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| MINSA health workers carrying vaccines into Nicaraguan rural communities - April 2020 - Photo: Radio La Primerísima |
Ben Linder was a young clown, unicyclist and engineer who came to Nicaragua from his native Portland, Oregon, in 1983 in support of the Revolution. One of the contributions Ben made was to dress up as a clown and ride his unicycle through the streets, gathering a following of children like the Pied Piper and bringing them to the local health center where they would be vaccinated. As an engineer, Ben worked building micro-hydro systems to bring electricity to rural areas in the war zones in Nicaragua - it was harder for the Contras to attack if there were lights in the villages. After completing a system in El Cua, Jinotega, Ben and his colleagues began work on another system in San José de Bocay. On 28 April 1987, Ben and two Nicaraguans, Sergio Hernández and Pablo Rosales, were scouting a construction site for a new dam when they were ambushed and assassinated by the Contra. Ben was the only U.S. citizen to be killed by the U.S.-funded Contras during the war, and his death coincided with the investigation into the Iran-Contra Affair, which fueled the debate in the U.S. over the covert war in Nicaragua.
The hydroelectric plant in San José de Bocay was eventually finished by others, and today APRODELBO generates and distributes electricity for much of the region. The hydroelectric plant itself is a testament to reconciliation, run by ex-soldiers – both Sandinista and Contra. Each year the electric company remembers Ben, Sergio, and Pablo with a public celebration complete with clowns and unicycles. Each year they reach out to invite a Contra soldier whom they know carried out the orders to assassinate Ben. So far, he hasn’t taken them up on the invitation, but they continue extending it. Two years ago my juggler husband Paul and I were lucky enough to accompany the workers, clowns and a passel of children on a walk to the beautiful spot where the three were killed. The rocks are painted with Benjamin Sergio Pablo ¡Presente! Those rocks that once echoed with ricocheting bullets now echo with laughter.
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| San Jose de Bocay Ben Linder Anniversary - Photo: APRODELBO |
In 1988 by the Committee of U.S. Citizens Living In Nicaragua (CUSCLIN) purchased a house in Managua and named it after Ben Linder. CUSCLIN opposed the U.S.-funded Contra War and organized demonstrations against the war in front of the U.S. embassy in Managua every Thursday morning. When the Contra War ended in 1990, the group began hosting regular Thursday morning talks at Casa Ben Linder that lasted for nearly 25 years.
The Casa has beautiful murals, most of which were commissioned by Father Miguel d’Escoto, including four murals that honor Ben’s life. Although Managua was once covered in Revolutionary murals, the murals at the Casa Ben Linder are some of the few remaining murals in the city done in the Revolutionary-art style, and have cultural and historical significance.
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| Casa Ben Linder courtyard with murals |
In 2018 the house was donated to our organization. We have turned several rooms into a guest house for international travelers as well as Nicaraguans traveling to the capital. The revenue generated by the guest house is put towards restoring the rest of the property, including setting up an artisan shop and a solidarity museum. Although due to coronavirus we are not hosting large gatherings at this time, we hope to soon resume our regular art classes for all ages and regular children’s activities with the Guachipilin Puppet Theater.
Ben Linder, ¡Presente!
- Becca
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