Miguel D'Escoto

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Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann (sometimes spelled as d'Escoto, de Escoto, Escoto, Escotto; Brockman) was born on 5 February 1933 in Los Angeles, California, the son of a Nicaraguan diplomat. He was the foreign minister of Nicaragua when the country was governed by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) from 1979-1990.

He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Maryknoll congregation, before engaging in politics. He was a key figure in the founding of the Maryknoll imprint, Orbis Books, in 1970, and was an official with the World Council of Churches. Under the influence of liberation theology, he secretly joined the Sandinistas.

He first publicly expressed support for the FSLN as one of Los Doce, in October 1977, and was appointed foreign minister after the Sandinista triumph in 1979. Pope John Paul II admonished him and other priests in the government for getting involved in politics. Early in the Contra war, the Reagan administration perceived him as a relative moderate who might break with the regime. While foreign minister, he received the Lenin Peace Prize for 1985-6, and the Thomas Merton Award for 1987.[1]

After the Sandinistas were turned out, he led the Communal Movement, but resigned that post in December 1991 after his support within the organization waned.[2] He has staunchly supported Daniel Ortega against the Sandinista Renovation Movement dissidents.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.thomasmertoncenter.org/merton_award_2006.htm
  2. ^ http://www.quandt.com/popular%20orgs.htm
  3. ^ http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/3303
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