Democratic Revolutionary Alliance
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A.R.D.E or Alianza Revolucionaria Democrática were the Southern Front guerrillas dedicated to bringing democracy, and independence to Nicaragua after the hijacking of the original Sandinista revolution by communist elements in 1979. Despite being one of the Contra forces they maintained an ideological distance from the U.S. backed so called Nicaraguan Democratic Force.
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[edit] Formation
Formed by Edén Pastora Gómez in 1982, it united his Sandino Revolutionary Front (FRS) with such groups as the Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), MISURASATA and FARN. A.R.D.E. quickly gained momentum in the southeast of Nicaragua as Sandinsta repression grew more and more rampant. Floods of refugees escaping the looting, burning, expropriation of property, suppression of the Catholic Church and press, influx of Cuban and East European advisers, and mass conscription, soon swelled ARDE ranks to thousands of guerrilla fighters. The San Juan River was liberated by ARDE, and five strategic bases were formed, including Sarapiquí and La Penca.
Pastora's leadership can charitably be described as mercurial. Planes, helicopters, weapons and food supplies meant for combatants risking their lives frequently ended up mysteriously sold to third parties, while the billion dollar per year in Soviet aid went straight into the hands of the 100,000 man communist army ARDE was up against. Organizational chaos reigned, as Pastora feared that institutional structures could pose a counterweight and threat to his charisma-based leadership. Pastora also did nothing to keep ARDE from being honeycombed by Sandinista spies, including his own mistress.
[edit] Activities in the 1980s
Pastora's legendary affinity for the camera and publicity nearly got him killed in an assassination attempt by Sandinistas disguised as reporters at La Penca on May 30, 1984. It came shortly after one of the most publicized military victories in this period, the taking of the town of San Juan del Norte. This town changed hands multiple times during the war, however without Pastora's flair for the limelight, no one noticed subsequent liberations.
Meanwhile as ARDE's regional field commanders penetrated deeper and deeper into Nicaragua, they became increasingly frustrated at the squandering of resources, the constant bickering with other factions of the armed struggle against the communist dictatorship, and Pastora's erratic directives. In 1985, other rebel groups, including former ARDE political head Alfonso Robelo, formed the United Nicaraguan Opposition umbrella group. Fernando "El Negro" Chamorro of the UNO-aligned FARN sought to win over ARDE commanders, and in November, ARDE units encountered Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FDN) elements moving down from the north.
Six southern front regional commanders led by Navegante (Nueva Guinea), Ganso (El Rama), and Leonel (Chontales) deposed the mercurial Comandante Cero in early 1986 and forged battlefield alliances with their brother commandos from the FDN such as Franklyn and Apache. This led to both their greatest battlefield successes and a renewal of American aid. As Sandinista losses mounted, and with the introduction of anti aircraft weapons which brought down multiple Hind-D gunships (one shot down by a commando named "Bull" whose pseudonym was chosen in honor of American special forces commander "Bull Simon"), the Sandinistas eventually sued for peace.
[edit] Current Activities
After all attempts to rig the 1990 elections failed, the Sandinistas were relegated to secondary status and a shaky, corrupt, Nicaraguan style democracy took hold. The Southern Front contras to this day are struggling to get justice for the campesinos, but as of 2004 finally gained title to viable farmland in the vicinity of El Rama.
