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Jalapa-Nicaragua
Nicaragua's
Agricultural and Commercial Center
Jalapa is situated in a fertile valley encompassed by some of the
highest mountains in the Sierra Madre including the “Pico de Orizaba”,
which sands at 18,000 feet. An extremely high annual rainfall
contributes to the importance of this agricultural and commercial
centre. Coffee, vanilla and other tropical crops are found in
abundance throughout the area.
Jalapa, which is located on the border of Honduras, was the location
of two failed attempts of the CIA funded Contras to overthrow the
city and install a provisional government, in late 1982 and December
1983, which the CIA informed the contras would be immediately
recognized by the United States Government. Jalapa was one of the
main battle grounds during the contra war and the birthplace of
Witness for Peace. Jalapa was “blessed” with this history by its
location; it forms a point that juts up into Honduras.
The Contras, the US "trainers", the US
"advisors", and the US-funded-Honduran heavy artillery surrounded
Jalapa in the Honduran hills. From Honduras the Contra fired mortars
and made quick incursions into Jalapa. The Nicaraguans received
attacks, mortars, and had the constant fear that the US was actually
going to invade. The area was covered with land mines, even
anti-tank mines. Those mines were re-arranged by hurricane Mitch in
1998 and they continue to maim people almost 13 years after the end
of the military war.
The vanguard of the defence and of the production, in Jalapa it is
being strongly expressed what it is happening in all the Nicaragua,
that’s why there are people saying that Jalapa is Nicaragua. Since
March 1982, the region of Jalapa has been the warmest of the war
that it is imposing, next to Honduras to all Nicaragua. Jalapa
finished being a compulsory reference to the military parts and to
the solidarity visits. It is the most asked objective for the
contra-revolution.
Jalapa is bordered by Honduras from all the parts except one: the
old road of ground that link it with the city of Ocotal and that is
interrupted by brooks that must be saved with small and fragile
bridges.
Jalapa is one of the 12 municipalities of the department of Nueva
Segovia. It forms the region together with the departments of Madriz
and Esteli. In 1981 Jalapa had 22.835 people of whom 82 % were
living in the country side. The ground of these peasants was
extremely cultivable. In agriculture, Jalapa is the most important
part of Segovia. They produce the tabacco, that’s why more than 50 %
of the tabacco produced in Nicaragua and exported from here is from
the region of Jalapa. Also a very important production of rice is
from Jalapa, all these because of the fertile grounds.
The privileged agricultural potential and a geographical location,
politically and military strategic make from Jalapa a vanguard
trench.
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