Former Guerrilla Appointed As Nicaraguan Consul in Costa Rica
Nicaragua is making a change at its Sede Consular General (consular offices) in San José, by appointing a former "guerrillera" and former Sandinista deputy to the post.

Nicaraguan president, Daniel Ortega, announced the decision to appoint Leticia Herrera, at the end of closing of business day on Friday. Ortega said that a factor important for the job is military experience and knowledge of the interior political workings of the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN).

Costa Rican foreign minister, Brugo Stagno, confirmed the appointment but would not comment for the moment. Stagno said he would once he knew more of the designation of the Nicaraguan diplomat.

The appointment of Herrera will surely be a headache for the Sandinista government due to her past.

Travelling to Miami while a deputy she was stopped at the airport as her name was on a list of persons "no gratas" by the U.S. government. The listing is part of a listing of Nicaraguan members of past Sandinista government, who were condemned by the international court tribunal at the Hauge.

In fact, a number of current important members of the FSLN party do not have visa to enter the United States.

The decision to appoint Herrera is part of the current Nicaraguan government to make important changes to the Consulado General in Costa Rica, to be more sensitive to the needs of thousands of Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica and foreigners alike.

The new head of the Nicaraguan embassy in Costa Rica will be Harold Rivas Reyes, although he has yet to present his credentials to Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias. According to Stagno, that ceremony will be announced soon.

Weeks earlier the future Nicaraguan ambassador caused controversy in Costa Rica in declaring that there would be an amnesty for thousands of Nicaraguans living illegally in Costa Rica. The declaration was made in the Nicaraguan press without consulting Costa Rican officials.

Stagno was quick to say that there were no amnesty plans in the works and any such decision would be part of an immigration agreement between the two countries and none is foreseen in the short term.