Edén Pastora facts for kids
Edén Atanacio Pastora Gómez (born November 15, 1936 or January 22, 1937 – died June 16, 2020) was a famous Nicaraguan politician and a guerrilla leader. He was known for his role in the Nicaraguan Revolution. Pastora was often called Comandante Cero ("Commander Zero").
He led a large group of fighters in southern Nicaragua before the government of Anastasio Somoza fell. His group was one of the first to call themselves "Sandinistas" and worked with the FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front). However, after the revolution, Pastora disagreed with the FSLN government. He then formed a new group called the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance (ARDE) to oppose them.
Later in his life, around 2010, he made peace with the FSLN and worked for the government of Daniel Ortega. He was involved in a border disagreement with Costa Rica, which led to some legal issues.
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Who Was Edén Pastora?
Edén Pastora was born in Ciudad Darío, Nicaragua. When he was seven, his father died in a land dispute. While studying in high school, he learned about Augusto César Sandino, a national hero. Pastora decided that the government of Anastasio Somoza Debayle was unfair. He then started his rebel journey, forming a group of local farmers (called campesinos) and native tribes.
Pastora joined forces with the FSLN in the mid-1960s. He became a skilled guerrilla fighter. One of his most famous actions was in August 1978. He and 19 FSLN commandos dressed up as members of Somoza's National Guard. They stormed the Nicaraguan National Palace, where the Congress was meeting. They took many people hostage, including members of Congress and Somoza's half-brother.
The commandos used numbers as their secret names. Pastora was "Zero," and Dora Maria Tellez was "Two." This is how Pastora got his famous nickname, "Comandante Cero."
This operation made Somoza very angry. It was a major turning point in the fight against his government. The main goal was to free FSLN members who were in prison, like Daniel Ortega and Tomás Borge. The raid was a big success for the FSLN. After making a deal for $500,000 and freeing prisoners, Pastora and others went to Cuba. He later said he felt like a "prisoner" there, unable to leave until a friend helped him return.
Pastora was put in charge of the FSLN's Southern Front. His forces moved from Costa Rica towards the town of Rivas. Somoza sent his best troops to stop Pastora, which meant the Southern Front faced tough battles and many losses. However, Pastora's efforts were important. They kept over 2,000 of Somoza's well-equipped National Guard forces busy. This helped the Sandinistas win, even as other major cities fell to the rebels.
Why Did Pastora Oppose the Sandinistas?
After the revolution, Pastora became unhappy with the way things were going. He felt that many Sandinista leaders were living in luxury in Managua. He believed they were not doing enough to help the farmers and native tribes he represented. He also thought they were too focused on gaining political power for Daniel Ortega.
Because of these disagreements, Pastora turned against the Sandinista government. He started military operations again in southern Nicaragua. His forces were loosely connected with other groups in the north. These groups, made up of former National Guard members and some Miskito Indians, were known as the Contras. Pastora's efforts were not as militarily strong as the northern Contra forces.
Pastora also received less support from the United States government. However, having Pastora, a former Sandinista hero, among the Contras helped their image. It offered a different view from the bad reputation of other Contra groups, which were often led by former Somoza supporters. But Pastora soon lost popularity among ordinary Nicaraguans. He began using similar tactics to the northern Contras, which included human rights abuses, and he often avoided direct fights with the Nicaraguan military.
In 1984, Pastora was seriously injured in the La Penca bombing. This attack, which killed four people at a press conference he was holding, seemed to be aimed at him.
After this, Pastora became disappointed with Nicaragua. He moved to Costa Rica in the 1990s and became a citizen there. Later, he returned to Nicaragua.
Later Years and Activities
Pastora later started a shark fishing business in San Juan del Norte. This area is on the San Juan River, which forms part of the border with Costa Rica.
In 2006, a documentary called Edén Pastora - Comandante Cero was made about him. It showed his return to politics when he ran for mayor of Managua.
Pastora also ran for president in the general election of 2006. He finished in fifth place, getting a small percentage of the votes. In 2008, Pastora announced that he had made up with the FSLN and supported Daniel Ortega's government. He said, "this government is making a revolution, one-eyed or lame, but it is a revolution." By 2010, he held a government position as the Minister of Development for the Rio San Juan Basin.
In November 2010, Pastora faced legal issues with Costa Rica. Prosecutors in Costa Rica announced that Pastora, then 73, was accused of causing serious environmental damage. This damage happened in the eastern Limón province near the Río San Juan. Nicaragua claims this territory as its own. Pastora and his soldiers had entered the Caleros Island to create a channel connecting the San Juan River with the Atlantic Ocean. Costa Rica, which also claims ownership of the island, said this caused lasting ecological harm.
In April 2015, photos showed Pastora, then 78, watching as the canal that caused the international incident was filled with sand.
Personal Life and Passing
Edén Pastora had three marriages that did not last. He once spoke about the difficulties revolutionaries face, saying they often lose their wives first, and their lives last. In between, they lose their freedom and happiness.
Pastora passed away at a military hospital in Managua on June 16, 2020. He was 83 years old. Reports said he died from either respiratory failure or a heart attack. He had also been treated for symptoms of COVID-19 while in the hospital, though his grandson stated he was not tested for the virus.
See also
In Spanish: Edén Pastora para niños
