Nicaragua: Current positions held in public office by Francisco Javier Bautista Lara and Carlos Bendana (or Bendaña); whether reports indicate that they have used their positions for retribution against Sandinista deserters or opponents
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 26 April 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NIC39015.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nicaragua: Current positions held in public office by Francisco Javier Bautista Lara and Carlos Bendana (or Bendaña); whether reports indicate that they have used their positions for retribution against Sandinista deserters or opponents, 26 April 2002, NIC39015.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be854.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Francisco Javier Bautista Lara, also referred to in reports as Francisco Bautista and Francisco Bautista Lara, is mentioned as a Major Commissioner (Comisionado Mayor) and as the head of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (Dirección de Investigaciones Criminales, DIC) of the National Police in 2000 and 2001 (El Nuevo Diario 8 Sept. 2001; ibid. 14 July 2000). In 1999 he was referred to as the director of the Police Academy (El Nuevo Diario 21 Aug. 1999), a post that he reportedly held since the academy was founded (La Prensa 19 May 2001), and as a Commissioner of the National Police (El Nuevo Diario 21 Aug. 1999; ibid. 7 June 1999). In 1999 and 2000 a number of editorial articles were published under his name in the daily El Nuevo Diario (ibid.; ibid. 23 Aug. 1999; ibid. 21 Aug. 1999; ibid. 6 Oct. 2000; ibid. 7 Aug. 2000; ibid. 25 Aug. 2000). In September 2001 he was one of three Major Commissioners, chosen among five holding the same rank, for promotion to the positions of deputy directors (subdirectores) by National Police director Edwin Cordero (El Nuevo Diario 1 Sept. 2001). On 1 October 2001 President Arnoldo Aleman promoted Francisco Bautista Lara along with two other officers to the rank of Commissioner Generals (comisionados generales) and to the positions of deputy directors of police (ibid. 2 Oct. 2001). The Nicaraguan daily La Prensa published an article stating that the 2001 appointments of the new deputy directors of the National Police made by director Cordero, which resulted in the retirement of two other high-ranking officers being considered for promotion, were based on "trust and loyalty" (confianza y lealtad) rather than professional achievement (nivel de profesionalismo) (9 Sept. 2001). The article does not actually challenge the credentials of those promoted, but reports that the director stated that his choice was based on building "a loyal and trustworthy team" (un equipo confiable y leal) (ibid.).
Carlos Bendaña (also spelled Bendana in articles published in English) was described in 1997 and early 1998 as the Nicaraguan liaison for the International Police Organization (Interpol), when a scandal surrounding a private jet transporting drugs broke (El Informador 27 Aug. 1997; El Nuevo Diario 28 Mar. 1999; Nicaragua News Service 17-24 May 1998). One report states that president Aleman temporarily suspended Bendaña and soon after appointed him head of Public Relations of the National Police (ibid.; ibid. 25-30 May 1998). He is referred to, from 1998 through 2000, as a police commissioner and the chief of Public Relations of the National Police (AFP 7 Apr. 2000; El Nuevo Diario 20 Aug. 1999; ibid. 10 Sept. 1998; Páginas Verdes 2000). One report states that Commissioner Carlos Bendaña was appointed chief of the Directorate of Economic Affairs (Dirección de Asuntos Económicos), and was to take office on 2 May 2001 (El Nuevo Diario 29 Apr. 2001); a later report describes him as chief of the Economic Investigations Directorate (Dirección de Investigaciones Económicas, DIE) (La Prensa 19 May 2001). His appointment to this position was reportedly one of a number of "silent changes" (cambios calladamente) in the police hierarchy (ibid.). The daily La Prensa commended Bendaña's three-year role as head of Public Relations of the National Police, attributing to him the establishment of a radio program and a print magazine, as well as developing "excellent relationships" (excelentes relaciones) with journalists covering police issues (ibid.). A 20 February 2002 describes Carlos Bendaña as chief of the Economic Investigations Directorate (Dirección de Investigaciones Económicas, DIE) (La Prensa 20 Feb. 2002).
No reports published in the period 1999-2002 alluding to Francisco Javier Bautista Lara and Carlos Bendaña using their positions for retribution against Sandinista deserters or opponents could be found among the sources consulted.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 7 April 2000. Three Killed as Former Nicaraguan Contras Demonstrate for More Land." (NEXIS)
El Informador [Guadalajara]. 27 August 1997. "En Nicaragua florece la industria de autos robados."
Nicaragua News Service [New Orleans]. 25-30 May 1998. Donna Vukelich. "News Briefs."
_____. 17-24 May 1998. Ed Schwartzman. "Arrests Continue in 'Narco-Jet' Scandal."
El Nuevo Diario [Managua]. 2 October 2001. Vladimir Lopez. "Sobre supuesta parcialidad: Edwin Cordero quiere 'dejar claro a partidos'."
_____. 11 September 2001. Octavio Enríquez. "Sorpresiva admisión de Cordero: 'Policías parciales aunque no los jefes'."
_____. 8 September 2001. Moisés González S. "Cordero confirma 'muerte anunciada'."
_____. 1 September 2001. Octavio Enríquez. "Especie de ruleta rusa con nuevos subdirectores de la Policía: Comisionados quedan y comisionados 'se van'."
_____. 29 April 2001. Vladimir Lopez. "Entran en vigor el dos de mayo: Rotación de mandos policiales."
_____. 6 October 2000. Francisco Javier Bautista Lara. "Elecciones municipales y seguridad ciudadana."
_____. 25 August 2000. Francisco Javier Bautista Lara."La Policía Nacional y la percepción ciudadana."
_____. 7 August 2000. Francisco Javier Bautista Lara. "La delincuencia en Nicaragua."
_____. 14 July 2000. Lizbeth Garcia. "El 'atleta' salió con sello falsificado: Engaño nigeriano en el aeropuerto."
_____. 23 August 1999. Francisco Javier Bautista Lara. "Prevención policial."
_____. 21 August 1999. Francisco Javier Bautista Lara. "Criterios para la formulación de una política estatal de prevención."
_____. 20 August 1999. Vladimir Lopez and Francisco Mendoza. "Capturado oculta móvil de asesinato de diuptado Cuadra: ¿Muerte por encargo?"
_____. 7 June 1999. Francisco Javier Bautista Lara. "La Policía posible del próximo milenio."
_____. 28 March 1999. Mario Mairena Martinez. "Guasch puede venir y reclamar 'su avion': A quién queda Narcojet?"
_____. 10 September 1998. Moisés González Silva. "Subcomisionado prepotente: Abuso policial."
Páginas Verdes [Managua]. 2000. Ximena Ramírez González. "Entrevista: Carlos Bendaña."
La Prensa [Managua]. 20 February 2002. "Desarman base de pirateo telefónico."
_____. 9 September 2001. Moisés Martínez."Polémica en la Policía."
_____. 19 May 2001. Juan Rodríguez and Carlos González. "Silenciosos cambios en Policía Nacional."
