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Information from captured EDSN soldier Alejandro Medina on jefes in San Juan de Telpaneca area

     This report on information provided by rebel prisoner Alejandro Medina offers a glimpse into rebel activity in an important sub-region of Las Segovias that remained a hotbed of rebellion till the end of the war:  the zone on the north side of the Río Coco before the confluence with the Río Jícaro, dominated by towering volcanic mountains El Ojoche, El Silencio, El Chamaste, and Las Cruces.  Over the past two decades the San Juan de Telpaneca district had seen modest expansion of coffee production and had emerged as one of the most prosperous in the department of Nueva Segovia.
 
     The preeminent jefe in this zone was Reyes López, described here in some detail (of whom no photograph exists, to my knowledge).  We also get detailed physical descriptions of José León Díaz (photo, far right), Dionisio (Nicho) Centeno, and Pedro Antonio Irías.  Also of interest is the mention of Ladislao Palacios, a jefe who first appears in the documents in October 1927; was appointed colonel by August 1930; and who remained active till the end of the war.  (Photo of EDSN Generals Francisco Estrada, Carlos Salgado, José León Díaz, 1933)
 
     The descriptions of the relations between rebel men and women also merit attention.  The only thing in this report that is inconsistent with other evidence is Medina's description of the rape of Lino Duarte's wife.  As noted in reference to the report on Juan Pablo Umanzor (pAGE 34), that evidence makes clear that Sandino and Sandinista jefes did not tolerate rape.
 
     By this time Sandino was in Mexico seeking external support. The report illustrates how the rebellion simmered in various districts during his absence, among other things.  Coincidentally, exactly fifty years after Alejandro Medina was captured, the dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle fled Nicaragua, and two days later, on July 19, 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front seized state power.



... From Captain Roger's G.N. report, 22 July:
 
The following information secured from prisoner Alejandro Medina, captured at El Chamaste, 17 July, 1929, and now confined at San Juan, is furnished.
 
A messenger Rosalio Salinas, brother of Lazaro Salinas, had arrived at Chamste 17 July with a message from Jose Leon Diaz to Feliciana v. de Salas [widow of Salas] stating that he was then on El Silencio and wanted to see her there. The woman is pregnant and Medina states the child is Diaz [Diaz's]. According to Medina, Diaz is 50 years old, short, heavy set, fairly white bearded with beard trimmed from time to time, beard is black, black eyes, nose somewhat flat, wide mouth, black thick lips, heavy hair on arms, average chin, black curly hair, neck shaved. Diaz was supposed to have come from Babilonia about fifteenth of July where he had arrived from neighborhood of Las Cruces.
 
Medina states he also knows Reyes Lopez very well as he, Medina, lived at Babilonia, on finca of Lucio Melgara where Reyes visited his woman Demetria. States Reyes Lopez is about 40 years of age, clean shaven, coffee colored, heavy set, short, has ugly straight black hair parted on side. Wears breeches, putts, etc, with big dark hat. Nose medio unato [sic], black eyes, big mouth, thick protruding lips and small ears. Carries a big Mauser pistol. States last patrol after Reyes almost caught him in his house and that a bullet passed through the front of his shirt as he ran.
 
Nicho Centeno assistant to Reyes is about 30 years of age, 69" in height, dark heavy set, mustache chele, flat nosed, eyes medio sarco, hair somewhat curly, has 45 Colt pistol. Goes everywhere Reyes goes.
 
Pedro Irias according to Medina is about 35 years old, round faced, short, delgadito [slender], several years younger than Diaz, about same height, whiter even than Diaz. Las saw him about two or three months ago. Went South from Silencio with about thirty men via Ojoche-El Arco-Achotales-West of Yali-La Mesa apparently about time of the affair at Concordia. Heard that Irias had gone over around Chontales.
 
Says order of importance of Jefes is Diaz-Irias-Reyes. Says Reyes had about thirty men six weeks ago. Has no Thompsons but one Lewis with ammunition carried in sacks. Lewis in good working order. Lewis gunner was Ladislao Palacios -- Medina insists his name is Darislago Palacio. Is about thirty years old, tall, heavy set, big mustache.
 
The gang whose headquarters was Chamaste was headed by Lazaro Salinas who has about fifteen men and is a sub-jefe of Reyes. This gang killed Lino Duarte, Juez de Mesta of Santa Rita on July 16, 1929, and then one of the gang raped Duartes wife. Known members of this gang are five Salinas brothers, Lazaro, Pedro, Anacleto, Rosalio and one other unknown. Miguel Blandon, nephew of Pedro Blandon bandit jefe of La Rica was probably wounded in rushing the house of Lazaro Salinas the night of July 17, but escaped by falling over a hill. He had a 38 S&W revolver. Fidel Rayo is supposed to have presented himself to General Plata at Yali. The woman of Rayo was in this house but escaped during the night while bringing in water. Her name is Juana Alaniz.
 
Medina knows Altamirano but has not seen him for some time. ...

IR29.07.28: 7-8. RG127/209/1

 

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