative and support staffs. Leadership Vision Amanda Puhiera led off the discussion on URACCAN's mission and what model of university we are trying to build. She explained the importance of rooting the operative work of the campuses and the autonomous Institutes in the University's fundamental concepts as found in official and constitutive documents, especially those which outline our mission. She presented an updated draft URACCAN-Mission Statement to meeting participants as a basis for discussion, consequent modification, and approval. The document is also intended to serve as a tool to sharpen the process of evaluating URACCAN's work in academic , administrative, and community outreach spheres. Discussion of the draft statement took place in two workshops - one for Institute directors and another for the vice-rectors. A lot of concern focused more on the issue of how to integrate the main mission concepts in ongoing teaching and learning activities, in institutionalization measures, and in outreach to community leaders and activists. As one participant put it, the issue is understanding "just how to transfer the theoretical or abstract mission concepts into daily practice and to not loose sight of them in the press of work and activity." Approval of the Mission Statement was reinforced by three implementation decisions: First, that university leaders will devote more attention and effort to the challenge of disseminating URACCAN's mission and outlook within the university community and the broader public. Second, a public relations strategy must be developed at each campus to spread the URACCAN vision within the community. This work should include discussion and debate within the university community and also direct utilization of information media to reach other social sectors. Third, URACCAN will exercise greater caution, within the new regional political context, to assure that URACCAN's growing influence and outreach within Costena society is not abused by political parties and groups. URACCAN is non-partisan and non-denominational, an institution servicing all Costenos and particularly dedicated to promoting and deepening our autonomy process. CNU - National Council of Universities Dr. Cunningham reported on URACCAN's role and participation in the National Council of Universities (CNU) and the national debate taking place on higher education. Recently most member universities have been caught up in internal elections, resulting in a paralysis in negotiations with the government over the issue of conceding universities their constitutional right to 6% of the national budget. CNU protagonism in the national debate on higher education has also been debilitated. URACCAN's ability to influence these trends is obviously also undermined in that process. The Board decided that URACCAN should intervene in a National Forum being planned by the Ministry of Education (MED) in order to put forward its views on education for the Caribbean regions. Liberal Government Regional Development Plan The RAAN and the RAAS are now both under PLC (Constitutional Liberal Party) administrations. The PLC has presented a regional development plan that, in the estimate of the URACCAN Board, was conceived with very limited regional participation. It mainly drew on traditional institutions of Costeno society such as the church, indicating a problem of very weak relations and communication between the Central government and regional institutions. This problem challenges URACCAN to devote even more leadership efforts into helping to strengthen autonomous institutions in our regions - a task that Board members noted would require keen negotiating and consultative skills. The Board resolved to take up this challenge, basing its work on URACCAN's strategic vision and on a process of strengthening its academic and institutional capacities. URACCAN will carry out all such advocacy and lobbying work its own name, up front as it were, taking care not to be, nor seen as, politically manipulated by others. International Work The scope of URACCAN's international work can be measured by the international travel its Rectors and Institute Directors are carrying out month by month. A report was made on travel commitments for May and June, explaining the objectives of each trip. Myrna Cunningham and Albert St. Clair were to visit Germany and England in order to: find scholarship funding for Indigenous youth; sign an agroforestry agreement for the Siuna municipality and another agreement related to the Bosawas Reserve; explore deeper relations with the Humbolt Center; and initiate links with educational institutions in Manchester, where the Manchester-Bilwi Links Committee is arranging a program of visits and encounters. Alta Hooker, head of IMTDC, was invited to attend a meeting on drug abuse in Panama in May. Victor Obando would attend a seminar on Indigenous education in Honduras and Cesar Paez would be in Guatemala to help organize a seminar, the same month. In June Alta Hooker would be in Calgary to negotiate an agreement and work plan with the University of Calgary. Paez would attend a seminar on Indigenous rights in Mexico; and Amanda Puhiera and Francisco Campbell would attend the Chicago meeting of URACCAN supporters in the USA. Upcoming Events Board members also approved a plan for handling a series of major events and activities over the 1998-99 period. They include: 1998 June 18 -- Seminar on Local Power and Indigenous Rights in Managua (IEPA). July 3-6 -- Mesoamerican Seminar of Leaders and Authorities on Local Power and Indigenous Rights -- Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (IEPA) July -- Graduation Ceremonies for the Nursing Faculty (Bilwi) Aug. 14 -- International Colloquium on Medicine in Bluefields (IMTDC). Sept. 10 -- National Seminar of Medicinal Plant Network, in Bilwi (IMTDC) Sept. 25 -- ESEDIR Graduation Ceremonies (Guatemala) September --Symposium on Municipalities and Autonomy (Bilwi Campus). October -- Seminar on Caribbean Culture and Marine Ecosystems (IREMADES) November - Seminar on Biodiversity and Intellectual Property (Siuna Campus) 1999 April -- Indigenas 2000 Encuentro, Bilwi (IEPA) May/October -- Seminars on Ecotourism, Bluefields (IREMADES) August -- Special courses on Mental Health, Bilwi (IEPA, IPILC, IMTDC) URACCAN Bibliographical Research on the Caribbean Coast Regions Dora Maria Tellez presented her first report to the Board on an extensive bibliographic research project funded by the York University-URACCAN Linkage project. The Board agreed on the importance of widely publicizing this work and making it available to the international university and research community. URACCAN UPDATE will carry reports on this ongoing research work in coming issues. Masters' Degree Program in Public Health URACCAN and CIES (Center for Health Research and Studies) have agreed that this postgraduate program will be offered jointly because URACCAN is lacking in professionally qualified human resources to carry out this program on its own. The program will begin in August 1998 and last 22 months into the year 2000. A thesis will be required for graduation. Twenty scholarships are to be made available by IMTDC; the Bluefields Ministry of Health will have the right to two scholarships. The Last Day Most of the second (and last) day of the Board Meeting dealt with administrative and financial concerns. Discussion was informed by a special evaluation prepared by consultant Armando Aragon. His report centered out seven administrative-operational-financial areas where he considered URACCAN should and could make significant improvements. His recommendations related to a triad of challenges - maximize resources, reduced unnecessary costs, and optimize the application of human resources. The meeting was topped off with a special reception offered by Dr. Cunningham in honor of Miia Nuiika, resident representative of the Finnish KEPA organization. Yes -- the next URACCAN Board Meeting will be held in July this year. URACCAN UPDATE will be there. *> ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* KEPA URACCAN FUNDACION RIGOBERTA MENCHU INVITATION <~*~> MESOAMERICAN ENCOUNTER ON LOCAL POWER AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS The University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (URACCAN), the Rigoberta Menchu T. Foundation, the Mayoralties of Quetzaltenango (Guatemala) and Bilwi-Puerto Cabezas (Nicaragua), and KEPA (Finland) invite your participation in the First Encounter of Leaders and Authorities on Local Power and Indigenous Rights -- To take place in the Hotel Campo de Quetzaltenango, Guatemala City, from July 3 to 6, 1998. The general objective of this Encounter is to "help create an intercultural space at the level of local power to enhance democratic practices, tolerance and mutual respect among Indigenous peoples, authorities, and organizations." Specific objectives include: * analyze experiences of indigenous peoples with the peace process and with accessing local power. * promote an exchange of experiences regarding modalities for negotiation and problem resolution at the local power level, with reference to the rights of Indigenous peoples. * analyze mechanisms to help augment the negotiating skills of Indigenous peoples with respect to local government and authorities. * Examine intercultural Indigenous experiences of influencing the peace process and advances in terms of recognition of Indigenous rights as positive steps towards the exercise of democracy and intercultural relations. * Discuss relations between local power and national governments involved in decentralization processes. For more information contact: Ligia Siezar and/or Jose Saballos at URACCAN. Phones: 505 248 4658 / 248 2118 Fax: 248 4685 Email: uraccan@ibw.com.ni Looking forward to your participation, Dr. Myrna Cunningham Kain Member of the Organizing Committee ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~ OFFICIAL RECORD PUBLISHED *> THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON NICARAGUAN ATLANTIC COAST AUTONOMY -- OCTOBER 1997 The Memoria [Official Record] of the THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON NICARAGUAN ATLANTIC COAST AUTONOMY -- OCTOBER 1997 is now available. This thick, attractively produced edition, offers a complete record of the proceedings of this important milestone in the Caribbean Coast autonomy process. The Symposium was sponsored by the Fundacion para la Autonomia y Desarrollo de la Costa Atlantica de Nicaragua [Foundation for Autonomy and Development of the Nicaraguan Atlantic Coast-FADCANIC]; it took place from October 12 to 15,1997 in Managua and counted on the participation 240 Costen@s, 136 other Nicaraguans, and 59 international guests. The Memoria includes an Introduction, inaugural and closing addresses, reports and resolutions from four commissions and four different round tables, the official Symposium Declaration, annexes offering information about participants, and statements of greetings and solidarity to and from the Encuentro. The Memoria, compiled by Celia Aguilar, was made possible with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (ASDI) and the Austrian Development Cooperation Service (OED). It is available only in Spanish, although other Caribbean Coast languages were used at the gathering. For information about obtaining the Memoria, contact FADCANIC at email address: fadcanic@ibw.com.ni ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* >From the pages of AUTONOMIA AUTONOMIA -- "The Newspaper of the Autonomous Regions of Nicaragua" is published six times a year in Bilwi, capital of the RAAN. The April-May (1998) edition features news and an editorial on the environmental crisis in the autonomous regions. The centerfold carries the founding declaration of the just formed Civic Pro-Autonomy Commitee. Other pages carry news from local areas, information about URACCAN activities, and coverage of local sports and cultural events. AUTONOMIA's Director is Margarita Antonio. The Editorial Board is formed by Fernando Espinoza (President), Albert St. Clair, Myrna Cunningham, Miguel Gonzalez, Alicia Slate, Illeana Lacayo, Johnny Hodgson, and Margarita Antonio. The address is: Oficina Autonomia, Barrio Libertad, Bilwi, RAAN, Telefax: 505 282 2203. Below we carry an English-language translation of Antonio's article about the April 15-17 General Assembly of the SUKAWALA Indigenous organization, taken from Issue No. 55 (April-May, 1998) of Autonomia. <~*~><~*~> What should we call ourselves? Sumus or Mayangnas? New Leaders Elected in Controversial Assembly by Margarita Antonio >From beginning to end the Second General Assembly of the Indigenous SUKAWALA organization was characterized by relentless discussion and controversy among different groupings that emerged within the gathering. The Mayangnas -- as their name was finally adopted, albeit over objections from some participants -- reached important agreements at the Assembly. They know that their strength lies in unity and that divided they have no future. Delegates from 39 Mayangna communities located in Jinotega, the RAAN, and the RAAS attended the II General Assembly of the Sumu People - SUKAWALA. The Assembly took place from April 15 to 17 in the Sakalwas community in the Bonanza municipality of the RAAN. A group of leaders and professionals found the resources to convene and organize the assembly because they were concerned about how SUKAWALA could overcome its stagnation and get into communication and ongoing coordination with Mayangna communities throughout the country. Long discussions preceded an agreement that the president of the outgoing executive and members of the current organizing committee should jointly chair the General Assembly. Assembly delegates listened attentively to the report made by Hernaldo Samuel. He and Emelda Lopez were the only members of the outgoing leadership in attendance. Although the report was loaded with details of events attended, activities carried out, and work done, delegates harshly questioned the very few results obtained, especially in terms of resources garnered for the organization. Sumus or Mayangnas? A discussion first initiated in the December 1996 General Assembly took up a lot of time in this gathering. While some argued that as a People they should call themselves Mayangnas, others insisted in calling themselves Sumus. Arguments against the Sumu identifier are that the term is denigrating and has been used to discriminate, signifying a subjugated status. The word Mayagna, however, is chosen because it is considered to be of and from this people, and thus more adequate. Against the Mayangna identifier were a broad group who argued that this word means "us" in their language. They favor "Sumu" because they have traditionally been know this way and are also Constitutionally recognized with this term. The use of the term Mayangna was approved by a majority (contrary to the 1996 decision in favor of "Sumu"). The discussion on reforming the Statutes led to a new debate on changing the name of the organization - SUKAWALA. It was argued that this name has come into disrespect and that there is a great lack of confidence in the organization. Some leaders advocated keeping the name, arguing that the problem is not in the name, but in the inactivity and deficiencies of the leaders. SUKAWALA is a historic symbol of Sumu demands and struggles, they maintained. New Leaders The new Leadership Board elected at this Assembly is composed of: Martin Eranz, President; Thelma Rener, Vicepresident; Atelston Genaro, Secretary; Gregorio Lino, Treasurer; and Ronald David. The majority of Board members come from the Musawas community. Indigenous leaders from the Rosita area and professionals, technicians, and students all expressed their determination to support, each in their own areas, the development of the Mayangna or Sumu people and to maintain unity around SUKAWALA which remains the oldest Indigenous organization on the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast. Representatives of organizations such as the Humboltd Center, the DANIDA Transport Program, KEPA (Finland), and the German GTZ were present as observers and counterpartes in the meeting. Of special note was the presence of the Council of Elders of the Miskitu Nation (Bilwi), with whom the Mayangnas held their first meeting at the end of their Assembly. <~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~ *> thesd d MAIL BOX URACCAN UPDATE welcomes letters and press releases on matters of interest to grassroots issues and struggles, particularly those affecting Indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities, youth, women, education, and the environment. thesd d ~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~*~><~* *> H u m o r<* *> Grounds for Suspicion - Reheated on Popular Demand or REASONS FOR BYING NICARAGUAN ORGANICA COFFEE, IF COFFE YOU MUST. [REPRINTED ON POPULAR DEMAND AS A COURTESY TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO PROMOTE NICA ORGANIC COFFEE IN THE CAFEINATED WORLD AND WITH KIND WISHES TO THOSE GATHERING IN CHICAGO JUNE 13 FOR THE URACCAN-NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY MEETINGS]. [with thanks for Jaime Kneen for having shared this with us]. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Dave Barry, The Washington Post, Sunday, November 9, 1997 I HAVE EXCITING NEWS for anybody who would like to pay a lot of money for coffee that has passed all the way through an animal's digestive tract. And you just know there are plenty of people who would. Specialty coffees are very popular these days, attracting millions of consumers, every single one of whom is standing in line ahead of me whenever I go to the coffee place at the airport to grab a quick cup on my way to catch a plane. These consumers are always ordering mutant beverages with names like "mocha-almond-honey-vinaigrette lattespressacino," beverages that must be made one at a time via a lengthy and complex process involving approximately one coffee bean, three quarts of dairy products and what appears to be a small nuclear reactor. Meanwhile, back in the line, there is growing impatience among those of us who just want a plain old cup of coffee so that our brains will start working and we can remember what our full names are and why we are catching an airplane. We want to strike the lattespressacino people with our carry-on baggage and scream, "GET OUT OF OUR WAY, YOU TREND GEEKS, AND LET US HAVE OUR COFFEE!" But of course we couldn't do anything that active until we've had our coffee. It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity. I bet this kind of thing does not happen to heroin addicts. I bet that when serious heroin addicts go to purchase their heroin, they do not tolerate waiting in line while some dilettante in front of them orders a hazelnut smack-a-cino with cinnamon sprinkles. The reason some of us need coffee is that it contains caffeine, which makes us alert. Of course it is very important to remember that caffeine is a drug, and, like any drug, it is a lot of fun. No! Wait! What I meant to say is: Like any drug, caffeine can have serious side effects if we ingest too much. This fact was first noticed in ancient Egypt when a group of workers, who were supposed to be making a birdbath, began drinking Egyptian coffee, which is very strong, and wound up constructing the Pyramids. I myself developed the coffee habit in my early twenties, when, as a "cub" reporter for the Daily Local News in West Chester, Pa., I had to stay awake while writing phenomenally boring stories about municipal government. I got my coffee from a vending machine that also sold hot chocolate and chicken noodle soup; all three liquids squirted out of a single tube, and they tasted pretty much the same. But I came to need that coffee, and even today I can do nothing useful before I've had several cups. (I can't do anything useful afterward, either; that's why I'm a columnist.) But here's my point: This specialty-coffee craze has gone too far. I say this in light of a letter I got recently from alert reader Bo Bishop. He sent me an invitation he received from a local company to a "private tasting of the highly prized Luwak coffee," which "at $300 a pound . . . is one of the most expensive drinks in the world." The invitation states that this coffee is named for the luwak, a "member of the weasel family" that lives on the island of Java and eats coffee berries; as the berries pass through the luwak, a "natural fermentation" takes place, and the berry seeds - the coffee beans - come out of the luwak intact. The beans are then gathered, washed, roasted and sold to coffee connoisseurs. The invitation states: "We wish to pass along this once in a life time opportunity to taste such a rarity."Or, as Bo Bishop put it: "They're selling processed weasel doodoo for $300 a pound." I first thought this was a clever hoax designed to ridicule the coffee craze. Tragically, it is not. There really is a Luwak coffee. I know because I bought some from a specialty-coffee company in Atlanta. I paid $37.50 for two ounces of beans. I was expecting the beans to look exotic, considering where they'd been, but they looked like regular coffee beans. In fact, for a moment I was afraid that they were just regular beans, and that I was being ripped off. Then I thought: What kind of world is this when you worry that people might be ripping you off by selling you coffee that was NOT pooped out by a weasel? So anyway, I ground the beans up and brewed the coffee and drank some. You know how sometimes, when you're really skeptical about something, but then you finally try it, you discover that it's really good, way better than you would have thought possible? This is not the case with Luwak coffee. Luwak coffee, in my opinion, tastes like somebody washed a dead cat in it. But I predict it's going to be popular anyway, because it's expensive. One of these days, the people in front of me at the airport coffee place are going to be ordering decaf poopacino. I'm thinking of switching to heroin. *>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*> "QUOTE, UNQUOTE" "US AID values the non-governmental sector in El Salvador, because they are the social safety net for structural adjustment." - Anonymous US AID official in a meeting at the US Embassy in El Salvador. (courtesy Aram Falsafi) "Shelling it Like it Is" *>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*> E N D JUNE 11, 1998 U P D A T E