Tacoma native held in Nicaragua gets congressman's support
University of Washington alumnus and Tacoma native Jason Puracal, who's being held by Nicaraguan police under allegations of drug trafficking, received support Friday from Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma.
Puracal is being held without evidence, Smith said at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Seattle, where he and Puracal's mother and sisters spoke to a crowd of about 50.
He's been in police custody since November, when he was arrested at his office in San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, where he owned a RE/MAX franchise.
Police have denied Puracal medical care, food and water, said his sister, Janis Puracal, who's helped lead a campaign called "Free Jason P."
Smith, who called the situation "a grave injustice," said his office has been talking with the U.S. State Department in Nicaragua to improve the living conditions for Puracal. Officials from the offices of U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell also have talked with the State Department in support of Puracal, his sister said.
"There is a painful history of Nicaragua doing these types of injustice to foreigners," Smith said. "This is something that could happen to any citizen abroad."
Puracal moved to Nicaragua in 2002 after joining the Peace Corps and has been living with his wife, Scarleth Flores Puracal, who's from Nicaragua, and their 4-year-old son, Jabu.
The list of police allegations against Puracal includes that he had $200 in three currencies — Nicaraguan, U.S. and Costa Rican — when he was arrested, and the RE/MAX bank account had large sums of money coming in and out.
Under Nicaraguan law, prisoners are not supposed to be detained for more than six months without trial, Janis Puracal said. He has been in prison for seven months, and his trial has been repeatedly delayed. His next trial date is June 15.
History Of Nicaragua - News
"There is a painful history of Nicaragua doing these types of injustice to foreigners," Smith said. "This is something that could happen to any citizen abroad." Puracal moved to Nicaragua in 2002 after joining the Peace Corps and has been living with
For only a moderate step up in budget from our family adventure in Nicaragua last summer, my parents and I were able to live comfortably and meet many more local residents. That's because of Croatia's fantastic lodging system, in which families rent
And despite Wexler's credentials, he has waited 26 years for the Director's Cut of his feature film, Latino, shot in 1984 during America's secret war on Nicaragua, to finally see the light of day. The unseen cut of the film, a Lucas Film Production
Low cost service to Latin America began in 2007, with new service to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua in Central America, and new service to Peru in South America. In 2008, Spirit continued to add more flights, including new service to
out front in Beirut when US Marines were anihilated..good job, Mr. Tough guy And he really stopped the socialist movement in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador and Bolivia. Nice try, Beave, at re-writing history for the old lonesome GE cowboy.
Nicaragua History – Last 100 Years | Nicaragua Magazine Online
Nicaragua’s history has been marked with political instability. In 1909 the US sent military forces to help the Nicaraguan conservative forces take down President José María Zelaya after 500 revolutionaries were killed by Zelaya. This began a period of where US Marines occupied Nicaragua from 1912 until 1933. As a result of the Marine presence in the country, baseball was introduced to the locals. Today baseball is still the most popular sport in Nicaragua.
The US occupation provided some stability in the country but it had its repercussions. Many Nicaraguans did not appreciate the US presence and influence in the country. One of these people was Augusto César Sandino who resented the Marine occupation of Nicaragua and waged war on the US. He received support for his missions from Mexico where he had spent a few years living. Sandino engaged in successful guerilla warfare against the marines. The Marines finally had to withdraw from the country because of the Great Depression so after helping put in President Juan Bautista Sacasa , the US Marines left Nicaragua. Sandino had come to a peace agreement with President Sacasa. Sandino had agreed to have his men surrender and give up there arms in exchange for amnesty. However, when he showed up 1934 to Managua he was assassinated by Anastacio Somoza, the head of the National Guard. Somoza and the National Guard had been put in place by the US. Two years later Somoza helped take down President Sacasa and got himself put in power. The Somoza family dictatorship would last until the revolution in 1979.
By 1972 Nicaragua had a booming economy and was considered the strongest country in Central America. However, in December that year Managua was hit with a devastating earthquake that leveled the city. This weakened the economy and the power of Somoza. It was the beginning of the end for Somoza as the people were growing increasingly tired of the corruption. This gave the Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) more support. The FSLN tied their ideology with that of the fold hero Sandino. They were lead by Daniel Ortega who married into the Sandino bloodline and was one of the key leaders in the FSLN. Finally, in 1979 the Sandinista Liberation Front was able to take down Somoza from power.
The revolution of 1979 was followed by a civil war in the 1980’s. The Sandinistas who had taken power had no experience running a country. As a result the economy suffered, infrastructure got worse and the people grew unhappy. The US government helped support the opposition, financially backing the contras. The contras were lead by many ex Somoza supporters but also many who had grown unhappy with the direction of the Sandinista government. Daniel Ortega was the president from 1985 until 1990.
History Of Nicaragua - Bookshelf
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This concise history of Nicaragua provides the reader with a history of the ways in which key political and economic factors have contributed to the creation of ...Volcanic history of Nicaragua
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US Relations with Nicaragua History and fantasy mingle mischievously in any discussion of the relations between the United States and Nicaragua. ...Nicaragua, the Chamorro years
There is no standard history of Nicaragua in either English or Spanish, but Ralph Lee Woodward, Central America (New York: Oxford University Press, 1973), ...Detailed Information Directory
History of Nicaragua - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicaragua also possesses a series of islands and cays located in the Caribbean Sea. ... The history of Nicaragua remained relatively static for three hundred ...
History of Nicaragua
Provides a history of Nicaragua from 1524 to the present. ... Nicaragua takes its name from Nicarao, chief of the indigenous tribe then living around present-day Lake Nicaragua. ...
Nicaragua - Wikipedia
Hyperlinked, in-depth profile of the Central American Republic. Includes history, politics, geography, economy, demographics, culture, and more.
Nicaragua History | iExplore
Overview, beginning with pre-Columbian tribes, Spanish conquest, to independence. Includes profiles of government and economy.
Nicaragua — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts
Nicaragua can be characterized by its agricultural economy, its history of autocratic government, and its imbalance of regional development—almost all...