Enduring a foreign conflict: Repercussions of the Nicaraguan Counterrevolution on the population of the Choluteca Department, Honduras, 1979–1990

Abstract

This article aims to highlight and bring visibility to how the department of Choluteca, upon becoming an active conflict zone during the Nicaraguan Counterrevolution (1979–1990), experienced a negative impact on the local population due to various forms of aggression—harassment, kidnappings, injuries, and killings—that occurred during the course of this foreign conflict, which nonetheless had direct repercussions for the Hondurans living in the area. At the same time, it is argued that there was not necessarily a direct link between the clashes involving armed groups (the Contras, Sandinistas, and the Honduran Armed Forces) and the aggressions suffered by the population. Although armed confrontations persisted consistently from 1979 to 1986 and gradually declined until 1990, hostilities against civilians occurred throughout the Nicaraguan Counterrevolution (1979–1990), without necessarily being related to or resulting from those confrontations. This demonstrates that many of the aggressions were isolated and premeditated actions carried out by these groups against Honduran civilians and Nicaraguan refugees.