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Pablo Ram?rez, rebel deserter brought into Jinotega by his father

      Another tantalizing glimpse into the dynamics of guerrilla warfare in the weeks and months before the November 1928 elections comes from this brief report about a young man who joined the movement during the Sandinista swing through the Jinotega coffee districts in early 1928, and whose father, months later, insisted to his wayward son that he give up his life of "banditry" and turn himself in.  The report reveals an important aspect of the countervailing forces that governed the size & strength of rebel forces.  In repeatedly offering amnesties to surrendered "bandits" like Pablo Ram?rez, the Marines & Guardia developed one of the shrewdest components of their overall counter-insurgency strategy.  (Photograph:  detail of photo with caption, "Nicaragua bandit series 1927," US National Archives)

 

 

[October 22, 1928] The following extracts are taken from a memo from the C.O. Jinotega:
 
"Pablo Ramirez, age about 20, brown color, height about 5 ft., 6 in., weight about 135, unmarried, was brought in by his father.
 
"Pablo claims to have deserted, together with Tomas Reyes, a light colored boy about 30 years old, from the band of (Col) Jose Leon Diaz, then at Pavona (Yali Sector) on the 23rd instant. Says at that time Diaz had one hundred men with him, all with rifles, and that he personally carried 100 rounds of ammunition and each man had the same. Also had one Lewis and one TSMG. (Major) Reyes Lopez was the second in command. That Diaz left for the vicinity of Somoto about the 21st to see Salgado. Gives the following story of his travels:
 
"He joined Sandino when he passed through the hacienda area east of Jinotega in February last, and was in Garrobo with that band; was under Carlos Quesada at one time. About Sept. 1st was in Murra under (Gen.) Montoya. Early in best replica watches September left Murra for Chipote, from Chipote crossed the Rio Jicaro, via Las Cruces, to Balsamo, Carbonal. The day they arrived at Carbonal learned that Marines were at Santa Clara: They went to Las Canas and started back for Murra with one mule load of ammunition. At Santa Clara had a brush with the Marines but nobody was hurt, also that the airplanes bombed and used machine guns but don't know if anyone was hit; thinks not. At this time there were 52 in the band. Left Murra area almost immediately and returned south via San Juan de Telpaneca, thence to Pavona, arriving there about Sept. 21st. Says the band had a few animals but not many, most of the men traveled on foot.

"The ranks in parentheses are those given by Ramirez. His statements regarding the equipment of the band are not fully believed, because he said he was well dressed with the bandits, and his father said he came in in very bad shape."

IR28.10.22: 6.  RG127/209/1

 

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