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Wednesday, August 24, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Students' Nicaraguan peace trip adventurous
By Grace Hobson
Kansan staff writer
Most students occupied their time this summer by working the usual nine-to-five job, taking summer classes or lounging by a pool. Cold drinks and air conditioning were always at hand to combat the summer heat
But five KU students were in the center of a different kind of heat, opining instead to shun convention and to help the needy in Nicaragua.
Jon Bell, former graduate teaching assistant in English, Susan Ask, Great Bend junior, Nancy Stoffer, Prairie High senior, David Burkitt, Rachel McKenzie, Millich, Kansas City, Mo., senior to travel to Nicaragua to deliver a school bus, food and medical supplies to the people of the poverty-striken
"The trip was worth everything we went through." Bell said. "The people desperately needed the aid."
The students were originally part of the Veterans Peace Convey. They drove a 1983 school bus to Mangina. The first year of college, they specialized education school in the city.
"Everyone pretty much just took two changes of clothing, a hammock and a ruckus carrying essential toiletries." Burkank said of the
month-long trip.
The group left the convoy in Austin, Texas, after traveling with it from Kansas City, Mo. They left the convoy because their group was organized solely to deliver the bus, $9ll said.
"Ours was a non-political, humanitarian gesture." Bell said. He cited differing appraisals as the reason for the split.
The students faced opposition from the U.S. government because officials said leaving the bas was dangerous, and they were embargue. They were stopped at the Mexican border in Laredo, Texas. June 7. They were let through when an official there drafted the essential paperwork, saying the students were not under threat.
Although the original convoy was unable to cross the Mexican border, Bell said that their crossing was virtually trouble-free.
"Unlike the rest of the convoy, we had no problems because our goal was to be able to get them said. They removed all signs from the bus that would cause a commotion."
"We acted like air-headed students and tourists, and they just let us through," he said.
The students were met with adversity and adventure in trying to
deliver the bus. While they were traveling one night on a highway near the Honduras border, police told them the road was populated by robbers and they found not to be for anyone unless they took action, like Burkirk said.
"He explained what to look for before opening the door to anyone," Burkund said. "We put a mattress to the block the door that lets in the passengers to protect the driver from being shot," he said.
Three attempts to stop the bus were thwarted by turning on the lights of the bus and speeding out of the range of the robbers. Bell said.
Often, while traveling, they would fill the bus with tourists and locals to create the illusion that the bus was a normal mode of transportation. Bell said the military and police were on the road, but a mostly empty bus on the roads.
On the way to Managua, the group stayed in cities each night. One or two people slept on the bus to guard it and the others stayed in small hotels.
Once in Managua, the group stayed four days while waiting to deliver the bus. They also spent four days touring the countryside and transported those in need. The transportation system in Nicaragua is non-existent.
Bell said, so the bus was greatly appreciated.
After using the bus in Managua, three of the students met Seamus Brennen, a reporter for the Las Vegas (Nev.) Sam. who kept the bus upstairs and left it closed case they were prosecuted. He delivered the bus to Ria Reyburn, coordinator of the convoy in Managua. She handed it over to Los Pipos, a non-governmental social organization with disabled children in Managua.
Accommodations along the trip were sparse, but covered the group's essential needs. Bell said. Showers were provided, and the food supply was more abundant than they expected, he said. Although grocery stores were barren and prices very high, having access to fresh produce especially in rural areas, he said.
The bus, with "We love kids" painted on its back, was given to the group by David Hann and Richard Kershenbaum of Lawrence.
Three members of the group hitchhiked to larger cities with access to a bus stop or an airport and took separate routes home. The other two went on to separate projects in Central America.
The black market supplied every-
things the grocery stores didn't, but because of the escalated prices, many people could not afford to buy the merchandise.
Bell said his biggest misconception before the trip was in thinking there would be no bottlers in the country
"I thought I would be drinking my beer from plastic hacks." he said.
Not only did they have bottles, they had Coke, which was bottled in the Soviet Union.
Despite the better-than-expected conditions, both bell and Burkirk had been unsettled. The rampant begging explained the condition of the country more than anyone else.
"It was the first time in my life that I was approached by kids acting as beggars," Burkard said. "Once, I was drinking a beer with a Nicaraguan and came up to him and begged for food money. He remarked that it was hard to enjoy your beer when someone is begging. He was quiet so could I enjoy his milk while the child begged for food money?"
The trip also made Bell more politically aware.
After seeing the situation for himself, Bell said he did not agree with aid humanitarian or military, to the contrainers. Instead, he pushes for
humanitarian aid to all people of Nicaragua.
Despite the problems caused by U.S. involvement, Bell was impressed by the leaders of the country.
"They have all fought for their country. Every one of them can role up their sleeves or pant legs and show you war wounds," he said.
Even though many of the Nicaraguan people disagree with U.S. policy, Mr. Ortega is opposed to the U.S. government he saw there was that of people from the island.
"While the Nicaraguan people were straightforward and very gracious, the American volunteers who served as a liaison — who were living in Nicaragua — we found to be mycoplasma-infected, in their own way. Because of such a part was anti-American, which I don't share," he said.
Because of his differences with the U.S. volunteers there, Belli is hesitant to go back as a volunteer, although he feels an interest in doing such work there.
Bell said he would like to thank the students and local merchants who donated money to the cause in April, raised $1,380 for travelering students.
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