Joaquín Cuadra
Encyclopedia
Joaquín Cuadra Lacayo, a scion of Nicaragua
's elite, joined the rebel Sandinista National Liberation Front
(FSLN) in late 1972. After their victory in 1979, he became army chief of staff.
Cuadra began to become interested in politics, liberation theology
, and Marxism
while in high school. While attending the University of Central America, he and other students were impressed by one of their professors, Father Uriel Molina
, who lived among the poor in Managua
's El Riguero barrio. In November 1971, they established a commune with him in El Riguero. Cuadra was recruited into the FSLN by Ricardo Morales and Oscar Turcios in late 1972, and went underground early the next year.
He was a member of the Sandinista Commando that raided the Christmas party of a major Somoza supporter in 1974, exchanging imprisoned Sandinistas for the prominent guests. As the FSLN divided over questions of strategy, he aligned himself with the Tercerista faction. In 1977, he recruited his father to politically support the FSLN as one of Los Doce
. As leader of the Sandinista Internal Front, he helped support Eden Pastora's capture of the National Palace in August 1978, and coordinated urban guerrilla actions during the 1979 Nicaraguan Revolution.
After the victory he was promoted to general and chief of staff of the new Sandinista Popular Army
. He assumed leadership of the Nicaraguan army from the hands of Humberto Ortega
on February 21, 1995. After retiring from the army, he founded the National Unity Movement
in 2000.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
's elite, joined the rebel Sandinista National Liberation Front
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
(FSLN) in late 1972. After their victory in 1979, he became army chief of staff.
Cuadra began to become interested in politics, liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
, and Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
while in high school. While attending the University of Central America, he and other students were impressed by one of their professors, Father Uriel Molina
Uriel Molina
Father Uriel Molina was one of the most prominent leaders of the liberation theology-oriented "popular church" in Sandinista-era Nicaragua. Tomás Borge was a childhood friend of his....
, who lived among the poor in Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
's El Riguero barrio. In November 1971, they established a commune with him in El Riguero. Cuadra was recruited into the FSLN by Ricardo Morales and Oscar Turcios in late 1972, and went underground early the next year.
He was a member of the Sandinista Commando that raided the Christmas party of a major Somoza supporter in 1974, exchanging imprisoned Sandinistas for the prominent guests. As the FSLN divided over questions of strategy, he aligned himself with the Tercerista faction. In 1977, he recruited his father to politically support the FSLN as one of Los Doce
Los Doce
El Grupo de los Doce, or Group of Twelve, were a dozen members of the Nicaraguan establishment whose support for the Sandinista National Liberation Front struggle against dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle played a pivotal role in the acceptance of the Sandinistas by foreign and domestic...
. As leader of the Sandinista Internal Front, he helped support Eden Pastora's capture of the National Palace in August 1978, and coordinated urban guerrilla actions during the 1979 Nicaraguan Revolution.
After the victory he was promoted to general and chief of staff of the new Sandinista Popular Army
Sandinista Popular Army
The Sandinista Popular Army was the military established in 1979 by the new Sandinista government to replace the National Guard, following the overthow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle. In post-Sandinista Nicaragua, it has been remolded into the National Army of Nicaragua. Joaquín Cuadra was chief of...
. He assumed leadership of the Nicaraguan army from the hands of Humberto Ortega
Humberto Ortega
General Humberto Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan military leader, often self-called leading Latin American revolutionary strategist, and published writer.-Biography:...
on February 21, 1995. After retiring from the army, he founded the National Unity Movement
National Unity Movement (Nicaragua)
The National Unity Movement is a Nicaraguan political party founded in year 2000 by retired army chief and Sandinista dissident Joaquín Cuadra. In the 2004 Municipal Elections, the MUN contested in alliance with Alliance for the Republic . As of 2006, the MUN is part of the Sandinista Renovation...
in 2000.