Open Letter to the Producer of KPFA’s program “A Rude Awakening”

Dear Sabrina,

We were glad to have your presence and support when Task Force on the Americas protested U.S. interference and aggression against Venezuela about two years ago.

We are thus surprised and disappointed with your 6 November interview with the director of Oakland Institute about Nicaragua. Anuradha Mittal’s claims are exaggerated, biased and inaccurate. We suggest you look at two refutations coming from people who have lived in Nicaragua for decades. See the links from Nan McCurdy and John Perry below.

There is another element to this story. The Oakland Institute has hidden the funding they received for their anti-Nicaragua project and story.  In 2018 they received nearly one quarter MILLION dollars for their work on “Nicaragua land dispute project”. This was received from the Howard G Buffet Foundation. In addition to being the son of billionaire investor Warren Buffet, Howard is a former director of Coca Cola, ConAgra, and Archer, Daniels, Midland.  These are all corporations with heavy stakes and influence in Central America and US foreign policy.  The potential conflict of interest is obvious, as is the lack of transparency by Oakland Institute.  Proof of this grant is shown in the 2018 HGB Foundation 1099 form (see link below).

The US government has been slandering and seeking to destabilize Nicaragua for many years. The latest plan – titled “Responsive Assistance in Nicaragua (RAIN) – was recently exposed in the report linked below.

In light of the above facts, we suggest there should be more questioning and skepticism of Ms. Mittal’s claims.  Are the allegations accurate or distorted? Why is the Oakland Institute hiding the major funding it is receiving?  What is the reality of Nicaragua and why is the U.S. government so hostile to this small Central American country?

We believe listeners to KPFA’s “A Rude Awakening” need to hear another side to this story. Nan McCurdy or John Perry, who have lived in Nicaragua for decades, might be available. We can provide contact information if you like.

Best regards,

Alice Loaiza and Rick Sterling

For the Task Force on the Americas Board / TaskForceAmericas.org

References:

https://taskforceamericas.org/pbs-and-other-u-s-media-are-spreading-disinformation-about-nicaragua/

https://afgj.org/nicanotes-branding-nicaraguan-meat-as-conflict-beef-is-the-latest-political-attack-on-a-country-already-suffering-from-illegal-us-sanctions

“Document exposes new US plot to overthrow Nicaragua’s elected socialist government”  https://thegrayzone.com/2020/08/04/usaid-document-nicaragua-coup/

Howard G Buffet Foundation:  https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/470824756